Jonathan A. Napier

I'm a member with the BrownWinick law firm and am currently a member of the firm's Executive Committee. I spend my time helping people solve problems, usually legal issues, but it's often hard to draw a line where “business” ends and “legal” begins. Depending on the situation, I may be next to you in the boardroom, meeting with the other side's lawyer one on one, or leading a team of BrownWinick colleagues from beginning to end on a complex transaction. I can give you detailed legal analysis on complex issues and then work with you through the issues.  You get guidance and documents you can actually use.

My Approach

I learned a long time ago that every problem has a solution, and that risk and reward must always be balanced. Decisions need to be made, the information we have available to us is always incomplete, and time pressure looms. My job isn't to do whatever is easiest for me, it's easy for lawyers to say “no, don't do that because it involves risk.” Instead, my job is to help you identify and manage healthy business risks, not to fear or avoid hard decisions. The best lawyer is the one who understands your business and someone you understand. I don't give advice in legalese that needs a translator or talk in abstract generalities that won't help you move your business forward. I'm proud to have graduated from several plain language courses, and I use that training every day when I write to or speak with people.

More About Me

Before joining BrownWinick, I was general counsel for several large, private equity owned companies. I've been an executive and shareholder for most of my career and that's how I think. Legal issues aren't theoretical to me, they're real issues that we roll up our sleeves to solve. I know the pressures of meeting quarterly financials while building long-term shareholder value. I understand that every decision takes courage, even the decision to do nothing at a particular time. I'm proud to be more than just the lawyer' on deals. I see eye to eye with owners and executives and I bring you my experience (including hard-won lessons seeing businesses succeed or fail in the real world). My advice to you is always shaped by what I would do in your shoes.

I'm a native Iowan and I love the University of Iowa so much that I graduated from there twice, first with a B.A., with honors, in Religion in 1995, and then with a J.D., with high distinction, in 1998. I was a Member of the Iowa Law Review and a Captain of a Moot Court Team. I practiced law with a large law firm in Indianapolis and was General Counsel and Executive Vice President of several private equity portfolio companies in Dallas. I was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1998 (inactive), the Iowa bar in 2009 (active), and the Colorado bar in 2013 (inactive). I am a Board member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Downtown Community Alliance and on the Advisory Board for Dental Connections.

My Specialties

• Business and Corporate Law
• Private Equity
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Healthcare Services
• Dental Law
• Growth Capital (Venture Capital)
• Health Law