J. Marc Ward

Marc has extensive experience in working on banking, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters.

Marc chaired the committee that wrote the original LLC law in 1992 and chaired the committee that wrote the new Iowa LLC law in 2009.

• Over 30 years of experience assisting Iowa banks on the buy and sell side of acquisitions in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota
• Representing Iowa-based company with farming operations in Brazil in a debt-restructuring involving companies in four countries and four continents
• Represented client in the sale of its business, including the sale of real estate in transaction totaling over $10 million
• Advised bank holding companies on the private placement of new securities
• Represented restaurateur in restaurant development in Iowa, Missouri, Colorado and Nebraska
• Advised client in the purchase of a United Kingdom business with operations in Australia and the U.S.

Education

• Drake University Law School, J.D., 1984, with honors
• Iowa State University, B.S., 1980

Admissions

• Iowa, 1984

• Lawyer of the Year in Des Moines for Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Best Lawyers, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2025
• Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, 2006-2025; Corporate Law, 2008-2025; Financial Services Regulation Law, 2011-2025; Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2012-2025; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2012-2025; Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, 2013-2025
• Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Iowa - Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, 2009-2024
• Lawyer of the Year in Des Moines for Financial Services Regulation Law, Best Lawyers, 2019, 2022
• Lawyer of the Year in Des Moines for Banking and Finance Law, Best Lawyers, 2017
• Lawyer of the Year in Des Moines for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Best Lawyers, 2016
• Great Plains Super Lawyers, Banking, 2013-2016
• Distinguished Education Leadership Award, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 2008
• Order of the Coif

Professional Activities

• Iowa State Bar Association, Business Law Section’s Limited Liability Companies Committee, Member,1992-present
• Iowa State Bar Association, Business Law Section’s Limited Liability Companies Committee, Chair, 1992-1994, 1996-1998, 2002-2008
• Iowa State Bar Association, Business Law Section Council, Council Member, 2016-present
• Iowa State Bar Association, Business Law Section Council, Chair, 2011-2015
• Iowa State Bar Association, Business Law Section Council, Vice Chair, 2009-2011
• American Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Member
• American Bar Association, Model Limited Liability Company Task Force, Partnerships and Unincorporated Business Organizations Committee, Member
• American Bar Association, Banking Law Committee, Member
• American Bar Association, Legal Opinion Committee, Member
• Polk County Bar Association, Member
• National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Drafting Committee on Amendments to the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, Observer, 2003
• Drake University Law School, Adjunct Professor, Course on Business Planning, 1996
• Community Bankers of Iowa, Member
• Drake Law Review, Projects Editor, 1984

Community

• American College of LLCs and Partnerships, Founding Fellow, 2021-present
• Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa, Board of Directors, 2004-present
• Broadlawns Medical Center, Board of Trustees, 2016-present
• Broadlawns Medical Center, Chair of the Board, 2021-2022
• Des Moines Public Schools Board of Education, President, 2002-2003, 2006-2007
• Des Moines Public Schools Board of Education, Member, 1997-2003, 2004-2007
• Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, Vice Chair, 2009-2011
• Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, Tax Exempt Bond Issuance Committee, Chair, 2010-2011
• Iowa Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, Vice Chair, 2008-2010
• Central Iowa Taxpayers Association, President, 2010-2013
• Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, Board of Trustees, 2001-2004
• City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Board, Member, 2003
• United Way of Central Iowa, Member, Campaign Cabinet, 2001-2002
• Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 2000