Robert N. Downer
Member
e-mail: bobd@meardonlaw.com
Joined Meardon, Sueppel & Downer in 1963
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.); US Tax Court
- 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
Bob works with Sacha Wyckoff who may be reached at 319-338-9222 or sachaw@meardonlaw.com
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 – 2020; 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 – 2015)
- 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)
- Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Business Hall of Fame (2018)
- 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