BW INSIGHTS

BrownWinick Hosts Scale DSM Minority Business Accelerator Program

BrownWinick recently partnered with the Greater Des Moines Partnership to host a half-day seminar for individuals participating in the Partnership’s new Scale DSM Minority Business Accelerator. This event included presentations from BrownWinick attorneys Dani Smid on Navigating Employment Law Issues During an Economic Downturn, Nate Borland on... Read More

Why Should You Obtain a Federal Registration for Your Trademark?

There are many benefits to registering your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Choosing to obtain a federal trademark registration first and foremost means that you have the right to bring a lawsuit in federal court concerning the use of your trademark. Similar to the right to file a lawsuit is the fact that a... Read More

Remote Worker Taxation Considerations: What Employers and Employees Should Understand

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become common in a variety of workplaces and fields. Working from home has become a necessity in some cases, with more and more employees switching to permanent or regular work-from-home arrangements. This unprecedented shift towards remote work has certainly created conveniences for... Read More

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

You may have heard that if you die without a will, your property will go to the state. For most cases, this is not accurate. Iowa has an intestacy statute which dictates where your assets will go if you die without a will. Here is a chart to explain where your property would go depending on the family members you leave behind: If you die with:... Read More

IRS Extends Deadline for Certain Required Amendments to Retirement Plans and IRAs

On August 3rd, 2022, IRS Notice 2022-33 extended the remedial amendment periods for qualified plans, 403(b) plans, governmental plans, and 457(b) plans to adopt certain, but not all, required plan amendments relating to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (the “SECURE Act”), the Bipartisan American Miners Act of... Read More

Powers of Attorney: What They Are and Why You Need Them

Having a power of attorney is essential for the estate planning process. In Iowa, there are two types of powers of attorney available: medical power of attorney (also known as the health care power of attorney) and financial power of attorney (also known as the general power of attorney). Read on to learn more about the differences between these... Read More

Dental Associate: Your First Employment Contract

You’re getting ready to graduate dental school. Congratulations! After years of tests, labs, and working in the clinic, you are looking for the perfect job. Once you have secured a job offer, you are faced with a new challenge—the employment contract. Reviewing your employment contract can be intimidating and because you are so excited to have a... Read More

Wind Farm  Assessments for Repowers Have Changed

During the most recent legislative session, the Iowa legislature passed a new law affecting the assessment of wind turbines that could have a big impact on operators planning to repower their turbines. If the county adopts the special wind farm assessment ordinance, the wind turbines are each assessed based upon the value of the turbines,... Read More

Fourth Circuit Rules Gender Dysphoria is Covered by the ADA

On August 16, 2022, a federal circuit court ruled that the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers gender dysphoria. The case, Williams v. Kincaid, was not an employment case – but it will most likely have significant implications in the employment context (as well as other cases involving government services and public accommodations), as the... Read More