PERRY LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Charles F. Kaplan has joined the Lincoln law firm of Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O. as an Associate Attorney. Mr. Kaplan received his Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Nebraska in 2012. He received his law degree with high distinction in 2015 from the University of Nebraska College of Law. While in law school, he served as executive editor of the Nebraska Law Review. Mr. Kaplan is admitted to practice in Nebraska and is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nebraska Association of Bank Attorneys
Dan is a fifth generation Nebraskan who was born in Lincoln in 1959.
Dan is a member of the Nebraska Association of Bank Attorneys, the Lincoln Bar Association, and the Nebraska State Bar Assosciation.
Derek concentrates his practice in banking and business law, school law and commercial litigation.
Derek joined the firm in 2007. He received his law degree with high distinction in 2006 from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Prior to joining the firm, Derek served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Kenneth C. Stephan of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Born in Illinois, Derek's family eventually moved to North Platte, Nebraska. Derek attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1991 and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1993. From 1993 to 2003, he worked as a design engineer for several manufacturing companies including Snorkel, Inc., located in St. Joseph, Missouri, Skyjack, Inc., located in Elwood, Kansas and Cushman, Inc., located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Derek returned to college in 2003 to attend law school. While in law school, he served as an Executive Editor of the Nebraska Law Review.
Derek is admitted to practice in Nebraska and Kansas, and is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association and the Lincoln Bar Association.
Derek's wife is a pharmacist and they have four children. Derek and his family enjoy camping, swimming, bicycling and attending and participating in sporting events.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Lincoln Bar Association
Greg concentrates his practice in school law, employment and civil rights law, corporate, and real estate law.
He was a member of the Nebraska Law Review and graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1984 with high distinction. Greg served as a law clerk to the honorable Donald R. Ross, a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, from 1984 to 1986.
Greg is a member of the Lincoln Bar Association, the Nebraska State Bar Association, and the Nebraska Council of School Attorneys.
Greg is the fourth generation of Perrys to practice law with our firm and he has been practicing with the firm since 1986.
Haleigh joined the firm as an associate attorney. Originally from Lincoln, Mrs. Carlson received her Bachelor's degree in 2014 from Brandeis University where she studied economics and philosophy. She received her law degree with distinction in 2017 from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
While in law school, she competed on the National Moot Court Team, acted as a problem writer and competition coordinator on the Nebraska Moot Court Board, and received the award for Outstanding Civil Clinic Student of the Year.
Job Titles:
- Member and past President
Jim is a member and past president (1981 and 1982) of the Nebraska School Board Council of School Attorneys and from 1994 through 1998 served on the Board of Directors of the National School Board Council of School Attorneys. He is a frequent speaker and author in the school, education and public institutions law areas.
Joe concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, workers' compensation, general civil litigation, and will/probate disputes.
Joe was born in LeMars, Iowa, in 1962. He then returned with his family to Omaha, Nebraska, where he spent his entire childhood. In 1985 Joe graduated from Kearney State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Joe entered the University of Nebraska College of Law and, after graduating with distinction in December 1990, joined our firm.
Joe is licensed to practice law in Nebraska and he is a member of the Lincoln Bar Association, the Nebraska State Bar Association and the Nebraska Trial Attorneys Association.
Joe met his wife, Penny, while attending college at Kearney State College. They have four children, Benjamin, Elizabeth, William, and Anne.
Justin's practice focuses mainly on school law and estate planning. His estate planning practice includes wills, trusts, business succession planning, asset protection and tax planning, probate and non-probate estate administration, powers of attorney, advanced health care directives, and living wills.
Originally from Mount Vernon, Iowa, Justin earned his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University. He then received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Justin joined the firm in 2013.
Sara J. Tonjes joined the Lincoln law firm of Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O. in 2021 as an Associate Attorney. Sara received her Bachelor's degree with high distinction in 2011 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she studied Art History & Criticism and minored in Art. She received her law degree with high distinction in 2021 from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
While in law school, Sara was an Executive Editor of the Nebraska Law Review, a member of the Equal Justice Society, and a recipient of the William H. Smith Academic Excellence Scholarship. Sara is admitted to practice in Nebraska and is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association.