Des Moines law firms to merge on Jan. 1

Des Moines-based legacy law firms Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., and Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C., plan to merge at the start of next year. 

The merger is expected to result in one of the largest teams of attorneys in Iowa with more than 90 practice areas. The merger, the first for the 86-year-old Dickinson law firm and 106-year-old Bradshaw law firm, will increase the combined firm’s team of lawyers to nearly 60. 

The combined firm is expected to operate on the 36th and 37th floors of the 45-story 801 Grand Building in downtown Des Moines under the name Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C. The Dickinson law firm counsels more than 90 banks and financial institutions in Iowa.

“Both Bradshaw and Dickinson bring to this merger strong values, strong cultures and an equally strong commitment to serving clients and the greater Iowa community,” said Dickinson Law President Ron Mountsier. “We’re strategically bringing together two of the strongest litigation practices in Iowa, as well as several complementary areas of law to provide clients with an expected range of legal services. Our shared values will strengthen our practices and increase the breadth and depth of skills of our professionals.”

Jason Madden, a member of the Bradshaw Executive Committee, said Dickinson “has long been a firm with complementary practice areas to our own. Merging the two firms together will allow us to provide expanded services to our clients in several additional areas of law. In this coming together of equals, it is a natural fit given our shared history of serving clients throughout Iowa and our commitment to community and public service.”