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Education
J.D. (Cum Laude), University of Illinois, 2001
B.A., Iowa State University, 1998
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Practice Groups
- Construction Law
- Employment & Labor Law
- Litigation
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Overview
Andrew has spent his career at Ahlers & Cooney working in the areas of Litigation and Employment & Labor Law. Andrew spends the majority of his time counseling clients through all types of litigation in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels and before many national, state, and local administrative agencies. He currently chairs the firm's Litigation Practice Group, and previously has served as chair of the Private Law Practice Area.
In the litigation arena, Andrew has experience handling widely varied claims as lead counsel through all aspects of administrative or judicial proceedings on the state and federal levels. He has handled cases involving such things as construction/surety concerns/claims, commercial contract disputes, product liability claims, fire and explosion investigations/claims, insurance bad faith claims, aviation accidents, libel and slander claims, premises liability claims, and automobile accidents. Andrew has handled significant product liability claims affecting such industries as: consumer products, industrial machinery and equipment, agricultural machinery, commercial products, and transportation and trucking. He has led teams litigating complex construction disputes involving prominent structures across the state. He has also devoted time to defending various forms of personal injury claims asserted against retail stores, automobile and agricultural dealerships, and convenience stores.
In the employment arena, Andrew has spent a significant amount of time defending large and small employers, public and private, in employment and labor disputes including publishable cases before the Iowa Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Andrew’s experience has been in responding to allegations of wrongful actions and/or injuries in the workplace. He has successfully litigated class-action litigation involving wage and hour disputes. A significant portion of Andrew’s practice has involved successfully responding to various Union complaints and legal challenges. He has also handled claims alleging all types of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under state and federal law, breach of express and implied contracts including non-compete and non-solicitation provisions, violations of public policy, defamation, promissory estoppel, interference with contract, blacklisting, and other related claims. Finally, Andrew has extensive prior experience defending workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employers of all types including both self-insured clients and through various insurance carriers.
Andrew previously clerked for Iowa District Court judges Joel D. Novak and Richard G. Blane II. At the same time, Andrew clerked with the research attorneys at the Iowa Supreme Court.
Bar Admissions
Iowa, 2001
Court Admissions
All Iowa Courts
U.S. District Courts – Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
U.S. Court of Appeals – Eighth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Representative Projects
- Acted as lead counsel in obtaining a favorable jury verdict following a 2-week trial involving multiple employment-related claims of discrimination and illegal termination of employment.
- Acted as lead counsel in obtaining a defense ruling following a 2-week trial involving Union claims of various municipal illegalities in structuring its workforce.
- Acted as lead counsel for multiple agricultural implement dealerships in obtaining favorable dismissals of product liability and negligence claims related to allegedly faulty equipment, service work, and delivery practices.
- Acted as lead counsel in obtaining partial summary judgment and an eventual defense jury verdict relative to property damage claims related to a water management construction project.
- Acted as lead counsel in obtaining a defense verdict following a panel arbitration involving a dispute over a multi-million dollar hotel and casino renovation and construction project.
- Successfully intervened into simultaneous court and state agency challenges in order to retain a $130 million award of a construction project for a large nationwide general contractor.
- Obtained administrative closure of multiple actions against employers, large and small, before the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission involving claims of race, age, sex, and disability discrimination and harassment and retaliation.
- Obtained many favorable defense rulings in workers’ compensation claims against self-insured and insured employers.
Memberships
American Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Polk County Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Iowa Defense Counsel Association
Iowa Association of Business & Industry
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Recognitions
Martindale-Hubbell® – AV-Preeminent® Rating
Best Lawyers in America®
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2013-2027)
- Workers' Compensation Law - Employers (2020-2027)
- Litigation - Labor and Employment (2021-2027)
- Litigation - Construction (2023-2027)
- Commercial Litigation (2024-2027)
Super Lawyers Great Plains - Civil Litigation: Defense (2022, 2024-2026, Rising Star 2013-2015)
Speaking/Presentations
Andrew has spoken at various events and functions involving a wide range of issues.
Published Articles & Books
Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Defense Update, "Medicare's New Rules for 2010," Author, 2010
Professional, Community and Civic Leadership
Christ The King, Finance Council
Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute
City of Des Moines Housing Appeals Board
City of Des Moines Human Rights Commission
Heart Connection of Iowa, Development Committee
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