It is with deep regret and sorrow that Sullivan & Ward, P.C. notes that one of the members of the firm, John Donnelly, recently passed away. Mr. Donnelly was a distinguished member of the Iowa Bar, graduate of Harvard University and University of Michigan Law School. We are saddened by the premature departure of our friend and colleague.
Sullivan & Ward's own attorneys, Larry McLellan and Mark Landa, have been selected for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America in environmental law. Larry McLellan was also included in the 2009 Great Plains Super Lawyers listing under 
environmental law. Congratulations to Mark and Larry for these honors!
Robert M. "Bob" Holliday was recently awarded the Rolland Grefe Pro Bono Publico Award for his efforts to have the life sentence of Reed Prior commuted. Mr. Prior's sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush on December 23, 2008 approximately seven years after Bob began working on his case. Bob received the Award on June 24, 2009 at the President's Awards Banquet during The Iowa State Bar Association's Annual Meeting. Congratulations, Bob!
Matt Gardner recently had a chapter published in the book titled "Estate Planning Client Strategies: Leading Lawyers on Understanding the Client's Goals Using Trusts Effectively, and Planning in a Changing Economic Climate (Inside the Minds)." If you are interested in purchasing, go here (none of the proceeds go to us).
Sullivan & Ward's Liz Overton was quoted in the Des Moines Business Record concerning legal issues related to company furloughs. Company furloughs create a legal minefield Very good information and article related to company furloughs.
Sullivan & Ward's own Bob Holliday recently secured a presidential pardon for a federal prisoner. Reed Prior had been given a life sentence from a prior drug conviction. For the past seven years, Bob and others have worked tirelessly for Mr. Prior to secure his early release what many felt was an unfair sentencing under the "three strikes" sentencing guidelines. While serving his sentence, Mr. Prior turned his life around and helped hundreds of other prisoners obtain their GED's (Prior already had a master's degree) and in letters to schools, pleaded for kids to stay away from the evils of drugs. Catch Bob's interview on channel 8. Congratulations Bob.
Benjamin joined the firm as an associate in September of 2008. He is a recent graduate from Drake University Law School where he served on the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law. Benjamin's knowledge in the areas of environmental, agricultural, real estate, corporate, and public utility law are an asset to the Firm.
I was fortunate enough to have been part of the 2007-2008 Leadership Iowa class. Throughout the year I traveled the state learning about different communities and important issues facing Iowa such as healthcare, economic development and agriculture entrepreneurship. During one session, my class and I decided we were going to partner with Habitat for Humanity and build Iowa's first "green" Habitat House.
Our goals were to build a model green home that would:
* Reduce the impact on human health and the environment;
* Minimize the family's sustained utility costs;
* Serve as a model for Habitat for Humanity nationwide to encourage the organization to build more green homes, reduce the carbon footprint, and help make sustaining a home more affordable for partner families;
* Raise awareness of Iowa's leadership in renewable energy; and
* Demonstrate that the life cycle cost of green building is less expensive than traditional construction.
These goals are becoming a reality this week when construction on Iowa's first "green" Habitat House gets undeway. "Raise the Roof" on Project LIGHT (Leadership Iowa Green Home Team) is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Thank you to everyone involved who has contributed to make this project a reality!
Congratulations on our very own Jennifer Jaskolka-Brown on making the 2008 class of "Forty Under 40" as sponsored by the Des Moines Business Record. Great job Jennifer and congratulations!
Sullivan & Ward, P.C. welcomes its newest attorney, Elizabeth Overton. Liz graduated from Drake University Law School with high honors in 2007 and recently passed the Iowa Bar. She was a staff member of the Drake Law Review 2005-2006. In 2003 she graduated cum laude from Simpson College with a B.A. in Economics and Business Management. She is a member of the Polk County, Polk County Women, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. She is also a member of the Blackstone Inn of Courts.
Liz has a general practice which includes employment law and business litigation. We are very fortunate to have her on board and look forward to her contributions to our growing law firm.
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