profile headshot of Lee D. Henderson

Specialties

I am a member of BrownWinick specializing in business law and transactions, with deep experience in technology, information privacy and security, and insurance. Prior to joining the firm, I spent over 7 years as a leader of a high-performing in-house legal team and officer of a top 50 property and casualty insurance company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, including 3 years as the enterprise privacy director. I understand firsthand the challenges of making decisions in a highly regulated environment—often with imperfect information, limited resources, and tight deadlines.  I know the value of having responsive, diligent, and dependable outside counsel to meet those demands.  

My Approach

When I am asked to address a legal issue or business problem, my goal is the same as yours: understand the risk and find a way past it so that the business can continue. Good lawyers move business forward, and that’s what I do.   

I have deep experience leading teams and closing transactions, managing crises, reporting to C-Suite executives and directors, and overseeing teams and compliance programs within large organizations. My past experience as a business leader helps me understand the challenges of evaluating complex, long term problems with imperfect solutions that require accepting risk. I know the right  solution is often more feasible and practical than the perfect  solution.  

More About Me

I am a first-generation college graduate, having received a B.A. in History from Knox College, where I played football and sang in the college choir.  I earned my J.D. from Drake University Law School, graduating with High Honors, and serving as Notes Editor on the Journal of Agricultural Law and a research assistant in areas of criminal law and procedure. Upon graduation I was inducted into the Order of the Coif. 

I was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 2009 (inactive) and the Iowa Bar in 2013.   

My prior experience includes: 

  • 7 years at a top 50 property and casualty insurance company, where I served as an officer, led teams of lawyers and non-lawyers, and served as the enterprise privacy director
  • 6 years in private practice (3 in Michigan, and 3 in Iowa)
  • 1 year as a Prehearing Attorney at the Michigan Court of Appeals in Grand Rapids, Michigan

I live in Des Moines with my wife (a small business owner) and two active children.  

My Specialties

  • Business Law
    • Transactions
    • Corporate Governance
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Real Estate
  • Insurance Law
  • Venture Capital and Start Ups
  • Technology
    • Product Development and Implementation
    • SaaS, IaaS, PaaS
    • SLAs
    • Insurtech, Fintech
    • Procurement 
  • Privacy and Information Security
    • US and International Privacy Compliance
    • GDPR, US State Privacy Laws (e.g., CCPA/CPRA), GLBA, HIPPA
    • Data Breach Response

Iowa - Cookies & Similar Technologies

02-18-2025 1. Governing Texts 1.1 Legislation The Private Right of Action for Consumer Frauds Act, enacted in 2009 and found in §714H of Title XVI of the Iowa Code, provides a private right of action to consumers who have an ascertainable loss resulting from an unfair practice, deception, fraud, false pretense, or false promise, or the misrepresentation,...
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BrownWinick Welcomes Lee Henderson as New Member Attorney

12-5-2023 BrownWinick is pleased to welcome Lee Henderson to the firm. Lee has joined as a member with a practice specializing in business law and transactions, with an emphasis on technology and information privacy and security. "We are excited to welcome Lee Henderson to our firm. With his outstanding expertise in business law and information privacy and...
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Assistant

Michelle Messer

515-323-8828 

Undergraduate

Knox College

B.A., History  

Legal

Drake University Law School 

J.D., with high honors

Admitted

Iowa, 2013

Michigan, 2009 (inactive)

Memberships & Associations

  • Iowa State Bar Association
    Member ; Corporate Counsel Section (Chair);  Business Law Section
  • Technology Association of Iowa
    Member; Legal Roundtable
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
    Member; Earned CIPP/US in 2020 (Certified Information Privacy Professional in US Law)
  • American Bar Association
    Member
  • Polk County Bar Association
    Member