View by Areas of Law

Adoption

Adoption is an emotional process, and Dickinson's family law attorneys understand the ups and downs you may have been through in your efforts to adopt a child. 

Alimony

Alimony is a stipend to a spouse in lieu of the other spouse's legal obligation for support. Dickinson's family law attorneys are knowledgeable in the laws concerning alimony and will work with you to analyze the facts and circumstances of your individual case to support or refute an alimony claim.  We will assess your monthly expenses and engage experts to prepare charts that may aid in presenting your case in the best possible manner.

Appellate Practice

In addition to representing clients in disputes at the trial court level or in administrative proceedings, Dickinson's litigators regularly handle appeals for clients.  We have extensive experience before the state appeals courts, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.  Additionally, our litigators have experience appealing the results of administrative agency proceedings, both within the administrative agency hierarchy, and, if procedurally appropriate, before an appellate tribunal within the court system.  We also participate in appeals as a "friend of the court," submitting amicus curiae briefs when in the interest of our clients. Moreover, Dickinson's litigation attorneys have experience requesting that courts of limited jurisdiction, such as the United States Supreme Court, consider rulings of lower courts that are adverse to our clients, by the process of submitting petitions for Certiorari.

Background Checks and Drug Testing Best Practices

The Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as various anti-discrimination and privacy laws, govern when and how to conduct background checks and what to do with their results. Supervisors get involved at critical points in background checking, and most haven't been trained about their role and the legal liabilities of it. 

Bank Mergers & Acquisitions

Over the past decade Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. has been involved in approximately 25-35% of all bank mergers and acquisitions in Iowa. 

Banking Intellectual Property

Intellectual property assets and issues - including trade secrets, proprietary information, company data, trademarks, trade names, licensing, software use, domain names, etc. - are often overlooked by banking institutions.  Yet the banking industry is facing unprecedented change, much of which impacts information, intellectual property, and the security and protection of both.  

Banking Law

The banking law attorneys at Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. counsel more than 90 banks and financial institutions doing business in Iowa.

Among Iowa-based law firms, we have one of the largest teams of attorneys providing legal services to the state's community banks. The Des Moines, Iowa-based firm is a complete source of legal services for banks and other financial institutions, bankers, and bank directors on a wide range of general legal issues.

Banking Litigation

Dickinson's banking litigation attorneys represent banks and financial institutions in connection with the enforcement and defense of their rights as lenders in a wide variety of contexts, including state, federal and bankruptcy courts. Our clientele includes not only individuals and institutions who lend in their own right, but indenture trustees dealing with complex issues involving the interpretation and enforcement of bond financing documentation.

Bankruptcy, Corporate Restructuring, & Creditor's Rights Law

Dickinson Law’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency, & Creditor's Rights Law attorneys advise, counsel and advocate for our clients in all manner of distressed situations across many industries.  Our clients are secured lenders and creditors, servicers, trade creditors, creditor committees, insurers, lessors of real and personal property and purchasers of distressed debt, assets or companies.

Business Formation

The choice of a business organization is one of the earliest and most important decisions facing an entrepreneur.  The type of organization affects a business's day-to-day operations, its tax status, and the potential liability of its officers, directors, managers and partners in the event of a lawsuit.  Dickinson's business law attorneys take time to learn about clients' new businesses. We carefully explain the pros and cons of each type of business organization available. 

Business Law

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys have experience in all aspects of the business law practice. We take our role as counselors seriously. Whether a straightforward entity formation or a complex merger, we're engaged throughout the process. We advise our clients and make recommendations only after listening to and understanding our clients' expectations and goals.

Business Litigation

Dickinson's litigators have significant experience in business and commercial  litigation.  The goal of our litigation team is to deal with business disputes swiftly and effectively so you can get back to business. 

Child Custody

As stressful as disentangling a marriage is to the parents in the throes of a divorce, it is often much more so for the child who witnesses his parents go through this process.  Dickinson's family law attorneys are sensitive to clients' desires to protect the best interests of their children.

Child Support

Iowa recently adopted the pure income shares method of calculating child support, which provides specific guidance for parents as to what child support shall be depending on the combined incomes of the parties. 

Construction

In Iowa’s rapidly growing construction industry, owners, architects, contractors, engineers, insurers and others have numerous legal decisions related to running their business, managing their projects, dealing with suppliers, and complying with state, local, and federal regulations. 

Construction Litigation & Surety

Dickinson's construction litigation group has helped its clients recover millions of dollars in construction arbitration and litigation.  We have counseled clients in disputes involving construction contracts; state mechanic's lien law; claims under chapter 573 of the Iowa Code involving public works; construction financing; construction-related employment and labor negotiations; environmental filings; and claims for construction delay and inefficiency.  

Contract Disputes

Disputes with regard to failed agreements make up a fundamental area of practice for many of Dickinson's litigators. Unfortunately, although parties usually enter into contracts with the best of intentions, all too often contractual relationships end with disputes about which party breached the agreement. Because contractual disputes are one of the primary areas of practice for many of our litigators, we can provide advice to our clients with regard to virtually any aspect of contract litigation in virtually any environment in which contracts arise. 

Contracts & Agreements

Dickinson's business law attorneys help clients draft and negotiate contracts including, stock and asset purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, business formation documents, licensing agreements, employment agreements, and confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.

Contracts & Vendor Agreements

Dickinson's business law attorneys help clients draft and negotiate contracts including stock and asset purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, business formation documents, licensing agreements, employment agreements, and confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.

Copyrights

Dickinson's intellectual property attorneys provide advice to clients on a wide range of copyright issues in connection with software; visual arts; sound recordings; and literary, musical, dramatic, pictorial and architectural works. ​

Corporate Governance (Banking Law)

Dickinson's attorneys advise boards on delegation of authority issues and issues involving boards' retained authority.  We provide ongoing counsel on issues such as board committee structure and functions, self-assessment, codes of ethics, conflicts of interests, fiduciary duties, risk management oversight (including understanding director and officer insurance coverage), regulatory and financial controls compliance, succession planning, strategic planning, whistleblower matters, and other oversight-related functions.

Corporate Governance (Business Law)

Increasingly, corporate governance best practices are being demanded of companies large and small.  Regulators and shareholders hold boards accountable, and directors must have a thorough understanding of what is expected to meet their obligations. Dickinson's attorneys advise boards on delegation of authority issues and issues involving boards' retained authority.  

Corporate Governance (Cybersecurity Law)

Increasingly, corporate governance best practices are being demanded of companies large and small.  Regulators and shareholders hold boards accountable, and directors must have a thorough understanding of what is expected to meet their obligations. Dickinson's attorneys advise boards on delegation of authority issues and issues involving boards' retained authority.  

Cybersecurity & Vendor Agreements

Dickinson's cybersecurity and contract attorneys assist clients with issues arising out of cyber breaches, data privacy, damage claims, regulatory issues, and related matters that financial institutions or their customers increasingly face. This team of lawyers also reviews any vendor agreements with third parties, involving data or any other type of agreement for services or products, for any due diligence issues and contract term issues.

Cybersecurity, Data Breach, & Privacy

When your business is subject to a data breach, your first call should be to a qualified Des Moines, Iowa-based attorney who can help you maximize the coverage of the attorney-client privilege, minimize potential damages, and formulate a response plan that takes into account legal, regulatory, and reputational considerations.

Domain Names

Although procuring a domain name is a fairly routine undertaking, enforcing a domain name or combating cybersquatting is another matter.  

Due Diligence

In the process of selling or acquiring a business interest, due diligence inquiries concerning the status and extent of the target's intellectual property and information technology are as important in many cases as due diligence inquiries concerning the target's physical assets and customer lists. 

Education Law

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys provide guidance to schools and universities on open records laws, collective bargaining legislation, teacher and administrator tenure statues, constitutional law, teacher licensing and assignment questions, student discipline, employee policies and practices, and Department of Education regulation matters.

Emerging Technology

New and emerging technologies are changing many aspects of our lives for the better, including how we do business. Here in Iowa, we have a deep history of developing new technology, and increasingly companies are looking to develop and capitalize on this fast-growing sector within the state. Our Emerging Technology group is in a unique position to give you a competitive advantage as you grow and adopt new technologies within your business to increase efficiency, generate new business, and ultimately boost your bottom line. 

Employee Complaints and Termination

Supervisors also sometimes observe problems in real time.  Do your supervisors know what to do when trouble bubbles?  This session tells it like it is suing the analogy of the supervisor as a paramedic for employee problems. 

Employee Use of Social Media

Posts about what? Tweets about who? The most timely supervisors' training covers how to handle employee use of social media. A cornucopia of continuously evolving laws that speak to employee online activities. 

Employment & Labor Law

Dickinson's Employment & Labor Law Group is one of Iowa's largest and most recognized. Our Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys have extensive experience representing and counseling clients in matters of traditional labor law and general employment law.

Employment Law Basics

If your management team needs training on all kinds of employment law topics, this training session is the perfect starting point.  It provides an overview of a variety of key state and federal laws and topics impacting today's workplace.

Employment Law Training

Dickinson Law training programs can help protect your company against costly harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims.  Today you need effective training that does more than just prevent discrimination and harassment lawsuits.  Our training will help you create a healthy workplace culture; protecting against the bigger costs of lost productivity, turnover, and brand damage caused by uncivil behavior associated with harassment and discrimination. 

Employment Litigation

Dickinson attorneys represent clients in all aspects of employment litigation, including administrative agency proceedings and trial work before federal and state courts.

Environmental Law

Dickinson Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys have experience in all aspects of environmental law, including real estate transactions and development, regulated industries, financial institutions, and agriculture. 

Environmental Litigation

Dickinson's litigators have defended clients in environmental litigation brought by both state and federal agencies, as well as in citizen suits and private party lawsuits brought against a potentially responsible party for the cleanup of a Superfund Site under CERCLA.  Our practice also includes private cost recovery lawsuits, actions involving underground storage tanks, toxic and chemical exposure cases, and environmental insurance litigation.

Executive Comp & Benefits

While most executive compensation regulations are aimed at public companies, today even smaller companies' executive compensation practices are being subjected to increased scrutiny. Dickinson attorneys counsel both public and private companies on executive compensation practices and legal requirements such as proper disclosure. 

Executive Comp & Benefits

Dickinson attorneys counsel both public and private companies on executive compensation practices and legal requirements such as proper disclosure.  We advise boards and management on issues involving executive and non-executive compensation, including golden parachute payments, and benefits such as defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, health benefits, and other fringe benefits - as well as proper disclosure of such benefits.

Family Law

Dissolving a marriage is a painful and emotional process and we empathize with our clients dealing with the distress involved with divorce. Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based family law attorneys will work with you to achieve the best possible result in protecting your assets, dispensing of your debts, and - especially - providing for your children.

FMLA, FSLA, Military Leave, and ADA Compliance

Supervisors are on the front line. They know when employees are absent and why, and they can get frustrated with employee absences.  If not trained properly, supervisors can, unknowingly, create liability for the employer under the FMLA and related laws. 

Harassment & Discrimination Investigations

A good third-party investigator helps reduce the risk of a costly discrimination or harassment claim.  Dickinson Law Employment and Labor attorneys bring more than “book learning” to a situation.  Our familiarity with Iowa workplaces as well as the issues and quirks in them enable us not only to conduct timely, objective investigations, but to provide objective assessments and recommendations to seek compliance with the many federal, state and local laws which may impact on a particular situation.

Harassment and Discrimination Prevention

A good third-party investigator helps reduce the risk of a costly discrimination or harassment claim.  Dickinson Law Employment and Labor attorneys bring more than “book learning” to a situation.  Our familiarity with Iowa workplaces as well as the issues and quirks in them enable us not only to conduct timely, objective investigations, but to provide objective assessments and recommendations to seek compliance with the many federal, state and local laws which may impact on a particular situation.

Injury, Liability & OSHA Litigation

Dickinson's personal injury lawyers are experienced in personal injury law and litigation, with a focus on individualized attention to clients and their cases.  We represent individuals and family members of individuals who have been seriously injured or killed by the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of others. 

Insurance & Benefits Disputes

Dickinson's litigators have unique experience with lawsuits in which insurance issues form the substance of the dispute.  Our litigators also have extensive experience in litigation regarding employee benefits, a very complicated area of the law.

Insurance Defense

Dickinson's insurance defense lawyers defend insurance companies under various types of insurance policies, including auto, homeowners, commercial general liability, errors and omissions, and professional liability policies. 

Intellectual Property

Your company's intellectual capital - including information technology, data, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, domain names and patents ' may be its most valuable asset.  If you have an interest in maximizing the value of your company's intellectual property, Dickinson can help by protecting your intellectual property systematically and consistently. Dickinson's intellectual property attorneys are skilled in protecting you or your company's copyrights and intellectual property. 

Intellectual Property Law

Your company's intellectual capital - including information technology, data, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, domain names and patents - may be its most valuable asset. 

Juvenile Law

Juvenile law covers a wide range of legal issues impacting juveniles and their family members. Thousands of Iowans find themselves in juvenile court without understanding the vast ways in which juvenile court differs from district court. 

Labor Law

In the area of traditional labor law, Dickinson attorneys represent clients before the National Labor Relations Board, the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board, and the courts in matters ranging from union organizing efforts to unfair labor practice charges to union decertification. 

Lending, Collections & Bankruptcy

Dickinson’s bankruptcy, corporate restructuring, & creditor’s rights law attorneys provide assistance to Iowa banks and institutional lenders in connection with the planning, negotiation, documentation and, when necessary, modification of commercial credit agreements with their customers.

Licensing & Regulation

Dickinson's intellectual property attorneys routinely negotiate and craft all types of licensing, use and subscription agreements to protect clients' interests in intellectual property transactions. 

Litigation & Trial Law

Dickinson's litigation and trial law attorneys give thorough consideration to clients' business interests while serving their litigation needs. Our Des Moines, Iowa-based litigators represent clients in a wide variety of industries in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitration, mediation, administrative proceedings and regulatory investigations and hearings. 

Mediation & Arbitration

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based litigators frequently engage in alternate dispute resolution when in the best interest of a client and have substantial experience in enforcing dispute resolution clauses in both state and federal courts. 

Mergers & Acquisitions

Dickinson attorneys regularly assist businesses in formulating strategies for expanding or selling their businesses through merger and acquisition transactions. 

Municipal Law

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys offer a full range of legal services to assist cities, counties, municipal entities across Iowa with local governance. Our attorneys have served on municipal boards and commissions and understand the importance of accountability at all levels of government.

OSHA Defense and Consultation

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys represent businesses that have been issued citations by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) for the alleged violation of workplace safety standards. As one of twenty-six State Plan States, IOSHA generally enforces federal OSHA standards as adopted by the Labor Services Division of Iowa Workforce Development.

Premarital Agreements

Dickinson's family law attorneys will work with you to prepare a premarital agreement that is consistent with Iowa law and contains effective language that will protect your assets and interests.

Preventive Counseling

Dickinson's labor and employment practice includes preventive counseling for scores of businesses. Our clients include employers which are large, small and in-between; for-profit and not-for-profit; Iowa-based as well as regional and national. 

Property Division

Iowa is an equitable division state, which means courts will apportion property and debts fairly to divorcing parties. Dickinson's family law attorneys will ensure that all issues involved in dividing your assets and debts are taken into consideration.

Public Records Disputes

Dickinson attorneys have successfully handled a number of cases under Iowa's Public Records Act, found in Iowa Code Chapter 22. When first enacted, the Iowa Public Records Act generally provided for disclosure of public records and had sweeping applicability. While the Act is still broad, the legislature has repeatedly added exceptions to the disclosure requirements, and there are now over sixty exceptions to the general openness requirement.

Real Estate & Land Use

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys bring a vast array of resources to bear on clients' real estate and land use needs. Our real estate group handles matters ranging from transactions such as commercial asset disposition and acquisitions to real estate based litigation.

Real Estate Litigation

Dickinson's real estate litigation attorneys represent clients in lawsuits involving defective construction and warranty claims, breach of contract claims against home buyers and sellers, specific performance of purchase contracts, warranty issues, lease disputes, home owner association disputes, broker/salesperson liability, Chapter 558A claims concerning disclosure of known defects, and restrictive covenant enforcement.  Additionally, our lawyers represent clients in condemnation proceedings, including disputes regarding valuation.  In the event that problems arise after financing is in place, we assist clients with work-outs, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and the additional litigation that may result.

Regulatory Compliance

Dickinson's banking regulatory compliance attorneys help financial institutions of all sizes with the myriad regulatory issues they face every day.  We have experience with the Iowa Division of Banking, the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve, and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. 

Regulatory Compliance

Dickinson's banking regulatory compliance attorneys help financial institutions of all sizes with the myriad regulatory issues they face every day.  We have experience with the Iowa Division of Banking, the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve, and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. 

SALT - State and Local Tax Law

The number of taxing jurisdictions in the U.S. is approaching 10,000, each with its own rules, making state and local tax complex. Dickinson’s Des Moines, Iowa-based SALT attorneys have represented taxing authorities and single and multi-state entities in a wide array of matters, which has provided them valuable insight into state and local tax issues. Whether you have a questions related to sales, income, or property tax or you have been contacted by a state Department of Revenue, Dickinson’s SALT attorneys can help you navigate the complex world of state and local taxes. 

Securities & Commodities

Dickinson's litigators have significant experience in the securities arena, handling suits on behalf of securities firms with regard to customer disputes or claims raised by third parties.  In the commodities arena, we represent clients in litigation before civil courts, as well as in specialized arbitration forums such as the National Futures Association.

Start-Up Group

Our Start-Up Group is a team of Des Moines, Iowa-based lawyers that collectively offers the specialized legal skills required by new and emerging enterprises. In this stage of your company’s life, you need a legal team that’s capable of seamlessly adapting to fit your needs, and we appreciate that. Attorneys in our Start-Up practice are committed to supporting you at every stage, and can provide everything from founders’ agreements, tax advice and copyright registration to private stock offerings and purchase agreements.

Tax Collection Matters

Tax liens and tax levies can be frustrating and difficult to live with.  Dickinson's tax law attorneys can assist you in correcting erroneous assessments, and, in cases where taxes are due, can guide you in setting up installment payment plans or in submitting offers to compromise and settle your tax liabilities.

Tax Credits & Economic Incentives

The State of Iowa provides a wide array of tax credits and incentives that are often overlooked by relocating or growing companies. Tax credits and incentives are not limited to companies making million-dollar investments and may be available for companies making investments of far less. Dickinson’s tax attorneys are experienced in all phases of the credits and incentives process. 

Tax Disputes

An audit by the IRS or a state department of revenue can be a frightening and intimidating experience.  An attorney who is experienced with the audit process can help ensure that your rights are protected and that any audit or dispute with a taxing authority can be resolved as soon as possible with as little cost as possible. 

Tax Planning

Tax considerations impact many of the decisions made daily by individuals and businesses.  Complete understanding of applicable tax laws and knowledge of clients' goals are key to assisting clients in minimizing or even eliminating their tax liabilities. 

Taxation Law

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based tax law attorneys advise privately and publicly held and multi-state businesses, tax-exempt organizations and individuals regarding all types of taxes.

Trade Secrets

The success of a business necessarily relies on the trust and confidence of those who work for the business.  Having a trusted employee leave and take trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information can be devastating to a business.  Dickinson's intellectual property attorneys regularly advise clients on how to protect against the theft of their trade secrets and other intellectual property.

Trademarks & Service Marks

The goodwill of a business and its identity in the marketplace may well be tied primarily to a trademark.  Protecting your trademark is paramount in fostering an ongoing and positive association in the marketplace between your product or service and your business. 

Trusts & Estates Law

Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based trusts & estates attorneys handle matters in estate planning, trusts, probate, and related areas of taxation. Depending on each client's needs, we can assist with just one issue or address the complex needs of a multi-million dollar estate with multiple business interests.

Unfair Competition / Antitrust

Dickinson attorneys have experience in pursuing claims of unfair competition, as well as in defending companies and individuals that are accused of competing unfairly. Most of the claims in this area touch on concepts of protected information such as trade secrets, an area in which our attorneys have extensive experience and knowledge.