Karen Lorenzen and I formed our own law firm in 1999 and we have grown to the four lawyers now with our firm In our state-wide practice, we handle a wide range of personal injury cases involving medical neglect, vehicular accidents, fires, industrial accidents, product failures any kind of cases where people are badly injured, such as brain injuries and major physical disabilities. I represented college athletes who went on to play professional ball. Today, athletes who sustained brain concussions many years ago in college and the NFL are experiencing CTE, and we represent those clients for damages at both the NFL and NCAA levels.

We are proud of the service we provide to the citizens of Iowa. All of our lawyers are actively involved in the profession, in our community and in our state.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner, Hayes Lorenzen Biderman Lawyers PLC

Year Joined Organization

• 1999

Areas of Practice

• Medical Malpractice -- Plaintiff
• Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Products Liability Law -- Plaintiff

Bar Admissions

• Iowa, 1964
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa, 1972
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa, 1972

Education

• University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa, 1964
  J.D.
• Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1960
  Major: History

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Guest Lecturer, Medical Jurisprudence, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 1974 - 1990
• Guest Lecturer, Medical Malpractice and Sports Law, University of Iowa College of Law, 1975 - 1995
• Speaker, Numerous Trial Lawyer and Physician Seminars

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American College of Trial Lawyers, fellow 1990-present; state chair 2002-2004
• Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, fellow 1980-present; vice president 1993-1994, president 1994-1995; Board of Governors 1992-present
• Iowa State Bar Association, member 1964-president
• Iowa State Bar Association, Section on Professionalism Past Member, Vice Chair 1989-1990
• Iowa State Bar Association, Section on Litigation, Past Council Member 1990-1992
• Iowa State Bar Association, Past Council Member, Health Law Council
• American Bar Association, member 1964-present
• Johnson County Bar Association, member 1969-present, president 1999-2000
• Johnson County Bar Association, Past Member, Grievance Committee
• American Association of Justice, member 1970-present
• Iowa Association of Justice, member 1970-present, Board of Governors 1981-1987
• American Society of Law and Medicine, Past Member
• Dean Mason Ladd Inn of Court, Past Member
• Assisted Governor Chet Culver in appointing Judicial Commissioners and vetting judges as an outside lawyer reviewer, 2006-2010
• Judicial Retention 2010 and 2012 Committees, “Fair Courts Are Us.”

Past Employment Positions

• Iowa Department of Public Safety, Deputy Commissioner, 1964 - 1967
• Iowa Crime Commission, Director, 1967 - 1968
• Meardon, Sueppel & Downer, Associate, 1969 - 1972
• Meardon, Sueppel, Downer & Hayes, Partner, 1972 - 1999

Pro Bono Activities

• President, Members Council, University of Iowa Museum of Art, 2004-2006
• Member, Advisory Board, University of Iowa Museum of Art, 2006-present
• President, Advisory Board, University of Iowa Museum of Arts, 2012-2014
• Past Member, Board of Directors, University Athletic Club
• Member, Board of Directors, Friends of Historic Preservation, 2000-2012
• Member, President’s Club, University of Iowa
• Past Member, Development Council, Loras College
• Member, Advisory Board, REACH (Realizing Education and Career Hopes) at University of Iowa, 2008-present
• Board of Directors, Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, 2013-present
• Member, Board of Directors, I CAN READ, 2006-2010
• Member, Iowa Arts Council, 2007-2013
• Chair, Grant Wood Art Colony National Advisory Board, 2010-present
• Member, University of Iowa I Club, 1969-present
• Candidate for State Attorney General
• Chair, Johnson County Democratic Party, 1970-1974
• Past Member, Johnson County Regional Planning Commission, 1970-1975
• Past Member, Iowa City Historic Commission, 1980-1984
• Past Member, American Association of Representatives of Professional Athletes, 1975-1987

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity
• Phi Alpha Theta, history fraternity