Not legal advice. This directory is for informational purposes only. Listing here is not an endorsement; the firms below did not pay for placement. For your specific matter, contact a firm directly and confirm current information before retaining counsel.
How this directory was built
Firms were selected based on public reputation, prominence in Johnson County legal practice, and breadth of practice areas relevant to Coralville residents. Information was compiled from firm websites, public legal directories (Avvo, Justia, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell), and Google business listings — researched in June 2026. Google ratings shown reflect publicly visible information at that time; ratings change, and the absence of a rating means the firm did not have a clearly visible Google review summary in search at the time of research, not that the firm is less reputable.
Inclusion is editorial. If you operate a Coralville or Iowa City firm and want to be added, corrected, or removed — or want to discuss sponsored placement (clearly labeled and separated from the editorial list) — see contact.
Quick navigation
Firms with offices in Coralville
4 firms
These are the law firms with a physical office inside Coralville city limits. For most matters, Coralville residents have full access to all Iowa City firms below as well — the two cities are five minutes apart and share the Johnson County Courthouse.
Coralville office
Business law
Real estate
Estate planning
Civil litigation
Coralville-headquartered business-and-real-estate boutique founded 2014, serving the Iowa City–Coralville–Cedar Rapids corridor. BBB A+ rating.
Coralville office
Estate planning
Business law
Real estate
Solo practitioner since 2006. Melvin Shaw served as 2024-25 President of the Iowa State Bar Association. Focus on wills, trusts, LLC formation, and real-estate transactions across Johnson, Linn, Washington, and Cedar Counties.
Coralville office
Real estate
Wills, trusts & estates
Probate
Business law
Education law
Dell A. Richard brings 35+ years of experience and previously clerked for Chief Justice Moore of the Iowa Supreme Court. Mary M. Richard adds 30+ years in K-12 education and special-education/school law.
Coralville office
Business law
Litigation
Bankruptcy
Family law
Medical malpractice defense
One of eastern Iowa's largest firms with 50+ attorneys. Cedar Rapids headquarters; opened Coralville office in September 2018 as a full-service second location.
Criminal defense & OWI/DUI
7 firms
Iowa City has a deep bench of criminal defense attorneys, several with specific OWI/DUI focus. See our OWI guide for what to look for in selection.
OWI/DUI defense
Drug crimes
Criminal defense
Expungements
Former Johnson County prosecutor turned defense attorney. Practicing since 1998; licensed in Iowa and California. Also a USA Boxing judge/referee.
OWI/DUI defense
Criminal defense
Drug crimes
Practice limited exclusively to criminal law and DUI defense. Serves Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and surrounding Iowa counties.
OWI/DUI defense
Criminal defense
Drug crimes
Assault
Iowa City native Thomas D.S. Farnsworth founded the firm in 2018 after years as a Johnson County prosecuting legal intern. Selected to Super Lawyers in 2025.
Criminal defense
Family law
Bankruptcy
Personal injury
Estate law
Recently rebranded from Johnston, Stannard, Klesner, Burbidge & Fitzgerald, P.L.C. 70+ years combined experience; trusted Iowa City general-practice firm since 1968.
OWI/DUI defense
Criminal defense
Felony defense
Drug crimes
Criminal defense boutique with offices in Iowa City and Davenport, 50+ years combined experience. Eric Tindal has tried multiple First-Degree Murder cases; J. Dean Keegan is a former probation officer.
OWI/DUI defense
Criminal defense
Drug crimes
Boutique OWI-focused firm founded 2005. Mark Thompson served as a Sixth Judicial District Magistrate Judge for 7+ years and as defense attorney for the Johnson County Drug Treatment Court.
Criminal defense
Immigration
Family law
Personal injury
Father-son Iowa City firm serving clients since 1981. Christopher Foster also handles asylum and student-visa work; part of the Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project.
Family law & divorce
5 firms
Iowa is a no-fault divorce state with a 90-day waiting period. See our divorce guide and child custody guide.
Divorce
Child custody
Child support
Adoption
Family law appeals
Boutique family-law firm devoted exclusively to domestic relations and adoption. Located two blocks east of the Johnson County Courthouse. Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Super Lawyers recognition.
Divorce
Family law
Juvenile law
Mediation
Cedar Rapids-headquartered firm serving the Iowa City metro since 1938. AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell; well-regarded across the corridor.
209 E. Washington Street, Paul-Helen Building, Suite 203, Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 351-4363
Family law
Probate
Estate planning
Criminal defense
Husband-and-wife firm of Julia and Philip Mears with 60+ years combined experience. Focus on negotiation and mediation in family-law matters.
Family law
Divorce
Estate planning
Probate
Real estate
Local general-practice firm since 1970. Partner Kandie K. Gelner is also a licensed CPA. Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished peer rating in 2026.
Estate planning
Real estate
Business law
Family law
Full-service multi-practice firm serving Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Legacy firm historically known as Phelan, Tucker, Mullen, Walker, Tucker & Gelman. Prominent in Johnson County estate planning, real estate, and family law.
Personal injury & medical malpractice
5 firms
Most plaintiff personal injury firms work on contingency. See our personal injury guide for Iowa-specific rules (2-year SOL, 51% comparative fault).
Personal injury
Estate planning
Family law
Workers' comp
Cedar Valley firm founded in Waterloo in 1958; opened Iowa City office to serve Johnson County clients. Longstanding personal-injury and estate-planning practice.
Medical malpractice
Personal injury
Wrongful death
Nursing home neglect
Product liability
Trial-lawyer firm with ~90 years combined experience. Founder Jim Hayes shaped Iowa medical-malpractice law via Speed v. State of Iowa, which opened the door for out-of-state expert witnesses.
Personal injury
Car accidents
Wrongful death
Dog bites
Premises liability
Personal-injury-focused practice founded by attorney Jamie L. Ford (practicing since 2013). Contingency-fee model with no upfront cost to clients.
Personal injury
Wrongful death
Employment
Medical malpractice
Cedar Rapids attorney with 20+ years representing injured families and mistreated employees throughout Iowa. University of Iowa College of Law graduate with distinction.
Personal injury
Immigration
Criminal defense
Family law
Father-son Iowa City firm serving clients since 1981. Also handles personal injury alongside its primary immigration and criminal practice.
Estate planning & probate
7 firms
See our Iowa wills & probate guide for the basics. Iowa requires 2 witnesses on a will and does not recognize holographic (handwritten unwitnessed) wills.
Coralville office
Estate planning
Business law
Real estate
Coralville-based. Melvin Shaw was 2024-25 President of the Iowa State Bar Association.
Coralville office
Wills, trusts & estates
Probate
Real estate
Business law
Dell A. Richard previously clerked for Chief Justice Moore of the Iowa Supreme Court. 35+ years experience.
Probate
Estate planning
Real estate
Business law
One of Iowa City's oldest firms, established in 1929. General-practice with deep real estate and probate expertise across 15+ eastern Iowa counties.
Estate planning
Real estate
Business law
Family law
Full-service multi-practice firm. Long history in Johnson County estate planning.
Estate planning
Probate
Family law
Real estate
Local general-practice firm since 1970. Partner Kandie K. Gelner is also a licensed CPA — relevant for estate-tax planning.
Estate planning
Personal injury
Family law
Cedar Valley firm founded 1958.
Estate planning
Wills & trusts
Probate
Elder law
Special needs planning
Solo practice opened by Joseph M. Deeney in 2019 in Solon (between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids). Focus on comprehensive estate plans, Medicaid planning, and guardianships.
Real estate & closings
6 firms
Iowa uses an abstract-and-title-opinion system rather than title insurance. See our real estate guide.
Coralville office
Real estate
Business law
Civil litigation
Coralville business-and-real-estate boutique; corridor-focused.
Coralville office
Real estate
Wills, trusts & estates
Probate
Business law
Coralville-based, deep real estate experience.
Real estate
Probate
Business law
Iowa City's oldest firm (1929). Deep title-opinion and commercial real estate practice.
Real estate
Estate planning
Business law
Family law
Substantial commercial and residential real-estate practice including 1031 exchanges, title opinions, and land development.
Real estate
Estate planning
Business
Civil litigation
Ames-based firm with roots back to 1939. Senior partner Tim Gartin focuses on real estate, probate, estate planning. Serves central Iowa real-estate clients statewide.
Real estate
Probate
Estate planning
Personal injury
Fort Dodge real estate and probate firm; successor to Bennett, Crimmins & Livingston (operating in Fort Dodge since 1979).
Business & corporate
5 firms
LLC formation, contracts, employment, M&A. See our business law guide.
Coralville office
Business law
Commercial transactions
Real estate
Boutique business firm; corridor focus.
Coralville office
Business law
Litigation
Bankruptcy
Environmental
50+ attorneys; eastern Iowa's largest firm with both Coralville and Cedar Rapids offices.
Business law
Contracts
Real estate
Family law
30+ years combined business law experience. Founding attorney James Arenson spent 22 years as a Chevrolet/Mercedes-Benz/Volvo dealer before law school — unique business and automotive-law insight.
Business law
Contracts
Family law
Bankruptcy
General-practice Iowa City firm since 1968.
Business formation
LLC, LLP, S-corp
Real estate
Estate planning
Multi-practice firm with broad business-counseling experience.
Immigration
2 firms
Immigration is federal law. The nearest immigration court is in Omaha. See our immigration guide.
Immigration
Removal defense
Family-based immigration
DACA
VAWA / U-Visa / SIJ
Owner Jessica Malott focuses on removal defense and family-based immigration with bilingual staff. Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Former Editor-in-Chief of the Drake Law Review.
Immigration
Asylum
Family visas
Criminal defense
Father-son Iowa City firm serving clients since 1981. Christopher Foster handles asylum and student-visa work. Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project participant.
Employment & workers' compensation
3 firms
Iowa is at-will but the Iowa Civil Rights Act adds key protections. See our employment guide.
Employment
Workers' compensation
Discrimination
Personal injury
Plaintiff-side employment firm representing individuals and unions across eastern Iowa. Serves Iowa City and North Liberty on overtime, harassment, discrimination, and wrongful-termination claims.
Employment
Discrimination
Personal injury
20+ years representing mistreated employees and injured families across Iowa.
Workers' compensation
Personal injury
Estate planning
Cedar Valley firm with workers' compensation practice serving Iowa City.
Bankruptcy
2 firms
Coralville bankruptcy is filed in the Southern District of Iowa (Des Moines). See our bankruptcy guide.
Coralville office
Bankruptcy
Creditor representation
Business reorganization
Largest firm with a Coralville office; handles bankruptcy work in both consumer and business contexts.
Bankruptcy
Chapter 7
Chapter 13
Steven Klesner handles routine and complex consumer bankruptcy cases. Iowa City general-practice firm since 1968.
Cedar Rapids firms (25 min north)
13 firms
Cedar Rapids is a 25-minute drive north of Coralville on I-380. It's the largest city in eastern Iowa (~135,000 people) and home to the corridor's biggest law firms, the Linn County Courthouse, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. Several Cedar Rapids firms maintain Iowa City or Coralville offices and routinely represent Coralville clients.
Firms with corridor offices (Iowa City or Coralville)
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC has a Coralville office at 1150 5th Street #170. Bradley & Riley PC has an Iowa City office at Tower Place, One South Gilbert Street. Viner Law Firm PC markets criminal defense and family-law services to both Cedar Rapids and Iowa City clients. Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C. (already listed under Coralville offices above) has its Cedar Rapids headquarters.
Est. 1916
Business law
Litigation
Agriculture
Real estate
Immigration
One of Iowa's largest law firms, established 1916. 42 attorneys named to Super Lawyers/Rising Stars; practices across 30+ areas. Recently rebranded as Simmons Perrine PLC (sp.law).
Business law
Litigation
Estate planning
Real estate
Bankruptcy
Founded 1981 by F. James Bradley and Byron G. Riley. AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell; listed in Best Lawyers in America. Iowa City office opened 2003 to serve both ends of the Creative Corridor.
Est. 1926
Civil litigation
Employment & labor
Insurance defense
Municipal/government
Workers' comp
One of Iowa's oldest firms, established 1926. AV-rated; 28 lawyers with 5 named to Super Lawyers. Reorganized January 2024 to focus on public sector law, HR compliance, insurance defense, and business litigation.
Personal injury
Car accidents
Wrongful death
Workers' compensation
Personal injury firm serving Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa with 40+ years of experience representing individuals and small businesses throughout Iowa.
Personal injury
Car accidents
Workers' compensation
Wrongful death
Medical malpractice
One of Iowa's leading plaintiff personal-injury firms with 35+ years of experience. By far the highest Google review volume in this directory (557+) — reflects a high-volume PI practice.
Family law
Estate planning
Real estate
Personal injury
Criminal defense
Established 1989 by Steven E. Howes. Multi-practice firm with main SW Cedar Rapids office and satellite in Mount Vernon. Handles family law, estate planning, probate, adoption, juvenile, real estate, business, criminal (simple misdemeanors), and personal injury matters.
Criminal defense
OWI/DUI
Family law
Divorce
Child custody
Cedar Rapids firm focused on criminal/OWI defense and family law. Explicitly markets services to both Cedar Rapids and Iowa City clients. A+ rated by BBB.
Family law
Civil litigation
Creditors' rights
Personal injury
General practice firm. Phillip D. Klinger and Jeffrey P. Taylor both hold AV Preeminent peer-review ratings (Martindale-Hubbell's highest tier).
Family law
Criminal defense
Guardianships
Adoptions
Mediation
Family and criminal law firm serving Linn County. Handles divorce, child support, custody, DUI/DWI, assault, guardianships, adoptions, and mediation. Downtown Cedar Rapids.
Criminal defense
Family law
Divorce
Sexual assault defense
Attorney Victoria Cole spent 7 years as a prosecutor in Iowa City before launching private practice. 13+ years of trial experience. Serves Cedar Rapids and Davenport.
Criminal defense
Drug crimes
OWI/DUI
Felony defense
Practicing drug crime law since 2002. Linn County Drug Court defense attorney since 2008. Represents clients in Cedar Rapids, Tama, Waterloo, and Anamosa.
Estate planning
Probate
Real estate
Tax law
Trust administration
Family firm established 1995. Specializes in estate planning, real estate, and tax. 46+ years of combined experience on income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes; closely held businesses, partnerships, and life insurance planning.
Est. 1926
Real estate
Estate planning
Business organization
Bankruptcy
Civil litigation
General practice firm established 1926 — same vintage as Lynch Dallas. Broad experience across real estate, bankruptcy, business organization, employment, family law, taxation, and civil litigation.
Historic firms (founded before 1970)
6 firms
The corridor has a long legal tradition. Simmons Perrine in Cedar Rapids was practicing law before World War I.
Est. 1916
115 3rd Street SE, Suite 1200, Cedar Rapids · (319) 366-7641
One of Iowa's largest law firms — established 1916. Coralville office at 1150 5th Street #170.
Est. 1926
526 Second Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids · (319) 365-9101
Centennial-era Cedar Rapids general-practice firm; reorganized 2024 to focus on public-sector and insurance defense.
Est. 1926
600 Boyson Road NE, Suite 200, Cedar Rapids · (319) 393-9090
Cedar Rapids general practice; real estate, estate, business, bankruptcy.
Est. 1929
222 South Linn Street, Iowa City · (319) 338-7551
One of Iowa City's oldest firms; real estate, probate, estate planning across eastern Iowa.
Est. 1938
Cedar Rapids HQ, corridor service · (319) 364-1535
Family law and mediation; AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Est. 1939
Ames, IA · (515) 232-2501
Statewide real estate and estate planning practice.
Est. 1958
1570 South 1st Avenue, Suite G, Iowa City · (319) 220-0416
Founded in Waterloo; longstanding personal-injury and estate practice.
Est. 1968
373 Scott Court, Suite B, Iowa City · (319) 320-4569
Iowa City general-practice firm; rebranded from Johnston, Stannard, Klesner, Burbidge & Fitzgerald.
Bar associations & vetting resources
Johnson County Bar Association (JCBA)
Local bar serving Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and surrounding communities. Maintains a member directory, court docket information, and community legal events. The JCBA is the most local signal of an attorney's standing in the Coralville/Iowa City legal community.
Website: jcbar.org
Linn County Bar Association (LCBA)
Cedar Rapids–area bar covering Linn County (Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Mt. Vernon). Maintains an alphabetical member directory of practicing attorneys in the county. Useful for cross-checking Cedar Rapids firms above.
Website: linncobar.org
Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA)
Statewide bar of Iowa. Maintains the official "Find a Lawyer" tool plus continuing legal education, ethics opinions, and a Lawyer Referral Service. The disciplinary record of any Iowa attorney is searchable via the Iowa Courts website.
Website: iowabar.org · Discipline records: iowacourts.gov (search Find a Lawyer)
Iowa Legal Aid — Free help if you qualify
Free civil legal services to income-eligible Iowans. Handles housing, family safety, public benefits, consumer matters. Does not handle criminal cases or fee-generating personal injury (refer those to private contingency-fee lawyers).
Intake: (800) 532-1275 · iowalegalaid.org · See our Iowa Legal Aid guide
University of Iowa College of Law clinics
Student-staffed legal clinics under faculty supervision. Programs include the Civil Rights Project, Immigration Clinic, and Family Practice Clinic. Free or reduced-cost for qualifying clients.
Website: law.uiowa.edu
How to use this directory
- Identify your practice area. The right OWI lawyer is rarely the right divorce lawyer.
- Cross-reference at least 2-3 firms. Don't hire the first one you call.
- Ask for a consult. Most firms offer a free or reduced-cost initial meeting. Bring all documents.
- Verify standing. Check disciplinary history on iowacourts.gov before retaining anyone.
- Get fees in writing. Iowa Rule 32:1.5 requires written fee agreements over $1,000. See our legal fees guide.
Detailed guidance on selection criteria, what to ask, and red flags is on our how to find a lawyer page.
FAQ — Coralville & Iowa City lawyer directory
Are these firms ranked or rated by the site?
No. This directory is organized alphabetically within practice areas and by location (Coralville-located first). Google ratings shown reflect publicly visible information at the time of research (June 2026) and are not our rankings. The presence or absence of a rating does not signal quality — many strong firms don't actively cultivate Google reviews.
Did any of these firms pay to be listed?
No. This is an editorial directory. None of the firms paid for inclusion. If we ever offer paid sponsored placements, those will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored" and visually separated from the editorial directory. See contact for advertising information.
Why is my firm not listed?
Either we missed you in research, or you're outside the practice areas we cover. Email us at our contact page and we'll review for inclusion. We aim to be reasonably comprehensive for prominent Coralville/Iowa City firms but don't claim to list every practitioner.
Information about my firm is wrong.
Email us with the correction. We fix errors within a day or two.
Can you recommend a specific lawyer for my situation?
Where can I check a lawyer's disciplinary history?
Iowa attorney discipline records are public. Search "Find a Lawyer" at iowacourts.gov — it shows admission date and any public discipline.
Why are Cedar Rapids firms in a Coralville directory?
Cedar Rapids is 25 minutes north of Coralville on I-380, and the two cities operate as one legal market — many CR firms have offices in Iowa City or Coralville, and many Coralville clients hire CR firms (especially for federal cases, since the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa is in Cedar Rapids, and for major corporate work where the corridor's largest firms — Simmons Perrine, Bradley & Riley, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll — are based). Coralville-located firms always appear first in their section.
Which corridor firms have multiple offices?
Several large firms have offices in both Cedar Rapids and the Iowa City/Coralville area: Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC (CR HQ + Coralville at 1150 5th Street #170), Bradley & Riley PC (CR HQ + Iowa City at Tower Place), and Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C. (CR HQ + Coralville at 327 2nd Street Ste 300). Keegan, Tindal & Jaeger has Iowa City + Davenport offices but represents clients in Cedar Rapids. Viner Law Firm PC is Cedar Rapids–only but markets its services to Iowa City clients.