Cara S. Donels
About Cara S. Donels
Cara S. Donels is a lawyer based in Des Moines, IA and has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America since 2023. Cara S. Donels is recognized in the following practice areas:
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Commercial Litigation
- Intellectual Property Law
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Patent
Current Firm: Fredrikson & Byron PA
Education: The University of Iowa, J.D., graduated 2019
Location: Des Moines, IA
It takes just a few minutes to optimize your profile for clients looking to engage and lawyers who are ready to refer.
Activate your profile and highlight why your peers recognized in Best Lawyers today.
Nearby Lawyers
Lori A. Brandau is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Lori A., who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lori A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brian is a trial lawyer born and raised in Iowa who practices with Galligan Law PC in Clive, Iowa. He represents injured individuals and families in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. His work focuses on claims involving medical negligence, motor vehicle collisions, defective products, and other acts of negligence that cause serious injury or loss. Brian earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College in Colorado Springs befo...
Kevin is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Kevin has been listed in the Best Lawyers of America since 2008 and Chamber's USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2006. He was named "Des Moines Construction Lawyer of the Year" in 2015 and 2017 by Best Lawyers of America.Kevin maintains a trial practice in the area of professional negligence, in the defense of physicians, attorneys, architects and engineers, as well as ...
D. Brian Scieszinski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. D. Brian, who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which D. Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Amy’s practice includes corporate law, banking law, mergers and acquisitions, business formations, e-commerce, intellectual property law, and publishing law. Amy also assists clients with intellectual property, e-commerce law, and software licensing agreements. She serves as chair of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and currently serves on the firm’s Board of Directors. Amy earned her B.S. from the University of Minnesota in 1999 and her J.D. from Pepperdin...
Mary Zambreno has extensive trial experience as a member of Dickinson's Litigation Group. Mary focuses her practice on serving clients who are either going through the emotional process of divorce or dealing with modifications to decrees after their marriages have already been dissolved. She is an experienced advocate for her clients, determined to reach the outcome that will best position them for a financially stable future. Mary handles complex custody and visitation issues, property divis...
Melissa Schilling represents public and private sector employers in labor and employment matters. In that role, she has successfully represented clients in state and federal cases involving a broad range of labor and employment laws, including Title VII, the American with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Melissa also has extensive experience investigating and handling matters filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) and related...
Erik Bergeland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Health Care, Litigation - Insurance and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Erik, who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Erik is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Blake R. Hanson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Blake R., who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Blake R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David practices primarily in the area of taxation. He provides a broad range of tax counsel to small businesses on topics including federal and state income tax planning, taxation of employee benefits, equity structure and mergers, and succession planning. He also counsels and advises clients with respect to the management of their wealth to minimize estate and inheritance taxes through the use of asset protection trusts, grantor trusts, powers of appointment, lifetime gifts, QTIP trusts and ...
Explore and Learn
The Family Law Loophole That Lets Sex Offenders Parent Kids
by Bryan Driscoll
Is the state's surrogacy framework putting children at risk?
Recognizing Legal Leaders: The 2027 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan and Singapore
by Jamilla Tabbara
Market drivers, diversity trends and the elite practitioners shaping the legal landscape.
Holiday Pay Explained: Federal Rules and Employer Policies
by Bryan Driscoll
Understand how paid holidays work, when employers must follow their policies and when legal guidance may be necessary.
Can a Green Card Be Revoked?
by Bryan Driscoll
Revocation requires a legal basis, notice and the chance to respond before status can be taken away.
New Texas Family Laws Transform Navigating Divorce, Custody
by Bryan Driscoll
Reforms are sweeping, philosophically distinct and designed to change the way families operate.
How Far Back Can the IRS Audit You?
by Bryan Driscoll
Clear answers on IRS statutes of limitations, recordkeeping and what to do if you are under review.
US Tariff Uncertainty Throws Canada Into Legal Purgatory
by Bryan Driscoll
The message is clear: There is no returning to pre-2025 normalcy.
Can You File Bankruptcy on Credit Cards
by Bryan Driscoll
Understanding your options for relief from overwhelming debt.
Musk v. Altman: The Lawyers Behind the Case
by Jamilla Tabbara
Meet the Trial Lawyers Shaping One of AI's Biggest Legal Disputes.