Iowa Lawyers

Criminal Defense Law

111 E Church St, Marshalltown, IA 50158, USA

Chad Frese earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids in 1992. In 1996 he earned his Juris Doctor from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Frese has earned admissions to all Iowa Courts to include: the Supreme Court of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa Federal Court, Southern District of Iowa Federal Courts, U.S. Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. He also represents the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa’s tribal court. Prior to becoming a partner at Kaplan & Frese, LLP, in 2000, Mr. Frese practiced general law at Moon Law Office. His first position upon graduating from law school was as a Narcotics and Career Criminal Prosecutor for the Marshall and Hardin County Attorney’s Office. Chad’s 27 years of experience in the legal profession, combined with his membership in professional organizations such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, enable Mr. Frese to provide unparalleled legal representation to his clients.

Personal Injury Law

400 Locust St #170, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Mr. VanDerGinst received his law degree from DePaul University. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Iowa and the federal courts and during his career he has represented clients in almost every state in the country. Mr. VanDerGinst has been very active in several county, state and national bar associations. He has served on the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He has been the Illinois State Delegate for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. In addition, he has served on the Board of Trustees for the Pound Civil Justice Institute. He is admitted to the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin State Bar Associations.

Medical Malpractice Law

160 S 68th Street, Suite 1108, West Des Moines, IA 50266

J. Russell Hixson practices medical malpractice and personal injury law in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he is president and founding partner of Hixson & Brown, P.C. Known professionally as Russ, he represents people with serious injuries and their families. Medical negligence and catastrophic personal injury are the focus of his work; co-counsel arrangements with Trial Lawyers for Justice extend that work across Iowa, Minnesota and other parts of the country. An accounting degree preceded his legal training. Hixson completed his B.A. at the University of Iowa in 1986, then graduated with distinction from its College of Law in 1989. His firm biography traces his Des Moines upbringing to Hoover High School, from which he graduated in 1981. Hixson established his firm in 2001. Before that, he held partnerships at Gamble & Davis, P.C., from 1989 to 1994, and the Dickenson Law Firm from 1994 to 2001. His listed court admissions include the Eighth Circuit and federal district courts in both Iowa districts and the Central District of Illinois. Changes in Iowa malpractice law have also figured in his speaking engagements. At Iowa Association for Justice annual conventions, he presented on the state’s new candor law in 2015 and medical malpractice tort reform in 2017. His service outside practice includes a term on the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors. The firm also lists him as chairman of Providence Christian School’s board, a position held since 2020.

Workers Compensation Law

300 W Broadway, Suite 145, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Laura L. Pattermann practicing in Workers' Compensation - Plaintiff Law Practice. Laura was admitted to practice in front of the United States Supreme Court.

Workers Compensation Law

300 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USA

Laura L. Pattermann practicing in Workers' Compensation - Plaintiff Law Practice. Laura was admitted to practice in front of the United States Supreme Court.

Family and Divorce Law

402 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Lori L. Klockau received a B.S. in 1980, M.A. in 1982 and a J.D. in 1991 from the University of Iowa. She worked as a prosecuting intern at the Johnson County Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 1991. She began practicing family and adoption law in 1991. Lori’s areas of practice include adoption, divorce, domestic issues of unmarried and same-sex couples. She also does surrogate and gestational carrier cases and contracts. Lori is an active member of the Iowa State Bar, the American Bar Association, the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the Johnson County Bar Association. Lori is a past President of the Johnson County Bar Association. She is also a member of the American Bar Endowment. Lori is currently on the Board of Governor’s for the Iowa State Bar Association. She has been appointed to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court Task Force to Review Procedures in Domestic Relation Cases. Lori is a fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys and a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Lori is a past counsel member for the Iowa State Bar Association Family and Juvenile Law Section. Her service also includes being the Chair of the Adoption Subcommittee of the ISBA Family and Juvenile Law Section. She is a Life Member of Girl Scouts of America and has volunteered at Camp Nauvoo for over thirty years. She is a founder of Concerned Citizens of Sand Prairie Preservation which helped create a new 80 acre nature park in Iowa City. Lori is a frequent speaker on a variety of family law topics including adoption, divorce, and child custody.

Real Estate Law

568 Hwy 1 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA

Steve was born and raised in Iowa City and graduated from West High School in 1983. He also attended the University of Iowa for both his undergraduate degree (B.A. Journalism and Mass Communications and Political Science 1987) and law school (J.D. 1990). Steve worked briefly at First National Bank after graduation from law school before enter private practice. Steve opened his own law office in 2004. Steve is the owner of Hawkeye Title and Settlement Services, which is a full service provider of real estate title and closing services in Johnson County and the surrounding area. Hawkeye Title and Settlement is one of the largest privately owned abstract and settlement companies in the State of Iowa. Steve is active in the community and is President of the Board of Directors, Visiting Nurse Association, Chair of the Mercy Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Board of Directors for Table 2 Table, the Advisory Council for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and has been an adviser and legal counsel for Habitat for Humanity for over 20 years. Steve is also a founding Board member and former President of the West High School Alumni Association. He is a huge Hawkeye and University of Iowa Fan and grew up in the shadow of Kinnick Stadium, Iowa Fieldhouse and Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Steve and his wife, Jennifer, and their three children (two sons, and one daughter) reside in Iowa City. Jennifer is an active member of the community and is on the City High Alumni Association Board of Directors, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) at Grace Community Church, North Liberty, Hearts in Touch (H.I.T.) at Parkview Evangelical Free Church, Iowa City and Vacation Bible School, Parkview Church and "The Spot" in Broadway Neighborhood, Iowa City.