- Understanding Iowa's legal landscape
- Top 9 firms in Iowa
- What to consider when choosing a firm in Iowa
Ramp processes billions of dollars in business expenses across thousands of companies every month. Our unique position in the payments ecosystem provides visibility into actual spending patterns, including legal services expenditures across diverse industries and business sizes.
This data-driven approach reveals critical insights into Iowa's legal services market, where 7,258 active attorneys serve a complex economy spanning agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy. By analyzing actual business spending patterns and market dynamics, we identify the firms that effectively serve Iowa's 273,623 small businesses while addressing unique challenges like rural attorney shortages and specialized industry needs.
Understanding Iowa's legal landscape
Iowa's legal market operates within a $201.1 billion economy where manufacturing contributes $35.2 billion in GDP, creating specialized demand for industrial compliance and commercial contract expertise. The state faces significant access-to-justice challenges, with 56 of 99 counties classified as legal deserts, containing less than one lawyer per 1,000 residents. Agriculture remains foundational with over $41 billion in economic impact, driving consistent demand for agricultural law, land use expertise, and farm succession planning. The renewable energy sector, particularly wind power generating 60% of Iowa's electricity, has created emerging practice areas in energy law and infrastructure development. Litigation demand has increased for 39 of the past 40 quarters, while corporate practices now account for 44.5% of large firm hires.
Top 9 firms in Iowa
Our analysis identifies nine leading firms that have developed specialized practices aligned with Iowa's economic foundations. The top three firms—Dickinson Bradshaw, Bradley & Riley, and Bernard Law Firm—demonstrate particular strength in agricultural law, intellectual property, and litigation services that address the state's core industries. These firms collectively employ over 300 attorneys across multiple Iowa locations, providing critical legal infrastructure for the state's evolving economy.
Dickinson Bradshaw
Dickinson Bradshaw, founded in 1980, operates from Des Moines with additional offices in Cedar Rapids and Davenport, employing approximately 45 attorneys. The firm specializes in corporate transactions, real estate development, and employment litigation, serving agricultural equipment manufacturers, renewable energy developers, and regional financial institutions. They recently advised on a $300 million agricultural technology merger and received the U.S. News "Best Law Firm" designation for 2023-2024 in agricultural law and commercial litigation.
Key practice areas
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Agricultural finance
- Construction law
- Labor disputes
- Renewable energy permitting
Best for
Agricultural businesses and renewable energy developers seeking sophisticated corporate counsel for complex transactions and regulatory compliance. The firm's established renewable energy practice group, representing 12 wind and solar projects statewide, makes them ideal for companies navigating Iowa's evolving energy landscape.
Notable facts
The firm's commercial litigation team successfully defended a class-action lawsuit involving agricultural supply chain disruptions in 2023, setting precedent for force majeure clauses in farm equipment contracts. Their renewable energy practice group, established in 2015, has become one of Iowa's leading advisors for wind and solar development projects.
Bradley & Riley
Bradley & Riley, established in 1965, maintains headquarters in Cedar Rapids with offices in Iowa City and Waterloo, featuring 38 attorneys focused on intellectual property, healthcare law, and insurance defense. The firm has secured over 1,200 patents for clients in the past decade, specializing in agricultural biotechnology and medical device innovations, and was named "Law Firm of the Year" by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry in 2022.
Key practice areas
- Patent prosecution
- Medical malpractice defense
- Insurance coverage disputes
- Technology licensing
- Healthcare compliance
Best for
Technology companies, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare systems requiring specialized intellectual property protection and regulatory compliance expertise. Their track record in agricultural biotechnology patents makes them particularly valuable for Iowa's growing agtech sector.
Notable facts
The firm represented a University of Iowa spin-off in a landmark patent infringement case resulting in a $47 million settlement, the largest intellectual property award in Iowa history. Bradley & Riley attorneys have served as adjunct professors at the University of Iowa College of Law since 1998, contributing to the state's legal education ecosystem.
Bernard Law Firm
Bernard Law Firm, launched in 1992, operates from Des Moines and Council Bluffs with 28 attorneys specializing in personal injury, workers' compensation, and product liability litigation. The firm secured Iowa's largest workers' compensation settlement of $8.2 million in 2022 for a grain elevator explosion victim and received the American Association for Justice's "Trial Advocacy Award" in 2023 for farm equipment safety litigation.
Key practice areas
- Catastrophic injury claims
- Occupational disease cases
- Construction accidents
- Trucking collisions
- Defective product litigation
Best for
Injured workers, particularly those in agricultural and manufacturing sectors, seeking experienced representation for workplace accidents and product liability claims. Their expertise in agricultural machinery accidents and confined space operations makes them the leading choice for farm-related injury cases.
Notable facts
The firm's agricultural injury practice has represented over 500 farm workers since 2010, achieving precedent-setting rulings on employer liability for temporary seasonal workers. Bernard Law Firm partners with Iowa Legal Aid to provide pro bono services to migrant farmworkers, handling approximately 50 cases annually without charge.
Notary Rotary
Notary Rotary, founded in 2005, maintains offices in Des Moines and Sioux City with 15 attorneys focusing exclusively on real estate transactions, title insurance, and property development law. The firm handles over 1,200 real estate closings annually with transaction volumes exceeding $300 million and developed proprietary blockchain-based title verification technology that reduced closing times by 40%.
Key practice areas
- Agricultural land acquisitions
- Commercial leasing
- Title dispute resolution
- Zoning approvals
- Conservation easements
Best for
Agricultural land investors, commercial property developers, and businesses requiring high-volume real estate transaction support with innovative technology solutions. Their management of portfolios totaling more than 500,000 acres makes them ideal for large-scale agricultural land transactions.
Notable facts
The firm's 2023 landmark case established new precedent for subsurface mineral rights transfers in Iowa farmland purchases, affecting over 200,000 acres of agricultural property. Notary Rotary earned the "Innovation in Legal Services" award from the Iowa Bar Association for their blockchain-based title verification system.
Adel Law Firm
Adel Law Firm, operating since 1988, maintains offices in Davenport, Dubuque, and Bettendorf with 22 attorneys concentrating on family law, estate planning, and small business advisory services. The firm handles over 500 estate plans annually for farm succession planning and developed the "AgSuccess" program facilitating the transfer of more than 75,000 acres to next-generation farmers.
Key practice areas
- Divorce mediation
- Child custody disputes
- Trust administration
- Business formation
- Farm succession planning
Best for
Multi-generational farm families and small business owners requiring comprehensive estate planning and succession strategies. Their specialized "AgSuccess" program makes them particularly valuable for agricultural operations navigating complex intergenerational transfers.
Notable facts
The firm created Iowa's first standardized farm lease agreement template, now used by extension services statewide. Adel Law Firm received the American Bar Association's "Excellence in Estate Planning" award in 2022 for innovative approaches to agricultural asset protection.
Go Law Firm
Go Law Firm, established in 2003, operates from Des Moines and Ames with 18 attorneys specializing in immigration law, employment compliance, and international business transactions. The firm has processed over 5,000 employment-based visa applications since 2010, focusing on agricultural workforce solutions for meatpacking plants and crop production operations.
Key practice areas
- Employment verification compliance
- Investor visas
- Deportation defense
- Worksite enforcement actions
- Cross-border business formation
Best for
Food processing plants, agricultural employers, and renewable energy companies requiring specialized immigration compliance and foreign worker visa expertise. Their focus on H-2A and H-1B programs makes them essential for businesses dependent on international talent and seasonal agricultural workers.
Notable facts
The firm successfully challenged ICE raids at three Iowa meat processing plants in 2022, preserving legal status for 300 workers. Go Law Firm received the "Champion of Justice" award from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2023 and publishes the annual "Iowa Immigration Compliance Handbook" distributed to over 1,000 agricultural employers.
Goosmann Law Firm
Goosmann Law Firm, launched in 2010, maintains headquarters in Sioux City with offices in Storm Lake and Spencer, featuring 25 attorneys focused on banking law, financial regulations, and creditor rights. The firm handles loan portfolios exceeding $1.5 billion and developed the "Agri-Lender Protection Program" that has resolved over $200 million in distressed farm debt.
Key practice areas
- Loan documentation
- Bankruptcy restructuring
- Regulatory compliance
- Foreclosure alternatives
- Farm credit mediation
Best for
Community banks, agricultural lenders, and credit unions requiring specialized expertise in farm lending and distressed debt resolution. Their proprietary agricultural loan mediation protocol makes them the preferred choice for financial institutions managing rural lending portfolios.
Notable facts
The firm was named "Financial Services Law Firm of the Year" by Finance & Commerce magazine in 2023. Goosmann Law Firm created Iowa's first agricultural loan mediation protocol, now adopted by 30 community banks, and partners with the Iowa Bankers Association to provide compliance training to 200 financial institutions annually.
HSP&S Legal
HSP&S Legal, tracing origins to 1975, operates from Cedar Rapids and Iowa City with 40 attorneys concentrating on education law, municipal governance, and public entity representation. The firm represents over 50 public entities including Iowa's largest school district and developed the "School Safety Legal Framework" adopted by 200 Iowa school districts.
Key practice areas
- Labor negotiations
- Student privacy issues
- Open meetings compliance
- Bond financing
- Constitutional challenges
Best for
School districts, municipalities, and public entities requiring specialized representation in governance, compliance, and constitutional matters. Their experience drafting municipal codes and defending education funding makes them essential for public sector clients navigating complex regulatory frameworks.
Notable facts
The firm successfully defended a landmark school funding lawsuit that preserved $300 million in annual education appropriations. HSP&S Legal received the National School Boards Association's "Council of School Attorneys Award" in 2023 and currently serves as city attorneys for 15 Iowa municipalities.
Bettendorf Rotary Law
Bettendorf Rotary Law, founded in 2005, maintains offices in Bettendorf, Muscatine, and Clinton with 12 attorneys specializing in environmental law, land use, and sustainable development. The firm negotiated Iowa's largest environmental mitigation agreement in 2023, securing $12 million for watershed protection while enabling major food processing expansion.
Key practice areas
- Water quality regulations
- Waste management compliance
- Renewable energy siting
- Conservation easements
- Agricultural runoff mitigation
Best for
Manufacturing facilities, renewable energy developers, and agricultural operations requiring environmental compliance expertise and sustainable development strategies. Their work on carbon capture pipeline projects makes them valuable for businesses pursuing environmental innovation.
Notable facts
The firm developed the legal framework for Iowa's first carbon capture pipeline project, involving easements across 500 agricultural properties. Bettendorf Rotary Law received the "Environmental Stewardship Award" from the Iowa Environmental Council in 2022 and partners with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for confined animal feeding operation compliance training.
What to consider when choosing a firm in Iowa
Start by evaluating firms based on their specific industry expertise rather than general practice capabilities. Iowa's economy demands specialized knowledge in agricultural law, manufacturing compliance, and renewable energy development. Request case studies demonstrating successful outcomes in your specific sector, particularly focusing on how firms have adapted to Iowa's unique rural-urban divide and attorney shortage challenges.
Geographic coverage proves critical given that 56 counties qualify as legal deserts. Assess whether firms maintain physical offices near your operations or offer robust virtual services. For agricultural businesses, prioritize firms with demonstrated farm succession planning expertise and established relationships with Iowa State University Extension services. Manufacturing clients should seek firms with proven intellectual property portfolios and OSHA compliance records.
Schedule initial consultations with at least three firms to compare their technological capabilities, particularly for real estate transactions and document management. Request specific examples of how they've handled regulatory changes in your industry, especially regarding environmental compliance or immigration workforce issues. Verify their standing with the Iowa Bar Association and check for any disciplinary actions through the state's attorney discipline board.
Take immediate action by gathering your last two years of legal spending data to establish baseline costs. Create a detailed scope of anticipated legal needs for the next 18 months, including any planned transactions, compliance audits, or litigation risks. Contact your industry association for firm recommendations specific to your sector, then cross-reference these suggestions with the firms' actual case outcomes and client retention rates.
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