CORNWALL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Front Office / Legal Assistant
Chris is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and the University of Iowa Law School. His areas of practice include: estates, real estate and business entities
Chris is the fourth generation of his family to live and work in Northwest Iowa. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and the University of Iowa Law School (with distinction). He has an AV rating peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell. His practice is primarily in the following areas:
Estates: the drafting of wills and trusts; probate and non-probate administration of estates and trusts.
Real Estate: the drafting of residential and commercial purchase agreements; title examinations; and closings.
Business Entities: the choice of and formation and administration of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.
Chris is an elected Fellow in both the American College of Trust and Estate Counseland the Iowa Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel. He previously served as the chairperson of the Iowa State Board of Tax Review and as chairperson of the Iowa Tax School.
He has been a frequent speaker and given presentations at the University of Iowa on "Transfers of the Family Vacation Home" and "Gifts To Minors" and at Iowa State University on "Selected Trust Issues in Estate Planning."
He has been involved in his community, serving on the Okoboji City Council; the Camp Foster YMCA board of directors; and as a lay director at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He is a former 1 st Lieutenant in the Iowa Army National Guard.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Support Staff Member
David attended the University of South Dakota and graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1972. His primary areas of practice are personal injury, workers compensation and social security disability cases.
David A. Scott is originally from the Mitchell, South Dakota area. David attended the University of South Dakota and graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1972. He is a member of the Clay County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Iowa Association for Justice, and American Association for Justice. He served on the Spencer City Council for 32 years and is a board member and past president of UDMO. His primary areas of practice are on the plaintiff's/claimant's side of personal injury, workers compensation and social security disability cases.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Support Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Tax Department Assistant
Sarah Haack earned her bachelor's degree from Augustana University in 2014 and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019. She joined Cornwall, Avery, Bjornstad, and Scott in September 2019. Sarah primarily focuses on real estate, probate, trust and estates, and estate planning.
Stephen F. Avery attended the University of Iowa and graduated from law school in 1966. His areas of practice include: medical malpractice, personal injury, employment issues, product liability, will contests, toxic torts, contract problems and divorces.
Stephen F. Avery was born and raised in Spencer, Iowa. Steve attended the University of Iowa and graduated from law school in 1966. Steve was the Clay County Attorney in 1971-1972. He is a member of the Clay County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association (President, Young Lawyers Section 1974-1975), American Bar Association (Member, Executive Council, Young Lawyers Section 1974-1975), and Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.
His areas of practice include: medical malpractice, personal injury, employment issues, product liability, will contests, toxic torts, contract problems and divorces. Eighty percent of Steve's time is involved with civil litigation within the Iowa State Court and Iowa Federal Courts and appeals to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. In the many years of practice, his cases have involved will contests, medical malpractice, personal injuries from a variety of accidents, civil rights, and employment disputes, toxic torts, contract issues and defective products resulting with a loss.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Support Staff Member