Timothy J. Whipple - Brochure
 

Education

J.D., Drake University Law School (high honors), Legislative Practice Certificate, 2007

Taxation Certificates, University of California, Davis, Center for State and Local Taxation, Summer Tax Institute, 2008-2009

B.A., St. Olaf College, English & Linguistics (Magna Cum Laude), 1999

 

Practice Groups

  • Board Governance
  • Economic Development/Urban Renewal
  • Procurement/Contracting
  • Public Finance

Overview

Tim joined Ahlers & Cooney in 2022 and focuses his practice in the Government Law Practice Area working with municipal utilities, including electric, water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications. He works closely with clients as counsel on municipal utility matters, general municipal law matters, administrative law matters, board governance, and regulatory matters at the state and federal levels. Tim’s breadth of experience includes utilities law, municipal law, public finance, economic development, taxation, legislation, and administrative law.

Prior to Ahlers, Tim served as General Counsel for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU), where he focused on advancing the interests of over 700 municipal-owned utilities of all sizes across Iowa by representing them in Washington D.C. and at the Iowa state Capitol, and by advocating for helpful public policy, monitoring state and federal regulatory issues, and providing general legal support.

He was formerly Vice President and General Counsel at MidAmerican Energy, an investor-owned utility company, and was responsible for overseeing legal services and litigation, state and federal regulatory compliance, corporate transactional work, government affairs, rate analysis and design, and environmental compliance in three states, with a department of 25 people and a substantial budget that included lobbyists, consultants, and outside legal counsel.

Tim began his legal career as Legal Counsel at the Iowa Legislative Services Agency, and then joined the Iowa Economic Development Authority as General Counsel, where he was responsible for representing the agency before the Iowa legislature, developing its public policy agenda, monitoring regulatory issues, implementing new programs, drafting administrative rules and regulations, handling administrative legal issues, and providing general legal support to the state of Iowa's primary economic development agency. He was instrumental at IEDA in developing and implementing an innovative public/private partnership structure for the agency, as well as redesigning many of the state’s economic and business development financial assistance programs.

Tim is a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and prior to law school, worked at a medical records software company on its patent development program. Tim speaks on a variety of municipal utility issues, and while at IAMU and IEDA, often served as a spokesperson on public policy issues.

Bar Admissions

Iowa, 2007

Court Admissions

All Iowa Courts

Representative Projects

  • General counsel for municipal utilities
  • General municipal law matters
  • Counsel and monitoring of regulatory issues
  • Utility transactional matters and issues
  • General administrative matters
  • Board governance
  • Economic development/urban renewal

Memberships

Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association

American Bar Association

Iowa State Bar Association

Recognitions

Drake University Law School, 150 in 150, 2015

  • In recognition of its 150th anniversary, Drake Law celebrated 150 individuals who best demonstrated the values of the Law School and helped shape Drake Law into what it is today.

Des Moines Business Record, 2014 Legislative Deal of the Year, associated with Iowa Economic Development Authority, restructuring state’s business tax credit programs, December 2014

Des Moines Business Record, Forty Under 40, 2014

Speaking/Presentations

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, Municipal Utility Law 101 Workshop, "Municipal Utility Law," December 2024

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, Municipal Utility Law 101 Workshop, "Municipal Utility Law," with Aaron Hilligas, October 2023

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, Annual Energy Conference, "L&R Update & Discussion," March 2023

Iowa State Association of County Supervisors, Statewide Supervisors Meeting, "Pipeline Considerations for County Supervisors," panelist, February 2023

Witness before U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, recording link, 2016

  • Invited by Chairman Grassley to testify before the Committee on reform of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa program

Published Articles & Books

The Iowa County Magazine (ISAC), "Pipelines and Eminent Domain in Iowa," pg. 17, February 2023

Professional, Community and Civic Leadership

Bioconnect Iowa, Board member, 2020 - present

Bergman Academy, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, 2019 - present

Iowa Energy Center, Board member, 2017-2021, Chair 2017-2020

Iowa Complete Count Census Committee, Board member, 2019-2020

Iowa State Bar Association, Middle School and High School Mock Trial Program, Coach, 2013 - present

Member of the Chapter of the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines

 

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