Attorneys/Staff

Partners

David J. Siegrist

Overview

A graduate of the University of Illinois (B.S. 1978), he received a juris doctorate degree from Drake University in 1981. He was admitted to practice before the Iowa Supreme Court, the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association and the Iowa State Bar Association Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section Council. He is currently the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Minn-Iowa Christian Broadcasting and the President of the Board of Directors of New Horizons Adoption Agency. He is also a professor of law, teaching commercial law at Oak Brook College of Law in Fresno, California.

Education

  • University of Illinois: B.S. (1978)
  • Drake University: Juris Doctorate (1981)

Brian D. Jones

Overview

Brian is a multifaceted legal professional, actively engaged in various aspects of law and community service. As a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, he contributes expertise to sections such as Real Estate and Title Law, Probate, Trust, Estate Planning, and Taxation. Brian also serves as a participating attorney for Iowa Title Guaranty and USDA Farm Service Agency closings. Beyond his legal pursuits, he is dedicated to family and church and has an honorable military background, having served as a Reserve Commissioned Officer in the United States Army and attaining the rank of Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Primary Practice Areas

  • Business or corporation, including:
    • entity formation
    • business purchases and sales
    • non-profit entities
  • Tax planning and return preparation
  • Real estate title and transactions
  • Estate planning, wills, and probate
  • Trust planning and trust administration
  • Collections and foreclosure
  • Adoption

Education

  • Iowa State University of Science and Technology: B.A. (1986)
  • University of Iowa College of Law: Juris Doctorate (1990)

Thomas W. Lipps

Overview

Thomas W. Lipps has successfully handled landmark cases, won multimillion-dollar jury verdicts, and settled record-setting settlements. He also handles estates, trusts, wills, probate, and estate planning matters.

Mr. Lipps represented the plaintiffs, who obtained a $33 million jury verdict in an environmental pollution case—reportedly a national record.

He also represented the plaintiff in a jury trial, recovering what still stands as the highest verdict in Kossuth County history for a wrongful death case as well as what was reported as the highest punitive damage award in Kossuth County District Court history.

Mr. Lipps, in addition to being licensed in all state and federal courts, is qualified as a board-certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Lipps is also a member of the Iowa Association for Justice (IAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Mr. Lipps received the 2000 Public Justice Award from the Iowa Association for Justice for holding a poultry factory farm accountable for pollution. He has also handled, briefed, and/or argued several significant Iowa appellate decisions.

Steven R. Bakke

Overview

After almost 5 decades practicing law in Forest City Iowa, Steven cannot say enough about the great opportunities of practicing in a small town. Forest City’s slogan, “Where nature is close, and friends are closer,” is very true. The opportunities for involvement, professional and personal, both for the young attorney and their family, are wide spread.

Professional Service

  • Member of the Iowa Bar
  • 2A District Bar (President)
  • Winnebago County Bar Association (President)
  • Past Member of the 2A Judicial Nominating Committee
  • Member of the Iowa Municipal Attorney Association (Board Member, President 2013)

Public Service

  • 50-year-old member of the Forest City Rotary Club, President 76-77, recipient of the Rotary of the Year.
  • Co-chair of committees that built the tennis courts, skateboard courts, and aquatic center in Boman Park
  • Recipient of the Forest City Chamber of Commerce John K. and Louise V. Hanson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Education

  • Waldorf College: A.A.
  • University of North Iowa: B.A.
  • Drake Law School: J.D.