Polk County Bar Association
P: (515) 243-3904
P: (515) 243-3904

Issue Articles

October is designated by the American Bar Association as National Pro Bono Month. In Iowa, on October 20, we highlight the legacy of Chief Justice Mark Cady with the “Cady Day of Public Service.” The Cady Day of Public Service brings together members of the community to honor and celebrate Justice Cady and his commitment to public service, access to justice, and civil rights. This month, and in those ahead, please volunteer your time and support a tradition of public service within your own organization.

In furtherance of public service to our community, I would like to take this opportunity to ask each member to consider accepting a case from the PCBA Volunteer Lawyer’s Project (VLP) which matches attorneys willing to provide pro bono service to individuals in need.

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The PCBA and the PCBA Volunteer Lawyers Project are participating in the Cady Day of Service honoring the late Chief Justice Mark Cady. We will be hosting a legal advice clinic on October 27 to provide case intake and attorney consultations for individuals with questions regarding family law matters, evictions,...
Each year attorneys in Polk County donate thousands of hours of pro bono legal service to low -income members of our community. It is with gratitude that the PCBA recognizes attorneys who accepted a referral from July 1, 2022, through August 31, 2023. Click here to download a listing of...

New Member Spotlight

Danielle is an attorney at Carney & Appleby P.L.C.  She can be reached by email at dunne@carneyappleby.com, by telephone at 515-282-6803, or by mail at address 303 Locust St. Suite 400, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Danielle, and I am a newly licensed attorney in the State of Iowa. I am an Iowan – born and raised. I grew up in Marion, Iowa, went to undergrad at the University of Northern Iowa, and attended law school at Drake University Law School. My friends and family would describe me as fun & sweet, hard-working, dedicated, and authentic.  

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A great time was once again had by all as PCBA members gathered on September 28 to take part in the latest Trivia Challenge Night to benefit the PCBA Volunteer Lawyers Project. Teams of players showed off their knowledge of all things trivial while the host, Trivia Mafia, kept the...
Mark your calendar and plan to join us for our Nov. 14 luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. at the ISBA Conference Canter in Des Moines. Paxton Williams from the National Bar Association will fill us in on the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the NBA and its impact on Des...
PCBA Bench & Bar Committee CLE – Thursday, Nov. 2, from noon to 1 p.m. The Honorable Christopher Kemp, District Associate Judge, Iowa Judicial District 5C; Brett Roberts, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Des Moines; and John Fatino, Whitfield & Eddy Law, will discuss the Judicial application process. This CLE has...
The Polk County Courts phone chart has been updated and we have it available for PCBA members. You can have courtroom assignments, phone numbers, and court attendant and court reporter contacts for each judge at your fingertips just by clicking here and downloading the chart. Member log in is required.

On the Move

Jacob Blackford has joined McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC as an Intellectual Property Attorney in the Biotechnology and Chemical Practice Group. Jacob graduated, with high honors, with his law degree from Drake University Law School. Prior to law school, Jacob worked in the regulatory compliance departments of multiple medical device...
Rachel Fritz has joined Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. as an Associate Attorney in both the Education Law and Private Law practice areas. Rachel works with K-12 school districts and area education agencies on a variety of matters, including contracts, policies, and procedures to assist clients in maintaining legal compliance with...
Hopkins & Huebner, P.C. has welcomed Ryan D. McClelland as its newest Associate Attorney. Ryan received his law degree from the University of Iowa and became a member of the Iowa State Bar Association on September 8. Ryan works with the business law section in the firm’s Des Moines office...
Attorney Chris Storey has joined Fredrikson as an officer in its Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Regulation & Permitting and Renewable Energy groups. Chris is an experienced energy attorney with expertise in utilities regulation, acquisition, transactional and contractual matters. He also has experience assisting start-up companies, having served as both...
Sydnee Waggoner has joined Whitfield & Eddy Law as an associate attorney. She is a member of the firm's divorce and family law and litigation practice groups and also practices criminal defense law. She is also a member of the firm's litigation practice group. She received her J.D. from Drake...
Nathan R. Britton has joined Whitfield & Eddy law as an associate attorney. He is a member of the firm's business, real estate, and estates, wills, and trusts practice groups. He is also a member of the firm's diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. Nathan received his J.D. from Drake University...
Attorney Kelcy Whitaker has joined Fredrikson’s Des Moines office as an associate in the Litigation Group. Kelcy focuses her practice on general business litigation and energy law. She represents clients in both state and federal court and before administrative agencies. Prior to joining Fredrikson, Kelcy served as a career law...

Kudos

Alex Kron has been elected a shareholder in the Fredrikson Des Moines office. He is a member of the Energy & Natural Resources, Renewable Energy, Real Estate & Construction, Business & Tax Planning and Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations groups. He is an experienced energy attorney with an emphasis on...
Zachary Pratt has been elected a shareholder in the Fredrikson Des Moines office. He is a member of the Patents, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, Technology & Data and Trade Secrets groups. Zachary primarily focuses on the prosecution and litigation of software, mechanical and medical device patents in addition to trademark...
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