Alumni Notes

We want to hear about your promotions, awards, and achievements! Send your alumni notes to law-alumni@drake.edu.

• Brianna Smith, LW'09, joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as a shareholder in the firm's Litigation Department in Las Vegas. Brianna most recently served as of counsel at Pisanelli Bice where she practiced commercial litigation. 
• Jordan Smith, LW'10, joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as a shareholder in the firm's Litigation Department in Las Vegas, bringing trial and appellate experience to the firm’s nationally recognized practice. Jordan will be cochair of the firm’s appellate practice.
• Sam Charnetski, JD'13, established and is primary attorney for Charnetski Law PLC in Urbandale, Iowa. His practice focus is on real estate transactions, corporate law, and estate planning.
• Casey Ficek, JD'17, has accepted the position of Vice President, Government Relations and Legal Counsel with the Iowa Bankers Association.
• Jacque Judickas, JD'22, has joined BrownWinick as an associate attorney with a focus on employment law. 
• Bria Carr, JD'20, has accepted a position as Agency Attorney II with the New York City Police Department.
• Erika Bauer, JD'16, is now assistant general counsel at Casey's.
• Jennifer A. Bennett Finn, AS'02, JD'06, has been appointed as a district associate Jjudge in Iowa Judicial District 3A. 
• Dustin Coffman, JD'22, has joined Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. as an associate attorney in the firm’s Government Law Practice Area, where he will advise cities, counties, and other public entities on a range of legal issues they encounter, as well as represent clients in litigation.
• Lisa Wieland, JD'12, joined the Business, Finance, and Real Estate Team at Nyemaster Goode PC as an associate.
• Victoria "Tori" Biggerstaff Egger, JD'23, joined Nyemaster Goode PC as an associate in the Labor and Employment and Litigation Departments.
• Daniel J. Tann, JD'85, received the ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division's 2025 Solo and Small Firm Trainer Award at the ABA annual meeting in Toronto. Tann is owner of the Law Offices of Daniel J. Tann in Philadelphia.
• Michael Rozenboom, JD'18, is now Vice President, Correspondent Banking at Quad City Bank & Trust.
• Jennifer Nicole Jensen, JD'15, was named district associate judge in Iowa Judicial District 8A. 
• Nicholas Bailey, JD'10, was appointed district judge in Iowa Judicial District 5A. 
• Joseph Glimco III, JD'85, received the DuPage Chapter of the Justinian Society of Lawyers Justice Anthony M. Peccarelli Award. The Peccarelli Award is given each year to an attorney who has displayed qualities of leadership and civility. Glimco is the founder of the Law Offices of Joseph P. Glimco, III P.C. He practices in the area of family law and also serves as a court-appointed guardian ad litem and court-appointed mediator. 
• Tom Kutz, LW'14, accepted the position of Membership Manager at Blank Park Zoo.
• Tim Reilly, JD'11, recently joined BrownWinick as Counsel. His practice will focus primarily on tax controversy matters.
• Erica Nichols Cook, JD'09, received this year's Polk County Women Attorneys’ Willie Stevenson Glanton Award  in honor of her dedication to public service. Erica is director of the Wrongful Conviction Unit of the Office of the Iowa State Public Defender and supervises Drake’s Wrongful Convictions Clinic. She is also a member of the Law School’s adjunct faculty.
• Drew Gentsch, AS'94, JD'00, will serve as president of the Polk County Bar Association for 2025-2026. Drew is a shareholder with Whitfield & Eddy Law.
• Beth Coonan, JD'02, was confirmed by the Iowa Senate to the Iowa Health and Human Services Human Rights Board. Beth is a shareholder with Dentons Davis Brown.
• Laura Wasson, JD'16, recently joined Belin McCormick where she will represent businesses and financial institutions in corporate and regulatory matters.
• Amber Thompson, JD'07, has been appointed as the new district judge in Judicial District 8A. Judicial District 8A includes Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington counties.   
• Thomas Bush, JD'20, joined Fredrikson &Byron's Des Moines office as a senior associate. Thomas' practice involves guiding clients through complex business transactions, from early-stage startup financings to merger and acquisition deals, while providing practical legal support for businesses at all stages of growth along the way.
• Rita S. Heimes, LW'93,JD'93, has joined Crowell & Moring as a senior counsel in Washington, DC.
• Emily (Peebler) Anderson, AS'04, JD'07, was invited to become a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers is exclusive, limited to 250 Iowa attorneys who primarily focus on trial practice. The Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers is a prestigious invitation-only organization that is dedicated to advancing excellence in trial advocacy and promoting justice. 
• Andrew Morgan, LW'17, has joined McKee, Voorhees & Sease as a senior associate in the Trademark, Copyright and Litigation Practice Groups.
• Jill Link, PH'05, LW'07, has been named to the Board of Directors of Pharmacist Mutual Insurance Company headquartered in Algona, Iowa. Jill is a partner/patent attorney with McKee, Voorhees & Sease.
• Michael McLeran, LW'18, has joined the Construction Litigation Team at Sacks Tierney in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Shannon Bielski, LW'07, started a new position as assistant vice president and associate general counsel at Sammons Financial Group Companies.
• Raziel Argueta, LW'18, has been named a project officer and fire direction officer with the Iowa Army National Guard.
• Renner Walker, LW'12, was named one of the National Law Journal's 2024 Rising Stars of the Plaintiff Bar. Renner is of counsel in the New York office of Hausfeld LLP.
• Brooke Xiao Yang-Gillespie, LW'16, has joined Global Atlantic Financial Group as vice president and assistant general counsel.
• Dan Cosgrove, LW'92, has been named chief administrative officer and general counsel at Benson Hill, Inc. Dan will assume responsibility for Benson Hill’s day-to-day operations related to business development, compliance, and legal matters.
• Ben Clark, LW'08, has been promoted to director and senior counsel at BH Management Services LLC.
• Krysta Kerr, LW'12, has joined Phillip A. Norman, PC, as an attorney with the bankruptcy practice.
• Bo Woolman, LW'15, has accepted a new position as Financial Services Representative at Northwestern Mutual. 
• Kitt Tovar Jensen, LW'18, started a new position as Corporate Attorney at Kemin Industries. 
• Alex Cutchey, LW'19, GR'19, has started a new position as Government Affairs and Energy Policy Manager at Marathon Digital Holdings in Minneapolis.  
• Erin Boggess, LW'23, has joined the Employment, Labor & Benefits Group at Fredrikson & Byron in Des Moines. Erin represents clients in employment litigation and workers’ compensation matters.

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