Serving Iowans and Attorney General Brenna Bird as Deputy Attorney General for Consumer Protection has been an honor. I get the privilege every day of leading a dedicated team of talented legal secretaries, paralegals, investigators, and attorneys who are all committed to bettering Iowa through our consumer protection efforts. The Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division investigates consumer fraud, seeks reimbursement and relief for fraud victims, ensures fair competition in the marketplace, and aims to protect Iowans from falling victim to scams or fraud.
The Division is focused on undertaking investigations and bringing more consumer fraud and antitrust lawsuits that will meaningfully help harmed Iowa consumers. We are looking to structure remedies that yield greater consumer reimbursement and make a real difference in the lives of Iowans. We have recently improved complaint-processing time so that consumers are hearing from our office by the next business day that we are going to help them. Our office is also updating our educational materials to better message timely advice so that we can help prevent scams and fraud before they occur.
My journey to this role is likely different than most as my legal career made a 180o turn. After graduating from the University of Iowa College of Law, I went into private practice. My practice was transactional in nature and centered around certain aspects of mergers and acquisitions, public company proxy disclosure work, and compliance with certain executive compensation, employee benefit, and tax laws. However, in 2023, I changed to consumer protection in a span of four days (stopped work on a Thursday and started here the following Monday). It seems like a “where did that come from” moment. But I had a heart for public service that never disappeared. My time interning in the Iowa Governor’s Office and Iowa Department of Revenue during law school had shaped me and gave me a desire to give back to Iowans. So, when Attorney General Bird offered me the consumer chief position, I quickly said yes. The big life change was made even easier with the loving support of my wife of thirteen years and daughter (age 7).
Consumer protection is a field where you can help and give back to the citizens of your state daily, including those who are often hurt the most by consumer fraud or scams. I hope to use my past legal experiences to bring a fresh take to this field and serve Iowans well. It is a pleasure to serve Iowa in the Office of Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and work alongside her and the amazing team in this office to improve the lives of Iowans.
