The vibrant and diverse Iowa economy offers companies a variety of business opportunities. To assist these companies, Faegre & Benson established a Des Moines office in 1990 — making it the first national law firm in the city. Through this office, we are positioned to handle the domestic and international legal needs of Iowa businesses in a variety of industries — and represent foreign and domestic companies with regard to their interests in the state.

Statement of Practice

General Practice including Agribusiness, Corporate, Banking, E-Commerce, Employment, Insurance, Media and Communications, Products Liability, Real Estate, Antitrust and Commercial Litigation.

The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements, certification, specialization or self-proclaimed expertise. A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyers as specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. These disclosures are required by the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Address

801 Grand Avenue, Suite 3100
Des Moines, IA 50309-8002, (Polk Co.)

Phone

Phone: 515-248-9000
Facsimile: 515-248-9010

Website

http://www.faegre.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

(For complete Biographical Data on all personnel, see Professional Biographies at Minneapolis, Minnesota)

RESIDENT PARTNERS

Andrew R. Anderson (Partner) born Cedar Falls, Iowa, October 19, 1964; admitted to bar, 1993, Iowa and Minnesota; 1997, Arizona. Education: Luther College (B.A., 1987); Australian National University (M.A., with distinction, 1991); University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., with distinction, 1992). Law Clerk, Fifth Judicial District of Iowa, 1993-1994. Practice Areas: Renewable Energy; Project Development; Finance and Gaming.Email: Andrew R. Anderson

Terri L. Combs (Partner) born Joplin, Missouri; admitted to bar, 1983, District of Columbia; 1984, New York; 1994, Iowa. Education: Southwest Missouri State University (B.S., summa cum laude); Georgetown University (J.D.). Case and Notes Editor, The Tax Lawyer, 1981-1982. Law Clerk to Honorable Myron H. Bright, Judge U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1982-1983.Email: Terri L. Combs

Michael A. Giudicessi (Partner) born Des Moines, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1979, Iowa. Education: University of Missouri (B.J., 1976); University of Iowa (J.D., with distinction, 1979). Law Clerk to Honorable Leo E. Oxberger, Chief Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals, 1979-1980. Member: Iowa State and American Bar Associations; Federal Communications Bar Association.Email: Michael A. Giudicessi

Ross W. Johnson (Partner) born Racine, Wisconsin, 1970; admitted to bar, 1997, Arizona; 2001, Iowa. Education: Arizona State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1993); University of Iowa (J.D., with high distinction, 1997). Phi Beta Kappa; Order of the Coif. Member, Iowa Law Review, 1995-1997.Email: Ross W. Johnson

Kimberly J. Walker (Partner) born Washington, Iowa, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Iowa and California. Education: University of Iowa (B.S., with honors, 1976; J.D., with high distinction, 1979). Law Clerk to Honorable William C. Stuart, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Iowa, 1979-1981. Practice Areas: Agricultural Law; Antitrust and Trade Regulation; Litigation.Email: Kimberly J. Walker

SPECIAL COUNSEL

Thomas L. Slaughter (Special Counsel) born Des Moines, Iowa, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Iowa; 1987, New York. Education: McPherson College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1976); University of Iowa (J.D., with distinction, 1979). Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, Meredith Corporation, 1994-1999. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; Intellectual Property.Email: Thomas L. Slaughter

RESIDENT STAFF ATTORNEYS

Amy R. Miller (Staff Attorney) born Des Moines, Iowa, 1978; admitted to bar, 2003, Missouri; 2004, Kansas; 2005, Iowa. Education: Iowa State University (B.S., with distinction, 2000); University of Iowa (J.D., with distinction, 2003). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Amy R. Miller

Angela J. Morales (Staff Attorney) born Des Moines, Iowa, 1976; admitted to bar, 2001, Iowa. Education: Drake University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1998; J.D., with highest honors, 2001). Associate Editor, Drake Law Review, 2000-2001.Email: Angela J. Morales

RESIDENT ASSOCIATES

Jacob D. Bylund (Associate) born Creston, Iowa; admitted to bar, 2003, Iowa. Education: Iowa State University (B.A., 2000); University of Iowa (J.D., with high distinction, 2003). Order of the Coif. Senior Associate Editor, Journal of Corporation Law. Practice Areas: Litigation; Agricultural Law.Email: Jacob D. Bylund

Diana L. Grimes (Associate) born 1981; admitted to bar, 2007, Iowa. Education: Grinnell College (B.A., 2004); Washington & Lee University (J.D., cum laude, 2007). Dean's List. Phi Beta Kappa; Omicron Delta Kappa. Managing Editor, Washington & Lee Law Review, 2006-2007. Summer Clerk to Hon. Judge Pelton, 2005.Email: Diana L. Grimes

Carolyn A. Gunkel (Associate) born Des Moines, Iowa, 1979; admitted to bar, 2006, Iowa; 2007, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and U.S. District Court, Central and Northern Districts of Illinois. Education: Drake University (B.S.B.A., cum laude, 2001); Drake University Law School (J.D., with highest honors, 2006) Order of the Coif. Member: Junior Staff, 2005-2006 and Executive Editor, 2005-2006, Drake Law Review. Practice Areas: Agribusiness.Email: Carolyn A. Gunkel

Adam Hertzke (Associate) born Ames, Iowa; admitted to bar, 2009, Iowa. Education: Iowa State University (B.S., with distinction, 2004; M.B.A., 2006); University of Iowa (J.D., with distinction, 2009). Dean's List. Member: Iowa State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Financial Institutions Law; Agricultural Law; Government.Email: Adam Hertzke

Todd P. Langel (Associate) born LeMars, Iowa, 1981; admitted to bar, 2006, Iowa. Education: Iowa State University (B.S., 2003); Drake University Law School (J.D., 2005). Reported Cases: Cargill, Inc. v. Mitchell, 2008 WL 4724855 (Iowa App., October 29, 2008). Practice Areas: Agricultural Law; Litigation; Environmental Law.Email: Todd P. Langel

Jesse Linebaugh (Associate) born Ottumwa, Iowa, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, Texas; 2004, Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.B.A., with honors and high distinction, 1999); Duke University (J.D., 2002). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Securities Litigation; Financial Services Litigation.Email: Jesse Linebaugh

Nicole Nicolino Nayima (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Iowa; 2009, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Creighton University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2004); University of Iowa (J.D., with distinction, 2007). Note and Comments Editor, 2006-2007 and Student Writer, 2005-2006, Journal of Gender, Race & Justice. Volunteer, Big Brothers Big Sisters. Treasurer, Inter-Faith Alliance of Iowa. Member: Iowa State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Litigation.Email: Nicole Nicolino Nayima

Jennifer Peterson (Associate) born Des Moines, Iowa, 1974; admitted to bar, 2003, Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1996; J.D., 2003). Member, Junior League of Des Moines. Member: Polk County Women Attorneys (Publicity Chair).Email: Jennifer Peterson

Jess Phelps (Associate) born Omaha, Nebraska; admitted to bar, 2007, New York. (Not admitted in Iowa). Education: Iowa State University (B.A., graduated with distinction, 2004); Drake University Law School (J.D., 2007). Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Agricultural Law; International Trade; Environmental Law.Email: Jess Phelps

Stuart A. Ruddy (Associate) born Fort Dodge, Iowa, 1971; admitted to bar, 2001, Wisconsin; 2006, Iowa. Education: Loras College (B.A., Political Science and Speech Communication, magna cum laude, 1994); Georgetown University (J.D., 2001). President, Student Bar Association. Member, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. Staff Member, Law Weekly Newspaper. Member: Iowa State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Wisconsin; International Council of Shopping Centers. Practice Areas: Real Estate Finance; Real Estate Development; Real Estate Leasing.Email: Stuart A. Ruddy