David Bright works in the firm's Business, Finance, and Real Estate Department. David's general practice includes, but is not limited to, nonprofit law, business law, corporate law, franchise law, and wills, trusts, estate planning and probate law. He is a frequent speaker on issues related to business formation, estate planning, art law, and nonprofit/tax exempt organizations. David's upcoming engagements include a guest lecture at the University of Iowa on deaccession of artwork from museums and a CLE presentation to Iowa lawyers on business entities at the Iowa State Bar Association's Basic Skills CLE in August 2012.
David currently serves as a member of the boards of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan YMCA; Elder Services, Inc.; Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts; and Legion Arts. He recently served, at the appointment of University of Iowa President Sally Mason, on the University of Iowa Museum of Art's Museum Envisioning Committee. David also recently served as the 2009-2011 Co-Chair of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan YMCA Annual Strong Kids Campaign.
Speeches & Publications
University of Iowa, Guest Lecturer, "Deaccession in Museums", 2012 (Invited)
Iowa Bar Review School Basic Skills CLE, Speaker, "Business Entities", 2012
University of Iowa College of Law Practitioners & Perspectives Series, Panelist, "Developing a Legal Practice in Nonprofit Law", 2012
Iowa State Bar Association CLE, Speaker, "Nonprofit Issues for the "Non" Nonprofit Lawyer", 2012
Intellectual Property Law Center at Drake Law School, Panelist, "Ape-Rope-Pray-8", 2012
Western Illinois University, Guest Lecturer, "Legal Issues in Museums: Deaccession and Donor Intent", 2011
Iowa State Bar Association Nuts and Bolts CLE, Speaker, "Business Formation", 2011
Iowa Bar Review School Basic Skills CLE, Speaker, "Business Entities", 2011
Iowa State Bar Association Nuts and Bolts CLE, Speaker, "Business Formation", 2010
Iowa State Bar Association Nuts and Bolts CLE, Speaker, "Business Formation", 2009
Iowa City Community School District Foundation Board Retreat, Speaker, "Legal Guidelines Pertaining to Board Responsibility", 2009
University of Iowa Museum of Art Elliott Lecture Series, Speaker, "When Values Collide: Financial Asset or Cultural Resource", 2009
University of Iowa College of Law, Guest Lecturer, "Developing a Legal Practice in Nonprofit and Exempt Organizations Law", 2009
Iowa State Bar Association Nuts and Bolts CLE, Speaker, "Business Formation", 2008
University of Iowa Health Care MEDIQs Meeting, Speaker, "Estate Planning and Probate", 2008
University of Northern Iowa, Guest Lecturer, "Psychology, Law and Philanthropy", 2007
Iowa State Bar Association Spring Tax Institute, Speaker, "Pension Protection Act of 2006 and Exempt Organizations: The New Form 990", 2007
Iowa State Bar Association Orville Bloethe Annual Tax School, Speaker, "The New Form 1023 (Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code", 2006
University of Northern Iowa, Guest Lecturer, "Psychology, Law and Philanthropy", 2005
Community Involvement
Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center
Task Force: Member, 2011-present
Legion Arts
Board of Directors: Member, 2011-present
University of Iowa Museum of Art
Members Council: Member, 2008-present
Cedar Rapids Metropolitan YMCA
Annual Strong Kids Campaign: Chair, 2009-2011
Finance Committee: Member, 2006-present
Board of Directors: Member, 2006-present
Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Board of Directors: President, 2008-present
Board of Directors: Member, 2006-present
Elder Services Inc.
Personnel Committee: Member, 2006-present
Finance Committee: Member, 2006-present
Board of Directors: Member, 2004-present
YMCA Camp Wapsie
Advisory Committee: Member, 2004-present
Annual Campaign: Co-chair, 2003-present
Service Club: Charter Member, 1992-present
Academic Achievements
Recipient of Michelle R. Bennett Award for Outstanding Client Representation in UI Clinical Law Programs, 2001
Associations & Affiliations
American Bar Association Art and Cultural Heritage Law Committee, 2008-present
Co-Chair, 2011-present
Co-Editor, Newsletter, 2009-present
Member, Steering Group, 2008-present
Johnson County Bar Association, 2002-present
Chair, Nominating Committee, 2011-present
Co-Chair, Nominating Committee, 2010-2011
Co-Chair, Oral History Project Committee, 2009-present
Chair, Social Committee, 2003-present
Iowa State Bar Association, 2002-present
Nonprofit Corporations Committee, 2011-present
Chair, YLD Publicity Committee,2004-2010
Member, YLD Publicity Committee, 2002-2012
American Bar Association, 1999-present
Member, International Section, 2008-present
Member, Business Law Section, 2002-present
Member, Forum on Franchising, 2002-present
Member, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, 2002-2011
Professional Experience
Attorney, Meardon, Sueppel & Downer, 2002-2011
Member, 2008-2011
Associate, 2002-2007
Law clerk, 2001-2002