Frederick W. "Fred" James

Joel B. Templeman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Joel B., who practices law in West Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joel B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew J. Haindfield is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Matthew J., who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey Kappelman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Health Care. Jeffrey, 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 Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David advises clients, including small business owners and professionals, in a broad range of business and tax areas including corporate and business mergers and acquisitions, tax and employee benefits counsel and estate succession planning. This includes the preparation of wills, trusts and related documents. He also assists owners, professionals and executives in the formation and structure of their businesses including contract and compliance matters, and formation of corporations, limited...

L. Lars Hulsebus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Lars, 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 Lars is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. At Dickinson Bradshaw, Lars advocates for clients in high-stakes disputes of all kinds. Over more than a decade as a civil liti...

Dennis VanDerGinst Dennis VanDerGinst is a personal injury attorney, trial lawyer, and the Founder & CEO of VanDerGinst Law PC. He represents injured individuals and families throughout Illinois, Iowa, and other jurisdictions. For more than 30 years, Dennis has focused his practice on helping people navigate serious injury claims and complex litigation during challenging periods of their lives. Dennis handles a wide range of plaintiff-side personal injury matters, including car accidents,...

Howard Hagen practices primarily in banking law. For over 25 years he has counseled banks in virtually every Iowa county on such issues as regulation, acquisitions and various corporate and shareholder matters that have confronted banks in both good and troubled times. Howard also has served as counsel to the Community Bankers of Iowa for more than 20 years. He currently serves as a member of the American Bar Association Banking Law Committee. Earlier in his career, Howard served in the publi...

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...

Prior to returning to Iowa to join us in 2007, Rob was with the firm Wingert, Grebing, Brubaker & Goodwin, LLP in Las Vegas, Nevada and San Diego, California. He was a member of the University of San Diego Law Review. His primary practice area is professional negligence, including the defense of attorneys, architects and engineers. Rob is a member of the Lincoln Inn of Court and is listed in the Best Lawyers of America commencing in 2019.

Joseph M. Borg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Joseph M., who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.