Jim Carney is the founding partner of Carney & Appleby, P.L.C. He is a native Iowan, born and raised in Centerville. Jim graduated from Centerville High School, obtained a Liberal Arts degree at the University of Iowa and a J.D. degree from Drake Law School in 1975. Between undergraduate and law school, Jim had a two-year duty in the U.S. Army. He was an assistant golf and basketball coach at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. After finishing law school, Jim started his own law firm and limits his practice to legislation, administrative law and civil litigation.

Jim represents many of Iowa's major professional associations as well as many Fortune 500 companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Meredith Corporation, AIG, and Wells Fargo. He has represented the Iowa State Bar Association as legislative counsel since 1975. In 1997 Jim was awarded the ISBA's President's Award in recognition of his work on behalf of the ISBA. Jim was also awarded the ISBA Young Lawyer Division Award of Merit in recognition of his legislative work on behalf of the Iowa State Bar Association in 2001. In 2007 Jim was awarded the ISBA Award of Merit which is the highest award any lawyer may be accorded in the state of Iowa.

Jim was the first contract lobbyist to serve as chairman of the National Association of Bar Executive's Government Relation Section. The Government Relations Section of NABE represents state and local bar associations across the country. Jim speaks nationally at professional and trade association meetings on both legislation and litigation techniques. Jim has served on many non-profit boards to include Project Pride in Centerville, Iowa; The Gateway Tour Advisory Board; The Metropolitan Club, The Youth Law Center, The Advocacy Group (TAG); National Letterman's Club, University of Iowa National I-Club; and the University of Iowa Foundation Board.

During the course of his practice, Jim represented the first HMO in the state of Iowa and worked on the enabling legislation for HMOs in Iowa (SHARE and United Health Care). As part of his practice, Jim has worked with virtually all state agencies and extensively with the Department of Human Services, Health Department, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, including the Insurance Division and Professional Licensing and Regulation Division and the Iowa Supreme Court and Judicial Branch.

Jim is a member of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. The Iowa Academy is composed of defense and plaintiff attorneys and is limited to the top 225 trial attorneys in the state. Admission to the academy is by invitation only. He has been a Bencher (mentor) in the Blackstone Inns of Court, is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), The Iowa State Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers and the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association.

Legislatively, Jim prides himself in being "non-partisan" and having excellent relationships with both sides of the political aisle, with legislative leadership, the Attorney General's office and the Governor's office. His firm has an AV rating which is the highest rating that can be given to a law firm by Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally recognized legal directory. Its profile is also listed in the Best Lawyers in America law directory due to its established reputation in legal industry. Jim has served on the boards of many local and state associations. His latest speaking engagement was at the ABA's Summit on Fair and Impartial State Courts took place on August 1, 2009 and was entitled "Justice is the Business of Government: The Summit and Beyond." Jim has 32 years of experience in legislation working with associations, association management, fundraising, coalition building, political action committees and civil litigation.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Board of Trial Advocates, Iowa Chapter - 2011 Vice President

American Veterinary Medical Law Association - Member

Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers - Member

American Inns of Court (Blackstone Inns of Court) - Member

Polk County Bar Association - Member

Iowa State Bar Association - Member

Iowa Trial Lawyers Association - Member

The Advocacy Group (TAG)

Recent Seminars Presented

The Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, 49th Annual Seminar - The Changing Face of Trial Advocacy, Legislative Update, Thursday, February 24, 2011.