profile headshot of William C. Brown

Specialties

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

Business Considerations for Those Impacted by COVID-19

05-5-2020 While businesses have patiently awaited the lifting of closure orders associated with the pandemic, the uncertainty of business recovery looms as state and local governments begin easing closure restrictions. What will business look like in the post-closure world? How long will it take for business to recover? These are amongst the most pressing...
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Should You Invest Your I.R.A. in Friends, Family or Charitable Work?

10-10-2017 BrownWinick tax attorney William Brown was featured in The New York Times on Friday, October 6, 2017. The article, "Should You Invest Your I.R.A. in Friends, Family or Charitable Work?" discusses self-directed I.R.A.'s, which allows investments in "alternative assets" and not just traditional stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
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BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® List

08-17-2023 BrownWinick is pleased to announce that 33 lawyers have been included in the 2024 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. BrownWinick would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2024 The Best Lawyers...
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Chambers USA 2023 Guide Recognizes Eight BrownWinick Attorneys and Four Practice Areas

06-1-2023 BrownWinick is proud to announce the recognition of several of its attorneys in the prestigious Chambers USA 2023 guide. Chambers USA is an esteemed legal directory that evaluates and ranks attorneys and law firms based on their legal expertise, professional achievements, and client feedback. The rankings and accolades received in Corporate/M&A,...
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2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Great Plains Rising Stars Feature BrownWinick Attorneys

06-1-2023 BrownWinick is excited to announce the following attorneys were selected for inclusion in the Great Plains Super Lawyers directory for 2023. The Great Plains Super Lawyers and Rising Stars listings include the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.  Nine BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2023 Great Plains...
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BrownWinick Law Firm Attorneys Featured in 2021 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Great Plains Rising Stars

08-20-2021 BrownWinick is excited to announce the following attorneys were selected for inclusion in the Great Plains Super Lawyers directory for 2021. Seven BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2021 Great Plains Super Lawyers online listing: William Brown - Tax Michael Dee – Business Litigation Thomas Johnson – Business/Corporate James...
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Chambers USA 2021 Recognizes BrownWinick Attorneys and Practices

05-25-2021 BrownWinick, a preeminent business law firm with offices in Des Moines and Pella, has once again been ranked among leading law firms in the exclusive Chambers USA 2021 Guide. The Chambers USA 2021 Guide is compiled through a research-based review that evaluates the multiple practice areas of hundreds of law firms through investigative research and...
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BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America List

08-21-2020 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...
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BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2020 Best Lawyers List

08-15-2019 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...
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BrownWinick Attorneys Featured in 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Great Plains Rising Stars

07-11-2019 Eleven BrownWinick attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers online listing: 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...
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Chambers USA Names BrownWinick Law Firm and 11 of its Attorneys "Leaders in Iowa"

04-30-2019 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...
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BrownWinick Attorneys Named to 2019 Best Lawyers® List

08-16-2018 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...
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Assistant

Patty Tingle

515-248-6631

Undergraduate

University of Iowa

B.A., with honors, Psychology, 1974

Graduate

University of Alabama

L.L.M., Summa Cum Laude, 2012

Legal

University of Iowa College of Law

J.D., with high distinction, 1977

Admitted

Iowa, 1977;

Colorado, 2021

Memberships & Associations

  • Iowa State Bar Association
    Member; Taxation Section; Taxation Council, 1996-2002; Chair, Corporate and Partnership Taxation Committee, 1995-1996; Chair, Federal Tax Legislation Committee, 1996-1999
  • Iowa Association of Business and Industry
    Board of Directors, Chair, 2009-2010; Executive Committee; Commerce and Economic Development Committee
  • Fellow: American College of Tax Counsel
  • Lisle Corporation
    Board of Directors
  • EZ Way, Inc.
    Board of Directors
  • Napa Valley Homeowners' Association
    Board
  • Adjunct Professor, Securities Law, Drake University Law School, 2013
  • Adjunct Professor, Partnership Taxation, University of Iowa School of Law, 2013
  • Adjunct Professor, Federal Income Tax Taxation, Drake University Law School, 1984
  • Order of the CoifPhi Beta KappaPhi Delta Phi
  • Member, University of Iowa Moot Court Board, 1976-1977