SIMMONS PERRINE MOYER BERGMAN - Key Persons
Abram Carls works primarily within commercial litigation, banking litigation and bankruptcy practice areas. Mr. Carls routinely advises on tort claims, contract disputes, secured transactions, and collections matters, and counsels clients throughout various stages of the civil litigation process, both federal and state. His prior experience in agricultural and business debtor representation provides useful insight into agricultural restructurings and liquidations and he provides guidance to creditors and banking institutions on their rights in bankruptcy proceedings and loan collection and foreclosure.
Mr. Carls graduated with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law where he earned recognition for his multidisciplinary scholarship in innovation, business, and law and Dean's Awards for outstanding academic achievement. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa in civil engineering and business management.
Prior to private practice, Mr. Carls clerked for the Honorable Thad J. Collins, Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Iowa. Mr. Carls is admitted to practice before the state courts of Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, federal district courts in Illinois and Iowa, and the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Alexandria Ransom joined Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC in 2017 and is a member of the firm's Estate Planning and Private Wealth practice group. In this role, Ms. Ransom advises clients regarding gift and estate tax planning, succession planning for family businesses and charitable gifting. In addition, she drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, premarital agreements and estate and gift tax returns.
Ms. Ransom received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and earned her Juris Doctor with High Distinction at the University of Iowa College of Law in 2017. She has been selected to the Iowa Chapter of the Order of the Coif and is recognized in Best Lawyers for Trusts and Estates and Great Plains Super Lawyers Rising Stars for Estate and Probate law.
Professional Affiliations
Iowa State Bar Association
Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Section
Linn County Bar Association
Linn Law Cub
Amanda D'Amico is an experienced transactional attorney primarily engaged in business and corporate law, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, estate planning and probate law. She counsels clients regarding entity formations, business operations, governance, and tax implications regarding pass-through entities. Ms. D'Amico also works with many individuals and families regarding their estate and succession plans and guides clients through the probate process.
Business Counseling and Transactions. Ms. D'Amico advises businesses of all sizes and their members regarding entity organization, operations, governance and planning, which includes the review, negotiation and drafting of contracts related to mergers, sales and purchases of assets or stock, reorganizations, redemptions and buy-sell agreements.
Taxation. Ms. D'Amico advises individual and business clients regarding the tax aspects of various corporate entity transactions and with respect to the use of pass-through entities (limited liability companies, partnerships and S corporations). In addition, she represents clients regarding issues related to qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation.
Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate and Wealth Transfer. Ms. D'Amico advises clients regarding gift and estate tax planning, succession planning for family businesses and charitable gifting. In addition, she drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney and estate and gift tax returns and assists clients through the probate process.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the SPMB Board of Directors
Brian Fagan is a litigation attorney with 20 years of experience representing individuals and businesses in matters relating to employment and labor law, business and commercial litigation and trust and estate litigation. Mr. Fagan represents employers in a variety of industries, including health care, utilities, manufacturing, financial services, insurance and transportation. He appears before local, state and federal administrative agencies, and state and federal courts and arbitration panels. Mr. Fagan is the firm's managing partner and also chairs the firm's labor and employment practice group.
Mr. Fagan formerly served as a Law Clerk to Judge Michael J. Melloy for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. From 2006-2010, he served as Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Cedar Rapids.
Mr. Fagan graduated from the University of Iowa. He worked for Congressman Jim Leach in the district and Washington, D.C. offices and for the U.S. House of Representative Financial Services Committee. Mr. Fagan earned a Master of Arts in International Political Economy from the Catholic University of America. He graduated with honors from Drake University Law School where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Drake Law Review.
Mr. Fagan was listed in Best Lawyers® 2019 "Lawyer of the Year" in Cedar Rapids for Litigation - Labor and Employment, in 2021 for Employment Law - Individuals and in 2022 for Labor Law - Management. Mr. Fagan has been recognized by his peers as an AV Rated attorney with Martindale-Hubbell and is included in the Great Plains Super Lawyers list.
Employment and Labor Law. Mr. Fagan represents and counsels businesses and individuals on employment-related matters, including employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, trade secrets, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, as well as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). He regularly handles traditional labor law arbitrations, including discipline and discharge and contract interpretation grievances. He conducts internal employment investigations and counsels clients facing government investigations on the multitude of statutes and regulations governing the workplace.
Litigation Practice. Mr. Fagan represents and advises individuals and businesses in a broadly varying litigation capacity, including commercial and business litigation, agricultural related litigation and trust and estate litigation. He advises clients as they work toward a negotiated, mediated or litigated result.
Mediation. Mr. Fagan is a Certified Mediator and received his training at Northwestern University and the International Academy of Dispute Resolution in Des Moines, Iowa. He is trained in Collaborative Law.
Job Titles:
- Approved As Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
Carrie Thompson is a member at Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC where she focuses on healthcare law, professional liability defense, and professional licensure and credentialing. She represents physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, hospitals, nursing homes, medical clinics and other healthcare providers in disputes related to medical malpractice claims and litigation. Ms. Thompson also counsels clients on various healthcare matters including HIPAA, state privacy and security laws, licensing, and medical staff credentialing and privileges.
Job Titles:
- Approved As Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
Christine Conover is a medical malpractice attorney with extensive experience defending claims against physicians, clinics and hospitals throughout the state. In addition, she represents licensed medical professionals on licensing and disciplinary issues. Ms. Conover is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. She is a member of the Iowa State Judicial Nominating Commission and also serves on the board of directors at Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC.
Ms. Conover graduated from Iowa State University with distinction in 1995 and graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law with high distinction in 1998. She clerked for the Honorable Justice Jerry L. Larson on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1998-1999. She then practiced in Iowa City with Honohan, Epley, Braddock & Brenneman before joining Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC in 2000.
Ms. Conover has been active on the board of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association (IDCA) and served as President of IDCA from Sept. 2014 - Sept. 2015. She is also past-president of the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys and past-president of the board of directors for Waypoint Services for Women and Children in Cedar Rapids.
Born in North Platte, Nebraska, Ms. Conover was raised on a farm in Mapleton, Iowa before relocating to Cedar Rapids.
Christopher Loftus represents lenders and other commercial creditors in a variety of business and litigation matters. He is experienced in foreclosures, including residential, commercial and agricultural real estate, receiverships, equipment financing, pursuing loan collateral and negotiating workouts. Mr. Loftus also advises lenders on issues involving regulatory compliance, consumer and commercial transactions, including secured and unsecured lending, asset-based and real estate lending, loan documentation and mortgage enforceability.
Mr. Loftus is an experienced litigator, having represented lenders in proceedings in courtrooms throughout Iowa and other jurisdictions. He has successfully represented creditors in matters before the state and federal courts, bankruptcy courts, and appellate courts.
In addition, Mr. Loftus regularly presents on topics affecting the day-to-day operation of financial institutions, including topics involving the Uniform Commercial Code, state and federal banking regulations, and foreclosures and workouts. Mr. Loftus has also authored several publications on consumer regulations affecting lenders such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the recent overhaul of the mortgage lending industry by the Dodd-Frank Act.
Mr. Loftus came to Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC from the Minnesota Credit Union Network where he served as Associate General Counsel. In this position, he advised credit unions on legal issues involving lending account compliance, privacy, bankruptcy, collections and contractual matters.
Prior to that position, Mr. Loftus was an attorney with a mid-sized Minneapolis law firm, where he represented clients in all stages of creditors' rights litigation in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. In this role, Mr. Loftus represented clients in state and federal litigation involving bankruptcy, collections, replevins and other creditors' rights and lender liability matters.
Dawn Gibson is a litigation attorney with more than a decade of experience working with businesses and individuals with civil litigation and appeals, employment law and immigration law needs. Ms. Gibson is also experienced in healthcare law, representing physicians, clinics and hospitals with matters relating to medical malpractice claims and disciplinary issues. Ms. Gibson is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Society for Human Resource Management and is a regular presenter on pressing topics relating to immigration and employment law.
State and Federal Litigation Practice. Ms. Gibson represents and assists small and large companies and individuals regarding labor and employment disputes, employment discrimination, commercial litigation and in connection with state and federal administrative agencies.
Immigration Law. Ms. Gibson assists private employers and educational institutions with obtaining permanent residence or temporary employment authorization for their employees and assists individuals with obtaining family-based permanent residence ("green card"). Ms. Gibson also advises and assists with internal I-9 audits, defense of ICE investigations and other workplace compliance issues.
Employer and Employee Counseling. Ms. Gibson advises clients regarding the drafting and implementation of policy, employment and separation documents in compliance with federal and state laws including, but not limited to, employee handbooks, confidentiality and non-disclosure, termination and severance agreements. Ms. Gibson also assists with internal company investigations.
Job Titles:
- American Inn of Court, Member
Drew Powell is a litigation attorney practicing primarily in business and commercial litigation, insurance defense, transportation law, estate and trust litigation and bankruptcy and creditors' rights. Mr. Powell grew up in Wellman, IA. He studied international politics and political theory at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and earned his JD from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2018.
Prior to joining Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman in 2019, Mr. Powell served as Judicial Law Clerk for Thad Collins, Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Iowa.
Job Titles:
- Update at the Iowa Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel Annual Meeting
Eric Lam represents lenders and trustees in bankruptcy proceedings. He has been a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy since 2001 and was the first Iowa lawyer to be elected to its Board of Directors. Eric is also a Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Foundation. He has published several articles and two books relating to bankruptcy law practice and has been recognized with the Certificate of Merit by the International Association of Insolvency Practitioners for his writing. He was the lecturer for the bankruptcy portion of the then semi-annual Iowa Bar Review School, served as an Adjunct Instructor in Bankruptcy at the University of Iowa College of Law, and served as Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for both the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa from 1990 through 2004. He frequently presents lectures on a variety of bankruptcy topics at local and regional seminars.
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights. Mr. Lam advises trustees, creditors, and banking institutions on their rights in bankruptcy proceedings and cases pending throughout the State of Iowa.
Mr. Lam reads, writes, and speaks Chinese (Cantonese).
Erin Nathan is engaged primarily in commercial litigation, specializing in employment and labor law, class actions and appellate law. She represents individuals and businesses of all sizes in state and federal court and before administrative agencies. Ms. Nathan has a passion for advocating for the rights of her clients.
Greg Williams has a comprehensive intellectual property practice which includes patents, trademarks and copyrights. Mr. Williams' practice includes, among other things, acquisition and litigation of patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as counseling clients on validity and infringement.
For eleven years prior to joining Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC, Mr. Williams was in-house counsel at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids. As Patent Counsel for Rockwell's commercial aviation electronics businesses, Mr. Williams was involved with all aspects of intellectual property law, including patent and trademark application preparation and prosecution, licensing negotiations, validity and infringement opinions, litigation support and the intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions.
Attorney Jacob Vetter has a general practice with a focused interest in providing counsel to clients relating to business transactions and estate planning. Mr. Vetter is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, earning his JD, with highest distinction, in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Business Professionals / News & Events