MEMBERS OF FIRM
H. Daniel Smith (Partner) admitted to bar, 1977, Nebraska, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1988, U.S. Claims Court; 1990, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., 1974; J.D., 1977). Trustees, Chapter Board, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Board of Trustees: Goodwill Industries of Omaha; Lauritzen Botanical Gardens; Nonprofit Association of the Midlands; Chairman of Metro Operations Committee, Mid-America Council Boy Scouts of America. Board Member, Nebraska Continuing Legal Education. Chairman, Crew 2003, International Travel and Culture Venture Crew, Boy Scouts. Volunteer of the Year, United Way of the Midlands, 2005. Chairman, Lewis & Clark District - North, Metro and South Omaha, Mid-America Council Boy Scouts, 2004-2007. Scoutmaster, Troop 42, Mid-America Council Boy Scouts, 2001-2004. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and Federal (President, Nebraska Chapter, 1991-1992) Bar Associations. Fellow: American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Banks and Banking; Credit Finance; Commercial Law; Real Estate Finance; Business Law.Email: H. Daniel Smith
Paul J. Gardner (Partner) admitted to bar, 1977, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; 1981, U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.S., 1973); Creighton University (J.D., 1977). Member: United States Tennis Association; Omaha Tennis Association. Certified Referee, United States Tennis Association. Past Director, Emmy Gifford Children's Theater and CHAD/United Way. Graduate, Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Omaha Class 6. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and American (Member, Sections on: Taxation, Business Law and Estate Planning) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Business Planning Law; Acquisitions, Divestitures and Mergers; Business Organization; Taxation; Estate Planning.Email: Paul J. Gardner
Jerry M. Slusky (Partner) admitted to bar, 1971, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; 1985, Florida; 1973, U.S. Tax Court; 2006, Iowa. Education: University of Nebraska at Omaha (B.S., 1967); Creighton University (J.D., cum laude, 1971); New York University (LL.M., Taxation, 1973). Listed, 2008 Best Lawyers in America. Adjunct Professor, Real Estate Development and Finance, Creighton University School of Law, 1990-1995. Member, Government Affairs Committee, International Council of Shopping Centers, 1991-1996. Founder, Midwest Commercial Real Estate Workshop, 1990. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State, Iowa State, New York State and American Bar Associations. Fellow: American College of Real Estate Lawyers - ACREL. Practice Areas: Real Estate Development and Finance; Zoning Law; Municipal Law; Tax and Estate Planning; General Corporate Law; Mediation of Commercial Disputes .Email: Jerry M. Slusky
Edward F. Pohren (Partner) admitted to bar, 1979, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1997, Colorado. Education: Seton Hall University (B.A., cum laude, 1976); Creighton University (J.D., cum laude, 1979). Recipient, Service Award, St. Cecilia's Activities Booster Club. Member, Creighton Law Review, 1977-1979. Founder and Past Chairperson, Nebraska Leadership Seminar. Parishioner, St. Cecilia's Cathedral Parish. Volunteer: St. Cecilia's Educational Endowment Board of Trustees; The Parish Council; Parish Finance Committee. Previous Coach, various school sports teams. Member, Editorial Board of The Nebraska Lawyer. National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Member: Omaha and Nebraska State Bar Associations; Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. Reported Cases: Putnam v. Keller, 332 F.3d 541 (8th Cir. 2003); McCullough v. Real Foods, Inc., 140 F.3d 1123 (8th Cir. 1998); Kurkowski v. Volcker, 819 F.2d 201 (8th Cir. 1987); Mid-America, Inc. v. Shamaiengar, 714 F.2d 61 (8th Cir. 1983); The Conveyor Company v. Sunsource Technology Services, Inc., 398 F.Supp.2d 992 (ND Iowa 2005); Morgenstern v. Wilson, 133 F.R.D. 139 (D.Neb. 1990); Hill v. Emergency Dental, Inc., 2006 WL 1888657 (D.Neb. 2006); Hallie Management Co. v. Perry, 272 Neb. 81, 718 N.W.2d 531 (2006); Swoboda v. Volkman Plumbing, 269 Neb. 20, 690 N.W.2d 166 (2004); Hall County Public Defenders Organization v. County of Hall, 253 Neb. 763, 571 N.W.2d 789 (1998); Kaplan v. Black, 1996 WL 5858 (Neb. App. 1996); Kozlik v. Emelco, Inc., 240 Neb. 525, 48 N.W.2d 114 (1992); Mason v. Schumacher, 231 Neb. 929, 439 N.W.2d 61 (1989); Polenz v. Farm Bureau Ins. Co. of Nebraska, 227 Neb. 703, 419 N.W.2d 677 (1988); Life Investors Ins. Co. v. Citizens Nat. Bank of Wisner, 223 Neb. 663, 392 N.W.2d 771 (1986); Conservative Sav. & Loan Ass'n of Omaha v. Karp, 218 Neb. 217, 352 N.W.2d 900 (1984); L.J. Vontz Const. Co. v. Alliance Industries, Inc., 215 Neb. 268, 338 N.W.2d 60 (1983); Wright v. State ex rel. State Real Estate Commission, 208 Neb. 467, 304 N.W.2d 39 (1981). Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Workers' Compensation; Employment Law; Personal Injury; Civil Practice; Real Estate.Email: Edward F. Pohren
Clay M. Rogers (Partner) admitted to bar, 1974, Nebraska; U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., 1970); Creighton University (J.D., 1974). Certified Mediator, State and Federal Courts. Member, Board of Directors, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Member, Nebraska State Council, Ducks Unlimited. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations; American Bankruptcy Institute; Nebraska Association of Bank Attorneys. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Bankruptcy Law; Corporate Law; Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Law.Email: Clay M. Rogers
Elaine M. Martin (Partner) admitted to bar, 1978, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Duchesne College (B.A., cum laude, 1964); Creighton University (M.A., 1965; J.D., cum laude, 1978). Kappa Gamma Pi; Phi Alpha Theta; Alpha Sigma Nu. Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Creighton Law Review, 1977-1978. Author: "Melia v. Ford Motor Co.," 10 Creighton Law Review 198, 1976. Law Clerk to Hon. Donald R. Ross, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1979-1980. Board of Trustees: Christ Child Society; Cathedral Arts Project. Principal: Westendorf LLC; Martin Realty LLC; S&M Realty LLC; Gerard Realty. Past Board of Directors, Westendorf Manufacturing Co., Inc. Past Board of Trustees, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. Past Development Committee Head, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. Past Co-President, Creighton Preparatory School Parents Association. Member: Omaha and Nebraska State Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Hose v. Chicago and North Western Transp. Co., 70 F.3d 968 (8th Cir. 1995). Practice Areas: Toxic Torts; Brain Injury; Corporate Law; Civil Litigation; Business Law.Email: Elaine M. Martin
John C. Wieland (Partner) admitted to bar, 1974, Nebraska; 1975, Kansas; U.S. District Court, District of Kansas; U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Creighton University (B.A., Marketing, 1971; J.D., 1974). Member, Omaha Business Boosters, 1996-2008. Community Alliance, Board of Director, 1992-1994. Former Board of Director, Omaha Chapter of Compassionate Friends, Inc. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Labor and Employee Relations; Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Bankruptcy; Family Law; General Litigation.Email: John C. Wieland
Christopher D. Curzon (Partner) admitted to bar, 1991, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 2004, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Iowa; 2008, U.S. Tax Court; 2009, Iowa. Education: Brigham Young University (B.A., 1986); Widener University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1991). Recipient, Ten Outstanding Young Omahans Award, 1996. Member and Note and Comment Editor, Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, 1989-1991. Law Clerk: Honorable D. Nick Caporale, Nebraska Supreme Court, 1991-1992. Author: "Air Line Pilots Ass'n, Int'l b. UAL Corp: Antitakeover Defense Mechanisms in the Context of Labor Agreements," 16 Del.J.Corp.L. 1365, 1991, reprinted in 34 Corp. Practice Commentator 399, 1992. Campaign Manager, Congressman Hal Daub, 1986. District Representative, Congressman Hal Daub, 1986-1988. Graduate, Omaha Chamber of Commerce Leadership Omaha, Class 19. Member, Omaha Public Schools Desegregation Task Force Committee, 1996-1997. Ongoing Volunteer, Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout. Board of Director: Brigham Young University National Alumni Association, 2007; New Development Transitional Housing, 2001-2007; USA Wrestling Certified Coach. Member: Nebraska and Iowa State Bar Associations. Reported Cases: May v. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board et al., 368 B.R. 850 (Bkrtcy.D.Neb. 2007); Delcastillo v. Odyssey Resource Management, Inc., 479 F.Supp.2d 1087, 41 Employee Benefits Cas. 1180 (D.Neb. 2007); In re Golf, L.L.C., 322 B.R. 874 (Bkrtcy.D.Neb.,2004); Delcastillo v. Odyssey Resource Management, Inc., 320 F.Supp.2d 889 (D.Neb. 2004); Delcastillo v. Odyssey Resource Management, Inc., 431 F.3d 1124, 36 Employee Benefits Cas. 1705 (8th Cir. 2000); Oak Grove Farm Ltd. Partnership v. Conagra, Inc., 105 F.Supp.2d 1064 (D.Neb. 2000); Imageware, Inc. v. U.S. West Communications, 219 F.3d 793 (8th Cir. 2000); Mostly Media, Inc. v. U.S. West Communications, 186 F.3d 864, (8th Cir. 1999); Huffman v. Poore, 6 Neb.App. 43, 569 N.W.2d 549 (Neb.App. 1997); Abboud v. Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources Dist., 253 Neb. 514, 571 N.W.2d 302 (Neb. 1997); In re Rine & Rine Auctioneers, Inc., 74 F.3d 848, Bankr. L. Rep. P 76,765 (8th Cir. 1996); In re Rine & Rine Auctioneers, Inc., 74 F.3d 854 (8th Cir. 1996); West Gate Bank v. American Nat. Bank, 250 Neb. 506, 550 N.W.2d 318 (Neb. 1996); Jindra v. Clayton, 247 Neb. 597, 529 N.W.2d 523 (Neb. 1995); WBE Co., Inc. v. Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources Dist., 247 Neb. 522, 529 N.W.2d 21 (Neb. 1995); Western Sec. Bank. v. U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co., 248 Neb. 679, 539 N.W.2d 15 (Neb.1995); Nebel v. Internal Revenue Service et al., 175 B.R. 306 (Bkrtcy.D.Neb.1994). Languages: German. Practice Areas: Business; Corporate; Litigation; Commercial Law; Collections; Real Estate; Appellate Practice; Trademarks; Uniform Commercial Code; Creditor Bankruptcy; Adoptions.Email: Christopher D. Curzon
Jason M. Finch (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Iowa; 2001, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. (Not admitted in Nebraska). Education: Brigham Young University (B.S., 1994); Drake University (M.B.A., 1999; J.D., 1999); University of Arkansas (LL.M., 2000). Author: "The Making of Article 9 Section 9-312(2) into Model Provision Section 9-32A: The Production Money Security Interest: Finally a Sensible 'Superiority' for Crop Finance". Scoutmaster, Eagle Scout. Board Member, Latino Center of the Midlands. President, Drake Agriculture Law Society, 1999. Member: Iowa State Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Immigration Law; Criminal Defense; Civil Litigation.Email: Jason M. Finch
ASSOCIATES
Kevin J. McCoy (Associate) admitted to bar, 1990, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., magna cum laude, 1987); Creighton University (J.D., magna cum Laude, 1990). Phi Beta Kappa. Judicial Clerk to Hon. John T. Grant, Nebraska Supreme Court, 1990-1991. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Civil Procedure and Professional Responsibility. Staff Member, Creighton Law Review. Author: "Preserving Integrity in Capital Sentencing: Booth v. Maryland," 22 Creighton LR 333, 1989. Member: Nebraska State Bar Association.Email: Kevin J. McCoy
Shaun M. James (Associate) admitted to bar, 1998, Nebraska. Education: Hastings College (B.A., 1978); Creighton University (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Board Member, Past President, Vice President and Secretary, Board of the Friends of the Omaha Public Library, 2006-2008. Community Volunteer Services, Nebraska Humane Society and Mercy High School. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Real Estate; Zoning Law; Estate Planning; Probate; Municipal Law; Property Tax Appeals; Commercial Real Estate Development; Residential Real Estate Development; Real Estate Sales; Real Estate Finance.Email: Shaun M. James
Joel Hatch (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska. Education: Brigham Young University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2003); Creighton University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006). Recipient, Creighton University School of Law CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Legal Writing and Lawyering Skills, Jurisprudence, and Antitrust. Member, J. Reuben Clark Law Society. Scoutmaster Troop 339, Omaha, Nebraska. Member: Nebraska State Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Immigration and Naturalization; Administrative Law; Civil Litigation.Email: Joel Hatch
Jennifer J. Taylor (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Nebraska; U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska. Education: Hamilton College (B.A., 1995); Creighton University (J.D., 2005). Board of Director, Opera Omaha Guild. Member, Metro Omaha Builders Association. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Corporate Law; Mediation.Email: Jennifer J. Taylor
OF COUNSEL
Michael L. Lazer (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1962, Nebraska; U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.S. of Law, 1961; J.D., 1962). Recipient, Governors Award for Philanthropic Planning. Volunteer, Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha. Member: Omaha, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Civil Litigation; Franchises and Franchising; Real Estate; Business.Email: Michael L. Lazer