Maria E. Brownell

Background

Maria is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Public Finance Practice Groups, and works with public entities including cities, city utilities, counties, special districts and other local governments. She represents clients in both the litigation and appeals process. Her representation of municipal entities includes litigation in federal and state courts, as well as practice before administrative agencies in regard to such matters as public improvement contract litigation, open meetings, public records requests, and the exercise of home rule powers. Maria currently serves as chair of the firm's Diversity Committee.

Prior to joining Ahlers & Cooney, Maria was an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Iowa, Department of Inspections and Appeals. She conducted hearings and issued proposed decisions in contested case proceedings involving various state and local agencies, including the Department of Human Services, Department of Transportation, Iowa Workforce Development, and Department of Inspections and Appeals. She successfully completed certification at the National Judicial College for Administrative Law: Fair Hearings. Prior to this, she practiced law at a Des Moines law firm in the areas of municipal law, family law, business law, and litigation.

Upon graduation from law school, Maria served as a judicial law clerk to The Honorable Mark S. Cady, Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court for three years. During law school, she served as an extern to The Honorable Lee M. Jackwig, Chief Judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa and as a Summer Associate with the Ahlers & Cooney law firm. At Drake Law School, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law. As the child of a native-born Puerto Rican, Maria speaks both English and Spanish.