Jeff Courter is a shareholder in our Business, Finance, and Real Estate andLitigation Departments. His practice is concentrated in the areas of creditor rights and bankruptcy. Jeff routinely represents clients across the state of Iowa in all types of creditor rights matters, including foreclosures of mortgages and security interests, replevins, breaches of contract/lease, and suits on notes. He also represents clients in bankruptcy matters throughout the state of Iowa and across the country, including defending preference actions and prosecuting complaints objecting to discharge/dischargeability of debt, reclamation claims, and other creditor matters in bankruptcy cases.
Jeff has served on the Section Council of the Iowa State Bar Association's Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section and is a past Chair. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute. Additionally, Jeff served as a law clerk to a federal bankruptcy judge as well as law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court.
Jeff is also heavily involved in community activities and has served in leadership positions for a number of groups, including the Des Moines Area Community College Foundation, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute,Iowa State Civil Rights Commission, Rotary Club of Des Moines A.M., and theIowa Alliance for Choice in Education. He has been recognized by both theDes Moines Business Record and the Des Moines Register for his community leadership accomplishments. Jeff has also been active in local, state, and national political campaigns for the past 30 years, and is hopelessly addicted to golf.
Speeches
Advanced Nuts & Bolts, 17th Annual Iowa Bankruptcy Law Conference (1998) (Speaker).
Bankruptcy Nuts & Bolts, Iowa Independent Banks Hot Topics Seminar (2000) (Speaker).
Case Law Update, 22nd Annual Iowa Bankruptcy Law Conference (2003) (Speaker).
Community Involvement
Board of Directors, Des Moines Area Community College Foundation, 1995-2005; President, 1996-2002
Iowa Legal Aid Society, Dean's Cup Planning Committee, 2005-present
Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 1991-1992; Board of Governors, 1992-1997; Chair of Fundraising Committee, 1992-1993; Chair of Alumni Committee, 1993-1994; Chair-Elect, 1994-1995; Chair, 1995-1996; Past-Chair, 1996-1997; Community Match Volunteer of the Year Award, 1997
President, Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education, 2006-present; Parent Advisory Board, 2006-present
Commissioner, Iowa State Civil Rights Commission, 1992-1997; Vice Chair, 1994; Chair, 1995-1996
Board of Directors, Friends of Iowa Civil Rights, Inc., 1996-1998
Board of Directors, Wakonda Club, 2007-present
Member, Des Moines Register Advisory Council, 1992-1994; Chair, 1993
Member, Rotary Club of Des Moines A.M., 1993-present; Vice Chair for Program, 1995-1996; President-Elect, 1999-2000; President, 2000-2001; Past-President, 2001-2002
President, Rotary Club of Des Moines A.M. Foundation, 2005-2006
Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" - Community Leadership Award, 2001
Iowa "Up and Comer" by The Des Moines Register, 1993
Special Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-12
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights
Litigation - Bankruptcy
Martindale-Hubbell Rating
AV® Preeminent
Professional Experience
Law Clerk, Hon. W. Ward Reynoldson, Chief Justice, Iowa Supreme Court, 1987
Law Clerk, Hon. Russell J. Hill, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 1987-1989
Associations & Affiliations
American Bankruptcy Institute
American Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section (Council Member, 1999-2002; Chair, CLE Committee, 2000-2001; Chair, 2002)
Business Law Section
Litigation Section
Polk County Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Secretary, 1999-2004
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