Twenty-five attorneys from Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., a Des Moines-based law firm, were recently selected by their peers to be recognized in respective practice areas by The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 edition for Des Moines. Three attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch.
Best Lawyer of the Year® (2026 Edition) – Des Moines
Three attorneys are also recognized as Best Lawyer of the Year 2026 in Des Moines for respective practice areas. "Lawyer of the Year" honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.
- Eric Boehlert – Public Finance Law
- Jason Comisky – Economic Development Law
- Elizabeth Grob – Municipal Law
Best Lawyers in America® (2026 Edition) – Des Moines
After each name below in parentheses is the year that the lawyer was first recognized by Best Lawyers.
- Brad Beaman (2024)
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Litigation – Construction
- Mark Beerman (2003)
- Trusts and Estates
- Trusts and Estates
- Eric Boehlert (2011)
- Economic Development Law
- Municipal Law
- Public Finance Law
- Maria Brownell (2023)
- Construction Law
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Municipal
- Municipal Law
- John Bunz (2013)
- Public Finance Law
- Public Finance Law
- Jennifer Clendenin (2015)
- Employment Law – Management
- Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Jason Comisky (2023)
- Economic Development Law
- Public Finance Law
- Kristin Cooper (2021)
- Economic Development Law
- Municipal Law
- Public Finance Law
- Jason Craig (2021)
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Emily Ellingson (2025)
- Education Law
- Employment Law – Management
- Michael Galloway (2023)
- Employment Law – Management
- Employment Law – Management
- Beth Grob (2013)
- Municipal Law
- Public Finance Law
- Danielle Haindfield (2021)
- Construction Law
- Education Law
- Employment Law – Management
- Aaron Hilligas (2021)
- Employment Law – Management
- Employment Law – Management
- Steven Nadel (2021)
- Municipal Law
- Public Finance Law
- Brett Nitzschke (2026)
- Labor Law – Management
- Labor Law – Management
- Nathan Overberg (2013)
- Civil Rights Law
- Economic Development Law
- Employment Law – Management
- Nicholas Pellegrin (2024)
- Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Rebecca Reif (2026)
- Education Law
- Employment Law – Management
- Ann Smisek (2021)
- Employment Law – Management
- Labor Law – Management
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Kristine Stone (2025)
- Construction Law
- Litigation – Municipal
- Andrew Tice (2013)
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Miriam Van Heukelem (2021)
- Education Law
- Employment Law – Management
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Lindsay Vaught (2021)
- Employment Law – Management
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- James Wainwright (2020)
- Construction Law
- Litigation – Municipal
- Municipal Law
Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch® (2026 Edition)
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch awards recognize lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years in the United States. Like traditional Best Lawyers awards, a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition is based entirely on peer review.
- Emily Kolbe (2021)
- Education Law
- Education Law
- Jenna Sabroske (2026)
- Municipal Law
- Real Estate Law
- Conner Wasson (2021)
- Construction Law
- Environmental Law
- Real Estate Law
Best Lawyers® is an elite global network of legal professionals recognized through trusted, peer-reviewed distinction. First published in 1983, inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America is based on an exhaustive Purely Peer Review® evaluation. For the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 26 million evaluations were analyzed. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be recognized; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
For more than 135 years, Ahlers & Cooney has been providing comprehensive legal services to local, state, national and international businesses, educational institutions, and municipalities.
More information can be found at: www.bestlawyers.com