James E. "Jim" Van Werden

Jon was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1957. He attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1980. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Drake University in 1983 and was admitted to the Iowa State Bar that same year. Jon has received the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards from Martindale-Hubbell, earning an AV Preeminent peer review rating. Jon is also included in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Pr...

Timothy N. Lillwitz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Tim, 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 Tim is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Tim joined the litigation division of Dickinson Bradshaw in 2006 and has first and second-chaired numerous ...

Nicole Proesch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law and Employment Law - Management. Nicole, 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 Nicole is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. With over 20 years of experience, Attorney Nicole Proesch has a practice that focuses on Employment L...

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.

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 ...

Clarifying complexities and approaching litigation from common ground. That’s Mollie Pawlosky’s foundation for building client relationships. “Clients don’t let their passions dictate their business decisions,” Mollie explains. “It’s my goal to ensure clients don’t let their passions dictate their decisions during litigation.” Through her commercial litigation practice, Mollie walks clients through complex litigation such as commercial for...

Justin LaVan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Justin, 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 Justin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stacie maintains a diverse civil litigation and trial law practice. Her practice includes but is not limited to health law, professional liability and malpractice defense, professional licensing, employment law, products and premises liability, personal injury, insurance defense, insurance subrogation, and appeals. Stacie frequently represents clients in complex litigation, defends employers and individuals in employment related litigation, and provides employment related advice. A significan...

Ron Mountsier is engaged in a general practice including but not limited to taxation, business law, corporate law, wills, trusts, estate planning and probate law. He advises clients on a wide range of taxation topics and represents many clients in tax audits, appeals and litigation, and collection matters. He also advises clients in general business and corporate law matters, as well as in estate planning and probate matters.

David Wetsch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. David, who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.