Grefe & Sidney is pleased to announce that Laura Martino has become a member with the firm. Tansha Clarke, Sean Corpstein, Michael Currie, Benjamin Erickson, Jaclyn Zimmerman and Colin Grace have joined Grefe & Sidney as associates in our Des Moines office.
Laura N. Martino
Laura Martino is a trial attorney in the firm’s litigation division and has recently become a partner with the firm. She represents clients on a wide array of civil litigation matters including insurance defense, municipal liability claims, professional malpractice, and workers compensation claims. In addition, she represents insurance companies and self-insured clients in coverage and bad faith disputes.
Before joining Grefe Sidney, Laura clerked for the 7th Judicial District of Iowa and worked in the renewable fuels industry. Laura is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa Bar Association and the Polk County Bar Association and was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Laura is actively involved in the Des Moines community having served as the president of the Orchard Place Foundation board of directors (2012-2013) and the Greater Des Moines Young Professionals Connection (2009). She is a 2013 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute.
Tansha T. Clarke
Tansha Clarke is an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation division.
While in law school, Tansha externed with the Honorable Justice Mansfield of the Iowa Supreme Court. She also practiced as a student attorney and guardian ad litem in the Middleton Center for Children’s Rights, representing clients in Delinquency and Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) proceedings. Tansha also served as an Associate Editor for the Drake Law Review and worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Jonathan Rosenbloom.
Tansha is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Polk County Bar Association.
Sean M. Corpstein
Sean Corpstein is a trial attorney in the firm’s litigation division and a member of the Iowa State Bar Association.
Before joining Grefe & Sidney, Sean clerked for the Honorable Leonard T. Strand, Chief United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Iowa. During law school, he served as a prosecution intern for the Johnson County Attorney’s Office, trying simple misdemeanors in magistrate court and externed for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Appeals Division, successfully arguing a case before the Iowa Court of Appeals. Sean also served as a Research Assistant to Professors James T. Tomcovicz and L. Song Richardson. In addition, he was the President of the Sports Law Society and volunteered yearly at their annual three-on-three charity basketball tournament.
In his free time, Sean enjoys supporting both the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings.
Michael D. Currie
Michael Currie is an associate in the firm’s trial division.
While Mr. Currie handles all manner of litigated cases, his trial practice focuses on business litigation, employment law, insurance defense and coverage, and white collar criminal defense.
Michael is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law where he served on the Iowa Law Review. His note was published in the Iowa Law Review in 99 Iowa L. Rev. 1363: Scrutiny Mutiny: Why the Iowa Supreme Court Should Reject Employment Division v. Smith and Adopt a Strict Scrutiny Standard for Free-Exercise Claims Arising Under the Iowa Constitution.
He is a member of the Iowa Bar Association and the Polk County Bar Association.
Benjamin Erickson
Ben Erickson is a trial attorney in the firm’s litigation division.
Before joining Grefe & Sidney, Ben maintained a diverse legal practice in Black Hawk County, Iowa. His experience includes workers’ compensation, commercial litigation, personal injury, and family law.
During Law school, Ben clerked for both Judge Robert Hanson in the Fifth Judicial District of Iowa and the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation. He also practiced as a student attorney in the elder law division of the Drake Legal Clinic, representing elderly citizens in a variety of legal matters. In addition, Ben served on the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law Executive Board.
Ben is a member of the Iowa Bar Association.
Jaclyn M. Zimmerman
Jaclyn Zimmerman is an attorney and mediator with the firm’s family law division. Jaclyn has focused her legal practice on family law and appellate work since 2009. Her years of experience include work on complex and high conflict cases. Jaclyn works as a certified mediator and collaborative attorney, and as a litigator advocating client interests in the courtroom. She is also a parenting coordinator.
The goal of many individuals who need a family law attorney, is to avoid the courtroom, and find solutions privately and with dignity. A collaborative, or settlement-minded approach, can often be the best approach. In cases where this is not possible, however, Jaclyn embraces her role as litigator, and strategically employs facts and Iowa law to zealously and effectively advocate for her client in the courtroom. Jaclyn has successfully litigated dozens of cases. Jaclyn’s practice is always tailored to address the unique needs of each particular client.
Jaclyn’s practice is approachable; it is one that recognizes the need for connection and empathy, in addition to keen, informed, and strategic legal representation. Jaclyn successfully advocates client interests at the district court level, and on appeal. In 2016, Jaclyn’s advocacy obtained a favorable outcome for her client before the Iowa Supreme Court.
Colin Grace
Colin Grace is a trial attorney in the firm’s litigation division.
Colin’s practice focuses on insurance defense, general civil defense, and trial work. Colin is a graduate of the University of Iowa Law School. During law school, Colin served on the University of Iowa Moot Court Board as Competitions Director. He was a member of the Iowa National Moot Court Team, competing nationally. He wrote and directed the problem for the University of Iowa Supreme Court Day 2015, argued in front of the Iowa Supreme Court. He was a member of the Journal of Corporations Law, Iowa Legal Clinic, and served as President of the Iowa chapter of Phi Delta Phi.
Colin is a member of the American Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association.