Our Attorneys

Position: Member
E-Mail mbrandes@simmonsperrine.com
115 3rd Street SE, Suite 1200
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1266

Phone 319-366-7641
Fax 319-366-1917
vCard

General Practice Including but not Limited to Family Law

Education

William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1981)
University of Notre Dame (B.A. 1975)

Clerkship Information
Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward J. McManus, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 1983-1985

Admitted to Practice (State)

State of Minnesota, 1981
State of Iowa, 1985

Memberships, Offices and Committee Assignments in Bar Association

Linn County Bar Association

• Family Law Procedures Committee, 2001-present

Panel Mediator, Sixth Judicial District Family Mediation Program
Iowa State Bar Association

• Family & Juvenile Law Section Member; Family and Juvenile Law Section
• Council 2002-2005
• Litigation Section Member
• Workers Compensation Section Member

American Bar Association

• Family Law Section Member

Memberships and Offices in Professional Organizations and Appointments

Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa, Inc. (President 2002-2004)
Iowa Association of Workers' Compensation Lawyers, Inc.
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Place of Birth

Waverly, Iowa

2010 Speeches & Publications

• Iowa State Bar Association, Annual Family Law Seminar 10/29/10
  "Effective Discovery in Family Law Cases"
• Iowa Association of Mediators, Annual Summer Conference 07/16/10
  "Ethical Dilemmas for Mediators" Panel Presentation and Discussion
• Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa
  "Collaborative Law, Mediation Models"

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Iowa Supreme Court adopts Chapter 11 Study Group Recommendations

On November 10, 2011, the Iowa Supreme Court ordered the replacement of chapter 11 of the Iowa Court Rules. Chapter 11 addresses standards of conduct for mediators. The previously appointed Chapter 11 Study Group recommended the changes. Matt Brandes served as reporter for the group.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Matt Brandes speaks at Family and Juvenile Law seminar

On October 27, 2011, Matt Brandes spoke at the Iowa State Bar Association's Family and Juvenile Law continuing education program. He was part of a panel that presented on Family Law documents. His topic and materials related to suggested language for real estate transfers and suggested clauses for division of ERISA qualified retirement plans in divorce settlement agreements.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Matt Brandes serves on study group for ethical guidelines for lawyer mediators in family disputes

On December 7, 2010, the Iowa Supreme Court solicited public comment on whether to replace Iowa's current rules governing standards of practice for lawyer mediators in family disputes with the 2005 Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators. The change was recommended by what is known as the Chapter 11 Study Group, composed of representatives from relevant sections of the Iowa State Bar Association and others. Matt Brandes served as reporter for the group.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Firm Hosts Collaborative Family Law Seminar

Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC hosted a seminar on collaborative family law on March 11-12, 2010. The seminar presenters were Stuart Webb and Ronald Ousky. Mr. Webb founded collaborative law in 1990 and the two have authored a book entitled THE COLLABORATIVE WAY TO DIVORCE: The Revolutionary Method that Results in Less Stress, Lower Cost, and Happier Kids – Without Going to Court. Collaborative law is a non-adversarial process that views the issues arising from a divorce (or other family law dispute) as a series of battles to be solved rather than fought. Jake Koller, Allison Heffern, Larry Gutz, Brian Fagan, and Matthew Brandes participated in the seminar.