Ryan Nixon

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,...

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...

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...

Lori A. Brandau is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Lori, 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 is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Lori's practice also extends into the area of mediation, where she frequently serves as a mediator in workers' c...

William S. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. William, who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. William practices as Smith & Kramer, P.C. and Of Counsel to Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C....

Megan Kennedy Marty is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law and Trusts and Estates. Megan Kennedy, 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 Megan Kennedy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph Moser is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Litigation - Health Care. Joseph, 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 Joseph 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...

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...

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...