Sheila K. Tipton

Member

Office: 515-242-2438

Fax: 515-323-8538

Email: sheila.tipton@brownwinick.com

  

Specialties

As co-chair of Brown Winick’s Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Practice Group, I spend all of my time helping clients navigate the exciting and ever-changing world of energy and other utility infrastructure – infrastructure that is essential to the lives of everyone, everywhere.  It is a practice that I have enjoyed for 40 years.  In that time, I have helped my clients develop and finance the facilities necessary to create and safely deliver energy, water and communication services to their customers. I have represented public investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, private developers, commercial and industrial customers, residential customers and cities.  I have represented those clients in certification, siting, ratemaking, rulemaking, merger, reorganization, permitting, licensing, compliance and other litigated proceedings before state and federal administrative agencies and in the state and federal courts.  Whether you need to know what laws and regulations affect your business, how to obtain the necessary approvals to conduct that business, what documentation is required, how to resolve thorny regulatory or contractual issues or resolving disputes that may arise in any of those contexts, I am ready, willing and able – and excited — to provide the assistance you need.   

My Approach

My goal with every representation is to help you accomplish your objectives as thoroughly, quickly and efficiently as possible.   I understand very well that for you, time is money and the sooner that you can get your project to commercial operation, or your commercial dispute resolved, the better.   To do that, I make certain that I know as much as possible about your business and goals.   I also work hard to maintain a deep and current knowledge of the relevant industry and the laws and regulations that govern it.  Finally, I work very hard every day to develop and maintain a reputation for knowledge, credibility and trust among regulators, opposing counsel and the judiciary, which works to your advantage as my client.

More About Me

I have a J.D. with honors from Drake University and a B.S. Degree from Ohio University.  Since being admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1980, I have been a member of the American, Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations.  Before joining Brown Winick, I practiced law at other Des Moines firms.  From 2013-2015, I was a member of the Iowa Utilities Board, which regulates rates and services of Iowa’s utilities. 

My Martindale Hubbell rating is AV (Preeminent) (peers and judiciary ratings).  I have been listed in Best Lawyers© since 1992, in Super Lawyers© since 2008, and in Great Plains Super Lawyers© since 2009.  I was Best Lawyers© Lawyer of the Year in Administrative/Regulatory Law in 2017 and in Communications Law in 2012. 

My community activity has included service on the Drake University Law School, Des Moines Metro Opera, Youth Homes of MidAmerica, Downtown Community Alliance and Rotary Club boards.   

My Specialties

  • Energy Law
  • Renewable Energy Law (wind, solar, renewable natural gas)
  • Water Law
  • Telecommunications Law
  • Administrative/Regulatory Law

Near Term Legislative Relief for Renewable Energy Projects Unlikely, Focus Shifts to Treasury

April 9, 2020   When Congress was considering its COVID-19 economic stimulus package last month, renewable energy advocates pressed for relief from the economic hardships created by the Read…

IEDA and IEC Financial Assistance Programs

April 17, 2019 The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Energy Center (IEC) have opened two new programs to facilitate energy-related projects in Iowa, the IEC Grant Program Read…

Financing Renewable Energy Projects

January 29, 2019 BrownWinick's Energy Practice Group is proud to have been asked to contribute the Iowa Chapter for the new American Bar Association treatise on Financing Renewable Energy Projects: A Read…

Use of Microgrids During Natural Disasters

September 1, 2017 The nation’s attention is focused on the devastation brought to Texas and Louisiana by Hurricane Harvey, but there is one positive development that deserves our Read…

Houston Grocery Store Survives with a Microgrid

August 31, 2017 The nation’s attention is focused on the devastation brought to Texas and Louisiana by Hurricane Harvey, but there is one positive development that deserves our 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…

BrownWinick Attorneys Featured in 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Great Plains Rising Stars

July 11, 2019 Eleven BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers online listing: Rebecca Brommel – Business Litigation William Brown – Tax Elizabeth Coonan – Employment and Labor Michael Dee – Business Litigation Alice Helle – Employee Benefits Thomas Johnson – Business/Corporate Ann Holden Kendell – Employment and Labor James Pray – Environmental Brian Rickert – Construction Litigation Christopher Sackett – Mergers and Acquisitions Sheila Tipton – Energy and Resources Thirteen BrownWinick attorneys were Read…

BW Secures Major Court Victories in Wind Energy Development Cases

May 3, 2019 The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the adoption of a wind ordinance and the issuance of a permit to construct a wind farm by the Palo Alto County Board of Supervisors, holding that the Board of Supervisors’ consideration of the views of constituents and applicants for wind energy project permits does not invalidate adoption of a 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 Attorneys Featured in 2018 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Great Plains Rising Stars

July 2, 2018 Twelve BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2018 Great Plains Super Lawyers online listing: Ronni F. Begleiter – Employee Benefits Rebecca Brommel – Business Litigation William C. Brown – Tax Elizabeth A. Coonan – Employment & Labor Michael A. Dee – Business Litigation Alice E. Helle – Employee Benefits Thomas D. Johnson – Business/Corporate Ann Holden Kendell – Employment & Labor James L. Pray – Environmental Brian P. Rickert – Construction Litigation Christopher R. Sackett – Mergers 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 Featured in 2017 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Great Plains Rising Stars

July 17, 2017 Ten BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2017 Great Plains Super Lawyers online listing: Ronni F. Begleiter – Employee Benefits/ERISA William C. Brown – Tax Elizabeth A. Coonan – Employment & Labor Michael A. Dee – Business Litigation Alice E. Helle – Employee Benefits Ann Holden Kendell – Employment & Labor James L. Pray – Environmental Brian P. Rickert – Construction Litigation Christopher R. Sackett – Mergers & Acquisitions Sheila K. 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 Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America “Lawyers of the Year” for 2017

August 15, 2016 The Best Lawyers in America®, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named two BrownWinick attorneys as Best Lawyers® “Lawyers of the Year” for 2017 in Des Moines. James L. Pray was named the Best Lawyers® 2017 Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Des Moines.   Sheila K. Tipton was named the Best Lawyers® 2017 Administrative/Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Read…

BrownWinick Attorneys Featured in 2016 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

July 13, 2016 Ten BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2016 Great Plains Super Lawyers online listing: Ronni F. Begleiter – Employee Benefits William C. Brown – Tax Elizabeth A. Coonan – Employment & Labor Michael A. Dee – Business Litigation Alice Helle – Employee Benefits Ann Holden Kendell – Employment & Labor Brian Pingel – Intellectual Property Brian P. Rickert – Construction Litigation Christopher R. Sackett – Mergers & Acquisitions Sheila K. Tipton – Energy & Resources Nine Read…

Assistant

Gabe Foshe

515-558-8846

Undergraduate

Ohio University

B.S., Zoology, 1973

Legal

Drake University

J.D., with honors, 1980

Admitted

Iowa, 1980

Memberships & Associations

  • Polk County Bar Association
    Member; Board of Directors (2006-2008); Ethics Committee (2006-2008)
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    Member; Administrative Law Section; Chair, International Trade Committee (1992-1994); Co-Chair, Iowa Supreme Court Quality of Life Task Force (1993-1996); Section Council, Section of Business Law (1993-1996); Section Council, Section of Administrative Law (1989-1991)
  • American Bar Association
    Member; Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section
  • Energy Bar Association
    Member
  • American Arbitration Association
    Member
  • National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
    Member; Committee on Telecommunications and Critical Infrastructure Committee (2013-2015)
  • Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC)
    Member (August 2013-April 2015)
  • Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC)
    Member (2014-2015)
  • Board of Directors, Embassy Club of Des Moines
    Member (2012–2015)
  • Board of Directors, AIB College of Business
    Member (2012–Present)
  • Power Generation and Marketing Committee, Federal Energy Bar Association
    Chair (2006-2007)
  • Electricity Committee of the Public Utility Section of the American Bar Association
    Member (2002-2007)
  • Drake University Law School
    Board of Counselors (1996-1998; 2003–2009)
  • Rotary Club of Des Moines
    Member; Board of Directors (1996-2003); Sergeant-at-Arms (1997-1998); Secretary-Treasurer (1998-1999); Vice President (1999-2000); President Elect (2000-2001); President (2001-2002)
  • Des Moines Metro Opera, Inc.
    Member; Board of Directors (1991-2005); Vice President-Development (1994-1995); President Elect (1995-April 1996); President (April 1996-August 1997)
  • Youth Homes of Mid-America
    Member; Board of Directors (1990-1997); Secretary (1994-1996); Vice President (1996-1997)
  • Polk County Legal Aid Society
    Member; Board of Directors (1990-1992); President (1991-1992)
  • Downtown Community Alliance
    Member; Board of Directors (2012–2013)