I am a commercial litigator. That means I’m a lawyer, but I’m also a specialized writer and adviser. When I write, I do it with a unique audience, means, and goal in mind. Specifically, I write to the court, with the law, and for you, the client. When I give advice, I am objective. I look for risks and I give my clients honest answers. (The commercial part means I normally represent businesses, but don’t worry, I think that natural people are people too.)
My Approach
I like practical solutions and I hate theoretical problems. The clients I serve don’t present me with easy, this-is-right-and-this-is-wrong legal issues. When I meet with you, I listen closely, I’m interested in the whole story, and I try to understand what really happened. I empathize. I consider motivations, perceptions. Only when we truly, closely know the matter can we effectively resolve it. Sometimes resolution means a lawsuit. Sometimes it means pointed communications. Sometimes it just means sitting down and hashing it out. I don’t care if yours is a 1-hour matter or a 1,000-hour matter; when I’m working on it, it’s the most important matter.
More About Me
I’m from a small Iowa town. I know what it means to work hard and build something, which is why I have so much respect for the business owners we commonly serve at BrownWinick. I graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Political Science (minor in Theatre Arts—we can dream, can’t we?), after which I went to Drake University Law School and graduated with my J.D., highest honors. I then clerked for Chief Justice Cady of the Iowa Supreme Court, where I honed my research and writing skills and developed a deep appreciation for justice.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come in my life, so I take time to give back. I volunteer regularly at a local animal shelter and I am on the Board of Directors for the Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, serving clients with legal needs on a pro bono basis. I am also involved in the legal community as a member of the Polk County, State of Iowa, and American Bar Associations.