WALENTINE O'TOOLE - Key Persons
Associate Alexandria Emig (Alex) joined Walentine O'Toole in June 2023. She represents clients in employment litigation, insurance defense, estate planning, and probate.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Firm
Andrew is a member of the firm's banking and commercial practice group. Andrew represents clients in complex business and banking transactions, regulatory matters, commercial litigation, foreclosures and Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 bankruptcy proceedings, including adversary bankruptcy proceedings. Andrew possesses a unique perspective as a former commercial loan officer and workout analyst, which helps him identify the legal and business problems in a given scenario and allows him to provide sound, cost-effective solutions for his clients. Andrew received his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he also attained an undergraduate degree in political science and an MBA. Andrew is admitted to practice in Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa state and federal courts.
Associate Brad Entwistle joined Walentine O'Toole in September 2019. Brad represents clients in commercial litigation, insurance defense, and creditors' rights matters.
Partner Camille Hawk, one of the region's leading foreclosure and creditors' rights attorneys, offers financial institutions extensive assistance in the areas of real estate and lending law, and default services including bankruptcy, title issues, foreclosure, loss mitigation, eviction and collections.
Partner Craig Knickrehm, Chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice, oversees all large, complex litigation. Representing clients in the financial services industry, Craig specializes in litigating financial disputes and representing creditors in Chapters 7, 11 and 12 bankruptcy proceedings. He also handles loan enforcement, eviction, receivership, contract and construction defects matters.
, Chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice, oversees all large, complex litigation. Representing clients in the financial services industry, Craig specializes in litigating financial disputes and representing creditors in Chapters 7, 11 and 12 bankruptcy proceedings. He also handles loan enforcement, eviction, receivership, contract and construction defects matters.
Craig's clients are his top priority, and their issues receive his immediate attention. He often serves as a clearinghouse for any legal concerns his clients may have, even if that means referring them to another specialty lawyer. Client service comes first for Craig and is the base of the value he brings to client experiences and relationships.
With over 35 years of legal expertise, Craig is particularly skilled at representing local and regional consumer lenders in both commercial litigation and transactional matters, including business acquisitions and real estate transactions. He also has significant experience in the transportation sector.
A native of Davenport, Iowa, Craig received his law degree from Creighton University and his undergraduate degree from Winona (Minnesota) State University, where he lettered in football and majored in public administration and business.
Active in his local parish, Craig also enjoys a competitive round of golf when possible.
Partner David Wilson brings over 30 years of legal and industry experience to his representation of families and family-run businesses in high-value estate and tax planning, business and real estate transactions, and estate and trust administration.
David began his legal career in public accounting, and his deep understanding of tax issues offers added value to his transactional clients and a real differentiator to his practice.
From his experience as in-house corporate counsel, David understands the complex legal concerns of businesses from an insider's perspective. He has worked as a tax attorney for a national accounting firm, as in-house counsel for a Midwest gas company and currently serves as outside general counsel for an international trade association in the movie theater equipment and technology industry.
After growing up with seven siblings and now raising five children, David intimately understands the often-complex dynamics of families and family-owned businesses. It is this combination of business and family experiences that makes him uniquely qualified to advise family businesses on their estate and succession planning, real estate acquisitions and sales and business-related contracts and transactions.
David prides himself on his listening skills that enable him to translate his clients' desired outcomes into efficient arrangements that help accomplish their goals. He considers himself a client partner - one who makes it easier for his clients to continue growing and shaping their business entities, knowing their legal concerns are being handled.
A two-time graduate of Creighton University (1982 B.S.B.A. in accounting/finance and 1985 J.D.), David has deep family roots in Omaha and Nebraska. When not advising clients, he enjoys traveling with his wife Laura, running (he's completed 25+ marathons), watching movies and staying active with his family and four dogs.
Associate John J. Hawk, Jr. (Joe) joined Walentine O'Toole, LLP in May 2021 as a law clerk and became an Associate in September 2021. Joe is a member of the firm's banking and real estate practice group. He practices primarily in the creditors' rights area handling foreclosures, bankruptcies, evictions, title issues, loss mitigation, litigation, and collection matters.
Partner John Kivett joined Walentine O'Toole in April of 2018. A native of Gretna, Nebraska, John received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his law degree from the University of Denver - Sturm College of Law, with a certificate in corporate and commercial law. After spending time in Colorado securing his law degree, John moved home to be closer to family and begin his law practice.
Managing Partner Jonathan Brown is a full-time litigator who represents clients in complex commercial litigation and insurance defense matters. He is skilled at resolving all types of disputes according to client outcome goals - through settlement, alternative dispute resolution, litigation or trial.
Partner Matthew Kivett represents banks and credit unions in complex business and banking transactions, including real estate transactions; regulatory matters; Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 bankruptcy proceedings; lending matters; commercial litigation; collection proceedings; foreclosures and post-foreclosure evictions.
Partner Raymond Aranza conducted his first solo jury trial three weeks after he passed the Iowa State Bar over 30 years ago, and has continued to litigate on behalf of his clients nearly full-time since then. Two years into his legal career, Raymond was appointed Fremont County (Iowa) Attorney, making him Iowa's youngest county attorney at that time. He was later elected to that position, where he served until moving to Omaha in 1987 to pursue private practice.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Co - Founder of Walentine
Richard C. (Dick) Gordon is a co-founder of Walentine O'Toole, LLP and was the firm's first managing partner. Dick is a seasoned litigator with over 40 years of trial experience, including numerous jury trials, and has also participated in alternative dispute resolutions involving mediation and arbitration. His areas of practice include insurance defense litigation, insurance policy matters, and rendering coverage opinions including fraud and misrepresentation. Additionally, Dick has significant experience with personal injury and wrongful death litigation. An accomplished speaker, Dick regularly shares his industry expertise by presenting at various client seminars on topics relating to torts, insurance policy coverage, bad faith, wrongful death, subrogation rights and examinations under oath. Dick received his law degree and his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dick is admitted to practice in Nebraska state and federal courts.
Job Titles:
- Parish Counsel, 1997 - 2000 2001 - 2004, President 2000, 2003 - 2004