Practice Areas

Experienced Des Moines, Iowa, Attorneys

At Smith, Schneider, Stiles & Serangeli, P.C., we provide legal planning, counseling, and litigation services to a wide array of clients ranging from young entrepreneurs to established businesses in the following areas of law.

Contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss how we may help protect your rights and interests in any of the areas listed below.

Business Organization & Transactions: We provide sound legal counseling and advice to entrepreneurs looking to start a business. Our business attorneys analyze legal, tax, financial and operational issues to determine which type of business organization best suits the needs of a start-up business: corporation, limited liability company (LLC), partnership, or other business structure. We also negotiate, draft and review business contracts and agreements, and handle other business transactions for companies located in or doing business in Iowa.

Taxation: Our tax lawyers counsel individuals and businesses on issues relating to income tax planning, property taxes, estate and gift taxes, sales or excise taxes, tax deferred exchanges, tax audits, trust fund or "responsible person" matters, tax collection by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Iowa tax authorities, and offers in compromise. We also represent individuals and businesses in tax litigation and tax appeals and defend clients against tax fraud, and other criminal tax matters.

Real Estate Transactions and Litigation: Our attorneys handle both residential and commercial real estate transactions and litigation. On the transactional side, we can help you with real estate purchases and sales, property development, land use and zoning issues, title examination, title insurance and abstract review. On the litigation side, we represent real estate brokers in claims related to construction defects, misrepresentation, failure to disclose problems with a property and other real estate disputes. Additionally, we represent property developers, builders, and contractors on issues related to the process of buying, selling, building, and developing residential or commercial property.

Business and Commercial Litigation: Our business and commercial law attorneys handle business disputes of all kinds, including disagreements between partners and shareholders, breach of contract claims, control agreements and business dissolution disputes. We also represent accountants in malpractice suits.

Publishing and Media Law: Our business and commercial law attorneys represent magazine publishers, newspapers, and Internet-based and e-commerce businesses in all facets of the publishing business, including advertising, contract disputes, defamation and libel suits, and first amendment issues. We also audit publisher websites to make sure they comply with state and federal communications and media laws.

Insurance Defense: We represent insurance companies against "bad faith" claims (the unreasonable or bad faith withholding or non-payment of insurance policy benefits).

Estate Planning and Probate: A lawyer at our firm can meet with you to discuss all estate planning matters that we confidently handle, including wills, trusts, tax planning, and the probate process.

White Collar Crimes: Our attorneys represent both individuals and businesses charged with white collar crimes, including federal RICO statute violations, money laundering, embezzlement, immigration violations, failure to file income taxes, tax fraud, and Medicare / Medicaid fraud. We also prosecute and defend Qui Tam lawsuits. The qui tam or federal False Claims Act allows individuals or businesses with specific knowledge that a person or entity is committing fraud against the government to file a lawsuit on behalf of the government.

Employment Law: We represent employers of all types and sizes in all facets of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, employment contract disputes, and wage and hour claims. We also have represented colleges and universities in all types of employment law claims.

Agricultural and Environmental Law: We provide legal counsel and represent agricultural clients on ways to comply with state and federal environmental regulations and waste disposal laws.

If you have any questions about any of our practice areas and would like to speak with an attorney at our firm, please do not hesitate to contact our Des Moines law office.

Smith, Schneider, Stiles & Serangeli, P.C.
The Equitable Building
604 Locust Street
Suite 1000
Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 245-6789
Fax: (515) 244-1328

At the Des Moines law firm of Smith, Schneider, Stiles & Serangeli, P.C., our attorneys serve clients throughout Iowa, including the counties of Polk, Warren, Madison, Dallas, Boone, Story, Jasper, and Linn; and the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, and Ames. Our lawyers have also represented clients in other states such as New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Connecticut, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, and South Dakota.