Family Law

• Child Support
  Child support is based on a formula which uses the income of each parent to determine what amount of support one parent must pay the other. Self-employed, commissioned sales people, farmers, and other persons with variable incomes can be particularly challenging. Our lawyers will make sure the appropriate income is used for each party and an appropriate amount of support is established.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Ryan began practicing law in 1992 following his graduation from Drake Law school. Before joining our firm in 2019, he was a partner with the law firm of Culp, Doran & Genest for sixteen years where engaged in a general civil practice with emphasis on domestic relations, private termination of parental rights, and adoption. Ryan has continued to advance his knowledge and skill in the areas of domestic relations, private termination of parental rights, and adoption. Ryan has presented on a variety of topics including adoption, termination of parental rights, the Uniform Child Custody and Jurisdiction Act and other matters related to domestic.
• Adoption
  Step-parent adoptions are unique. Unlike most adoptions, in a step-parent adoption the termination of a biological parents’ parental rights and the establishment of parental rights in the adoptive parent is accomplished in one unified proceeding. Our lawyers have assisted hundreds of families with step-parent adoptions and understand the emotions that may be part of that process.
• Paternity
• Guardianship
  Domestic relations including dissolution of marriage, paternity, modification of prior dissolution/paternity orders, enforcement of prior dissolution/paternity decree including actions under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, private termination of parental rights, and adoption including out of state adoptions. Establishment of Guardianships for Minors.
• Spousal Support
  Iowa Code 598 lists the factors a court may consider in requiring one person to pay the other alimony. While each case is different, commonly seen factors include the length of the marriage, the property settlement and the ability of each party to maintain a lifestyle commensurate with what the enjoyed during the marriage. Our lawyers are skilled in ensuring that any alimony award is appropriate and takes into consideration all facts and circumstances of the marriage.
• Child Abuse
  An incorrect finding of abuse can have a profound effect on a person and their livelihood. Our firm represents individuals who the Department of Human Services has wrongfully found to committed some type of child abuse or neglect. Our firm assists clients in the Appeal process, including representing the client in hearings before an Administrative Law Judge.

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  Jack H. Pennington is a shareholder of Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. Jack has a general practice, but practices primarily within the firm’s litigation department, which includes but is not limited to commercial/business litigation, general complex litigation, contract and business tort claims, debtor/creditor, banking, employment and labor law, workers’ compensation, personal injury, wrongful death, real estate, construction, family law, and appeals. Jack practices before both the Iowa State and Federal courts.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  The Firm takes entrepreneurs from the creation of a business through whatever makes them successful, their transition planning to obtain value from their life’s work, and the estate and family planning to effectively utilize their resources to the maximum advantage of all. Clients seek our advice on choice of entity, corporate governance, financing, contracts, product distribution, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, transition planning, divestitures and other areas involved in operating a successful commercial enterprise.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  The Firm takes entrepreneurs from the creation of a business through what ever makes them successful, their transition planning to obtain value from their life’s work, and the estate and family planning to effectively utilize their resources to the maximum advantage of all. Clients seek our advice on choice of entity, corporate governance, financing, contracts, product distribution, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, transition planning, divestitures and other areas involved in operating a successful commercial enterprise.
• Business Disputes
  Gary has previously served as an Instructor for the Legal Assistant Program at Des Moines Area Community College teaching Business Law, Torts, Litigation and Trial Preparation.
• Business Transactions
  Geoff joined the firm as an associate attorney in September of 2020 after working as a law clerk since the Spring of 2019. He maintains a general practice, with an emphasis in business transactions/ formations, estate planning, labor/employment law and family law.
• Limited Liability Companies
  Lyle specializes in assisting clients from the point of an idea through whatever makes them successful in business, the formation of their company, management of the growth and business transactions for the company, the transition planning to maximize the value of the business upon its disposition by his clients and the estate planning to make the best statement that the client can make about their life and to minimize taxation and government interference with their objectives. He has been responsible for the legal services for over 400 corporations, 200 limited liability companies, is registered agent for over 2,000 companies doing business in Iowa, and the supervision of several hundreds of trusts and estate plans.
• Construction Contracts

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Gary R. Fischer is a shareholder and Managing Partner of the firm. He has a general practice including but not limited to practicing primarily in general business litigation with an emphasis on employment and labor law matters. Gary also counsels business clients with a full range of employee/labor relations matters including but not limited to negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. Gary also accepts a select few personal injury and workers compensation matters on behalf of individuals usually involving serious injury or fatalities. Gary obtained one of the largest personal injury jury verdicts in Iowa in excess of ten million dollars. Gary has over 20 years experience advising clients and practicing law with the firm and is a well respected advocate on behalf of his clients.
• Wrongful Termination
  In all aspects of employee relations, Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. represents employers of all sizes as well as individuals. Clients seek our proactive advice on preventing and/or minimizing costly employment related disputes. In addition, we advise clients on the many issues confronting employers in the day-to-day operation of business, including personnel policies and issues, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act, WARN Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, workplace privacy laws, drug testing in the workplace, workers’ compensation, and unemployment claims. We also provide employers with representation before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, civil rights commissions, and arbitration panels in all forms of disputes arising out of employment relationships, including wrongful discharge litigation and employment discrimination litigation. We represent management in labor relations and negotiation, union avoidance, grievances and arbitrations.
• Employment Discrimination

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Megan M. Regennitter is a shareholder at Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. She maintains a general practice with a concentration in real estate matters, including property development, title examination, commercial real estate transactions, and commercial lease matters. Megan also assists with corporate transactional matters, civil litigation, and employment matters.
• Construction Litigation
  Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. represents clients in all aspects of construction law. We represent design professionals, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, subcontractors and suppliers. Our attorneys have extensive experience in construction disputes, including, but not limited to, design and construction defects, delay, earth movement and job site injury, in state and federal courts, as well as with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and private arbitration proceedings. The firm also drafts contracts for owners, architects and contractors, and provides legal advice during projects.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Joseph F. Wallace is shareholder of Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. He joined the firm in February 2016. Mr. Wallace maintains a real estate focused practice with a concentration in landlord/tenant representation (including multi-family housing developers, owners, and operators), commercial real estate transactions, land use and regulation, property development title examination, civil litigation, and corporate transactional matters. Joseph is a frequent speaker on landlord and tenant matters, including presentations to regional and national property management associations and continuing legal education programs.
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. handles a wide variety of personal injury matters on behalf of injured persons; usually involving severe injuries or death. The Firm has experience in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, motor vehicle accidents, professional negligence, premise liability, and workers’ compensation. The Firm obtained one of the largest personal injury jury verdicts in Iowa history; in excess of ten million dollars.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Jack Pennington has advised us with company start-ups, company contracts and estate planning. He has communicated well and never let anything drop. I highly recommend Jack and his firm.
• Wills
  Michael S. Eganhouse is a shareholder attorney at Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer & Bouslog, P.C. Mike maintains a general law practice with a concentration in estate planning, wills and trusts, estate and trust administration, probate, probate avoidance, beneficiary representation, will and trust contests, and general civil litigation. Mike handles estate planning and estate and trust administration matters that range from the “simple” with relatively few assets, to complex estate planning and estate/trust administration for large and complicated estates, and everything in between. Mike is a problem-solver who enjoys finding the practical solutions to complex problems for clients. Mike takes pride in treating every client matter with extreme care and does not take for granted that the legal work a client needs often relates to the most important issues and aspects of a client’s life.
• Trusts
  Probate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning – Wills, Trusts, Declarations of Intention, Charitable Planning, Corporate/Business – formation, transactions, succession planning, Real Estate
• Power of Attorney
  The Firm offers estate planning and administration services to clients seeking to preserve, manage and transfer personal or family assets. We perform traditional estate planning, such as estate analysis, estate plan design to minimize unnecessary tax liability, charitable gift planning, gifting strategies, drafting trust agreements, wills, living wills, durable powers of attorney for health care and property management, and standby conservatorships and guardianships. The firm also represents corporate trustees and fiduciaries.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure
  John served for a number of years as general counsel for a Des Moines-based bank as well as a Des Moines-based insurance company, for which he negotiated and closed a merger between two life insurance companies. John also practices in the regulatory compliance area in the banking and insurance industries. John represents a number of lenders in loan work out, foreclosure and deed in lieu of foreclosure transactions.
• Tax Law
  The Firm’s lawyers represent clients, including buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants in real estate transactions, disputes and related matters. We prepare title opinions and assist clients with property tax appeals and zoning issues.