Robert N. Downer

Member

e-mail: bobd@meardonlaw.com
Joined Meardon, Sueppel & Downer in 1963 

 VCard

Education

• University of Iowa, B.A., 1961
• University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 1963

Areas Of Practice

• Business Law
• Litigation
• Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations
• Real Estate
• Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate Law
• Construction Law

Professional

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
• Listed in the Best Lawyers of America® — Corporate Law, Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estate Litigation
• Listed in Iowa's Superlawyers — Corporate Finance
• Court Admissions:  Iowa State Courts; US District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; US Court of Appeals (8th Cir.)
• American, Iowa and Johnson County Bar Associations
• Iowa Bar Association (President, 1995 – 1996)
• Johnson County Bar Association (President, 1976 – 1977)
• Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (Iowa State Chair, 2000 – 2005)
• Life Fellow of both the Iowa State and American Bar Foundations
• Recipient of the Excellence in Service Award of Legal Services Corporation of Iowa (1996)
• Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame (2005)
• Recipient of the Award of Merit of the Iowa State Bar Association (2001)
• Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year” for 2011, Best Lawyers in America

Community & Personal

• Planned Giving Professional Council of the American Bar Foundation (2019 — current)
• Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Board (President, 1979)
• Rotary Club of Iowa City (President, 1988 – 1989)
• Iowa City Area Development Group
• Iowa City Public Library (President of the  Board of Trustees, 1973 – 1974)
• Christian Retirement Services (Director, 1967 to 1982)
• Community Foundation of Johnson County
• Board of Regents, State of Iowa (Member, 2003 – 2015)
• Hoover Presidential Foundation (Trustee, 2000 – 2006; 2008 – present; Vice President 2012 — 2015; President 2016)
• Midwestern Higher Education Compact (Chair, 2010 – 2011)
• Iowa Law School Foundation (Director, 2000 – 2012)
• Board of Advisors of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Member, 2011 – present)
• Board of Directors of the University of Iowa Research Foundation (Member, 2013 – 2015)
• Recipient of Philip Sirotkin Award, Midwestern Higher Education Compact (2014)
• Recipient of the John Hughes Economic Development Award, Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce (2015)
• Recipient of Alumni Achievement Award, University of Iowa College of Law (2013)
• Publications & Presentations
• Co-author, Charitable Planned Giving Mechanisms (with Carrie Lathrop) (2009)
• Panelist regarding anticipated 2013 federal tax law changes, Iowa State Bar Association Bloethe Tax School, December 2012

Bob works with Sacha Wyckoff who may be reached at 319-338-9222 or sachaw@meardonlaw.com