Michael R. Blaser

Member

Office: 515-242-2480

Fax: 515-323-8580

Email: mike.blaser@brownwinick.com

  

Specialties

I am a senior partner at BrownWinick, where I use my experience and expertise to help you achieve the goals and objectives that you have for yourself and your business.  I strive to deliver legal products and services to you on a timely basis, always aiming to exceed your expectations.  I am blessed to be able to work with an outstanding team of attorneys and staff at BrownWinick, which permits me to customize the size and scope of attorneys and staff working on each client matter, from multi-million dollar business sales or acquisitions, to procurement and sale contracts, to litigation and arbitration matters that can make or break a business.

My Approach

Having an accounting background, my approach to any of your transactional matters is to discuss the matter with you to determine your objectives, to evaluate the options to enable you to achieve the objectives, and then to efficiently and effectively staff the matter as appropriate and oversee the matter to its conclusion.  Non-transactional matters often require a different approach, discerning what your objectives and concerns are, advising you based on my experience, and relying on other lawyers in our firm, as appropriate, to assist you in further refining the desired outcome of the matter and then implementing and executing the plan to achieve the desired outcome.

More About Me

I received by B.B.A in accounting, with honors, from the University of Iowa in 1982.  I passed the CPA Exam in January of 1983, and then received my J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa in 1985.  I was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1985 and joined BrownWinick shortly thereafter.  In 1995, I left BrownWinick to serve as general counsel of Iowa Select Farms, currently the fourth largest independent hog producer in the United States, returning to BrownWinick in 2000. I have been recognized in Chambers USA® as a leader in Iowa in corporate/M&A, and in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of business organizations, including LLC’s and partnerships, agricultural law and mergers and acquisitions law.  I currently serve on the Environmental Committee of the National Pork Producers Association and was appointed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to the Nutrient Work Group for the Governor’s 2003 Iowa Water Summit and by Mike Johanns, United States Secretary of Agriculture, to the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force for 2006-2008.  I have registered as a lobbyist in Iowa when needed, including for livestock legislation adopted by the Iowa Legislature in 1995, 1998 and 2002.

My Specialties

  • Business/Corporate/Corporate Formation
  • Corporate Finance and Securities Law
  • Agribusiness
  • Environmental
  • Real Estate
  • Corporate Formation
  • Governmental Relations

What the $50 Million Swine Nuisance Verdict Could Mean for Midwestern Producers

May 4, 2018 Michael Blaser, an agribusiness attorney at BrownWinick, was quoted in an article titled, "What the $50 Million Swine Nuisance Verdict Could Mean for Midwestern Producers," in the Read…

IDAHO CASE PROVIDES POSITIVE PRECEDENT FOR AG PROTECTION ACT

January 12, 2018 To Our Clients: The Iowa Legislature passed H.F. 589, “Agriculture Production Facility Fraud,” codified as Iowa Code section 717A.3A in 2012. This statute is commonly Read…

Major Changes to Iowa's Mechanic's Lien Laws - Know Your Rights

February 13, 2013 These new rules became effective and apply to material furnished or labor performed after January 1, 2013, so these new Mechanic's Lien rules are already Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America List

August 21, 2020 BrownWinick is pleased to announce that 26 lawyers have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers® has published their list for more than three decades, earning the respect of the Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2020 Best Lawyers List

August 15, 2019 BrownWinick is pleased to announce that 24 lawyers have been included in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers® has published their list for more than three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, Read…

Chambers USA Names BrownWinick Law Firm and 11 of its Attorneys “Leaders in Iowa”

April 30, 2019 BrownWinick, a Des Moines based law firm, has been recognized as a “leading law firm” in Chambers USA 2019 — America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the areas of Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, and Litigation: General Commercial. Additionally, 11 BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in Chambers USA 2019, being recognized as “leaders in Iowa” in the following areas: Corporate/M&A Labor & Employment Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyers of the Year” for 2019

August 16, 2018 The Best Lawyers in America®, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named five BrownWinick attorneys as Best Lawyers “Lawyers of the Year” for 2019.                                                           Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2019 Best Lawyers® List

August 16, 2018 BrownWinick is pleased to announce that 27 lawyers have been included in the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the Read…

BrownWinick Law Firm and Ten Attorneys Listed in Chambers USA 2018 – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

May 3, 2018 BrownWinick has been ranked as a “leading law firm” in Chambers USA 2018 – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the areas of Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, and Litigation: General Commercial. Ten attorneys from BrownWinick were selected for inclusion in Chambers USA 2018 as “leaders in Iowa” in the following areas: Michael R. Blaser – Corporate/M&A William C. Brown – Corporate/M&A Michael A. Dee – Litigation: General Commercial Douglas Gross – Corporate/M&A Alice Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2018 Best Lawyers List

August 15, 2017 BrownWinick is pleased to announce that 26 lawyers have been included in the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2017

August 15, 2016 BrownWinick is proud to announce that 24 attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. The lawyers included are: Ronni F. Begleiter (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Trusts and Estates) Marc T. Beltrame (Government Relations Practice) Michael R. Blaser (Agriculture Law; Business Organizations, including Read…

BrownWinick Law Firm and Nine Attorneys Listed in Chambers USA 2016 – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

June 2, 2016 BrownWinick has been ranked as a “leading law firm” in Chambers USA® 2016 – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the areas of Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, and Litigation: General Commercial. Nine attorneys from BrownWinick were selected for inclusion in Chambers USA® 2016 as “leaders in Iowa” in the following areas: Doug E. Gross – Corporate/M&A William C. Brown – Corporate/M&A Christopher R. Sackett – Corporate/M&A Michael R. Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2016

August 17, 2015 BrownWinick is proud to announce that 24 attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. The lawyers included are: Ronni F. Begleiter (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Trusts and Estates) Marc T. Beltrame (Government Relations Practice) Michael R. Blaser (Business Organizations, Read…

Assistant

Samantha Garner

515-248-6620

Undergraduate

University of Iowa

B.B.A., with honors, 1982

Legal

University of Iowa

J.D., with distinction, 1985

Admitted

Iowa, 1985

Memberships & Associations

  • Polk County Bar Association, Member
  • Iowa State Bar Association, Member; Sections on: Agricultural Law; Business Law; Environmental & Natural Resources
  • City of West Des Moines Board of Adjustment, Member
  • Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member
  • National Pork Producer’s Council, Environmental Committee
  • USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, 2006-2008
  • Phi Delta Phi; Beta Alpha Psi; Beta Gamma Sigma