Masha Pobedinsky 

Masha Pobedinsky is an associate attorney at Hayes & Wilson, PLLC, specializing in estate planning, probate administration, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities. She strives to bring compassionate legal support to clients navigating complex life transitions.

While at the University of Houston Law Center, she founded the Disability Law Society and led the organization through various projects to promote accessibility on campus. Masha served on the Board of the Houston Journal of Health Policy as a Publications Editor, participated in the SSDI Appellate Brief Writing Project, and was a contributor for Global Accountability Network. She served as the Lead Principal Investigator for the Olmstead Project under a UH Population Health Grant, researching community integration for people with disabilities and developing policy recommendations. Additionally, she served as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Michael Ewer's Law of Patient Care course and volunteered with organizations including the Texas Civil Rights Project, Catholic Charities, and Texas HHSC.

She was recognized with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award, 2023 and 2024 Lex Frieden Disability Rights Awards, and the 2024 Prudential Life Insurance Health Law Award. She was also honored to receive the Dean's Merit Scholarship at Syracuse University College of Law and be named to the Dean's List in Fall 2022, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning
• Medicaid Planning & Appeals
• Special Needs Trusts
• Guardianship
• Probate & Trust Administration

Experience

At Hayes & Wilson, PLLC, Masha has successfully led clients through complex Medicaid appeals involving income, assets, medical necessity, and procedural violations. She drafts specialized estate planning documents including first-party and third-party special needs trusts, and provides counsel to trustees, guardians, executors, and beneficiaries on taxable estates and special needs planning.

Masha also participates in pro bono services for the ALS Clinic at Houston Methodist.

Education

• J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 2024
• B.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech Pathology with minor in Russian Language and Culture, University of Texas at Austin, 2021 (Summa Cum Laude)

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Texas – Disability Issues Committee
• Houston Bar Association – Elder Law Committee
• Houston Bar Association – Special Olympics Committee
• Houston Bar Association – Probate Trusts & Estates Section
• Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association
• National Lawyers Guild 

Languages

• English
• Russian (Fluent)