William C. Brown

I want to be known as a lawyer who always advances the interests of his clients above my own interests.  This can mean foregoing litigation and instead settling claims in an expeditious manner, thereby avoiding the extraordinary cost and business distraction of prolonged litigation.  It also means getting to yes, as I have found that clients are generally interested in getting a good deal, but usually are far more interested in getting a deal done than in getting the last dollar.  In my 45 years of law practice, this approach has served me well and I believe has resulted in very satisfied clients.

My Approach

As a business lawyer with a subspecialty in taxation, my role is to serve as a trusted business advisor and not just as an attorney advocate.  As a result, I serve on a number of different corporate boards of directors.  Even if I am not formally assigned such a role, my participation with a client is similar to that of an outside director giving an unbiased perspective on the matters at hand.  It is my role to help a client to determine both the immediate and long-term consequences of its business decisions and to help assess the risks and rewards of various strategies.  While it is important to understand the legal implications of these decisions, it is equally important to weigh the relative costs, risks and rewards of different approaches. 

More About Me

I received my B.A. with honors in psychology way back in 1974, followed by a J.D., with high distinction, in 1977 - both from the University of Iowa.  As a lifelong learner, I went back to school to obtain an L.L.M. in Taxation, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama in 2012.  I have been recognized by all of the major professional recognition publications, such as Best Lawyers®, SuperLawyers® and Chambers USA®.  I've also been deeply involved in my community, serving in leadership positions in my law firm and in various community organizations, including serving as Managing Member of BrownWinick and Chair of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

While I have written my share of professional journal articles, spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars and even taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa and Drake University, what really motivates me is delving into the intricacies of client issues and devising a creative and practical plan to identify and implement client objectives. 

My Specialties

• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Taxation
• Behavioral Health Care
• Manufacturing
• Corporate Finance
• Wills, Estates, Probate