For a complex liability case, I would not choose based primarily on Google/Avvo ratings. I’d prioritize demonstrated trial experience, complex causation/liability work, expert-witness resources, and experience taking on insurers, corporations, hospitals, or other sophisticated defendants.
Based on my research, these are the Des Moines-area lawyers/firms I would put at the top of the list:
1. Hixson & Brown, P.C. — strongest for catastrophic/medical-malpractice complexity
Hixson & Brown, P.C.
Web
Address: 160 S 68th St Ste 1108, West Des Moines, IA 50266, United States
Phone: +1 515-644-6133
My first call if the case involves medical negligence, catastrophic injury, birth injury, wrongful death, or a case requiring extensive medical/expert evidence.
J. Russell Hixson has more than 35 years of personal-injury and medical-malpractice experience and focuses on catastrophic cases. His firm reports a $19.8 million 2025 verdict against Mayo Clinic, and the firm has a co-counsel alliance intended specifically for catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, birth injury and wrongful-death cases.
The firm also explicitly says it handles high-stakes litigation against large corporations, hospitals and government entities, and prepares cases for trial rather than simply negotiating settlements.
Best fit: medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, institutional negligence, complicated causation.
2. Beattie Law Firm — particularly strong for products/industrial liability
This would be very high on my list if “complex liability” means a defective product, industrial accident, explosion, agricultural equipment, transportation defect, or corporate/manufacturer defendant.
Donald Beattie has been selected as a Super Lawyer repeatedly since 2007 and is also recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
More importantly, the firm's published case history shows unusually relevant complex-liability work: defective products, grain/elevator explosions, industrial equipment, railroad components, agricultural machinery and failure-to-warn cases. Its reported results include a $9.6 million settlement plus $2 million from settling defendants in an anhydrous-ammonia tank case, and a roughly $950,000 jury verdict involving defective agricultural machinery.
Brett Beattie's practice specifically includes catastrophic injury, product liability, insurance bad faith, transportation accidents and serious head/spinal injuries.
Best fit: product liability, manufacturer liability, industrial/agricultural accidents, explosions, transportation defects, insurance bad faith.
3. Galligan Law — excellent plaintiff-side trial option
Brian Galligan has more than 25 years representing injured Iowans and families in wrongful-death cases. The firm handles medical malpractice, defective products, motor-vehicle cases and wrongful death, and reports tens of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, including numerous seven-figure results.
Its published results include a $7 million wrongful-death verdict, $5.5 million birth-injury verdict, and $1.6 million commercial-vehicle verdict.
Brian Galligan is also a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is a particularly relevant credential when you're evaluating someone for a case that may actually go to trial.
Best fit: wrongful death, medical malpractice, commercial vehicle cases, defective products and other serious negligence cases.
4. Drew Law Firm P.C. — exceptionally experienced general trial lawyer
Tom Drew has practiced Iowa personal injury law since 1988 and has been selected as a Super Lawyer every year from 2019–2026. His practice encompasses brain injuries, construction accidents, trucking accidents, premises liability, wrongful death and other plaintiff-side injury claims.
His professional background is particularly impressive for litigation: he is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, former president of the Iowa chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and former president of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association.
Best fit: complicated general liability, trucking, construction, premises liability, brain injury and wrongful death.
Medical malpractice, wrongful death, commercial vehicles
4
Drew Law Firm
Complex general liability, trucking, construction, premises
5
Nicolet Law
Serious injury/wrongful death with a larger injury-focused practice
Super Lawyers' current Des Moines plaintiff-injury directory independently lists several of these attorneys among its top-rated injury lawyers.
One important caveat
“Best” depends heavily on the liability theory. For example, I would choose differently for:
Medical malpractice → Hixson & Brown / Galligan
Defective product → Beattie
Trucking/commercial vehicle → Drew / Galligan
Construction accident → Drew / Beattie
Government/public entity liability → Hixson & Brown
Wrongful death → Hixson & Brown / Galligan / Drew
Insurance bad faith → Beattie or a lawyer specifically focused on insurance litigation
Multiple defendants / complicated comparative fault → I'd put a premium on the lawyer's actual trial and expert-litigation history rather than review count
If you tell me what makes the liability case complex (e.g., medical malpractice, trucking, defective product, premises, employer, government entity, multiple defendants, disputed causation, etc.), I can narrow this to the best 2–3 lawyers for that exact case, compare their relevant verdicts/settlements, trial credentials, and likely strengths/weaknesses.
When dealing with a complex liability personal injury case in the Des Moines area (such as multi-party commercial litigation, product liability, or severe medical/corporate negligence), you need attorneys with heavy courtroom litigation experience, robust resources to hire expert witnesses, and proven trial track records.
Top-rated and peer-recognized local attorneys and firms handling complex injury and plaintiff litigation in and around Des Moines include:
Harley C. Erbe (Des Moines) – A seasoned trial attorney operating out of Des Moines with decades of experience tackling tough insurance disputes, products liability, and complex personal injury cases.
Hupy and Abraham, S.C. (West Des Moines) – A prominent regional firm with substantial resources and a strong local presence handling complex accident and negligence claims.
VanDerGinst Law, P.C. (Des Moines area) – Widely recognized across Iowa for handling high-stakes injury litigation with extensive trial resources.
If you can share a bit more about the nature of the liability (e.g., commercial trucking, medical malpractice, or defective products) and whether you are aiming for a settlement or ready for trial , I can help you pinpoint which of these practices matches your specific scenario.
When dealing with a complex liability personal injury case in Des Moines—such as those involving commercial trucking, severe product liability, medical negligence, or multi-party corporate/government liability—you need seasoned trial attorneys with deep resources, expert networks, and substantial courtroom experience.
Several prominent law firms and trial lawyers in Des Moines are recognized for handling high-stakes, intricate litigation:
LaMarca Law Group, P.C.4.9 (219)
Personal injury attorney
Closed 1820 NW 118th St #200
Call Directions Website With over 100 years of combined legal experience, this firm handles complex personal injury, product liability, premises liability, and professional negligence. They are well-known for taking hard-fought cases to trial and securing major multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements against corporate and government entities (such as significant rulings against the Iowa DOT).
Humphrey Law Firm, P.C.3.1 (8)
Mediation service
Closed 2000 Grand Ave 2nd Floor
Call Directions Website Led by Marc A. Humphrey , who brings over 30 years of extensive trial experience . The firm is particularly noted for handling intricate and niche areas like medical negligence, severe spinal and brain trauma, and product liability. Mr. Humphrey also leverages his deep litigation background to serve as a mediator and arbitrator in complex matters.
Schultheis White, PLC Law firm
Closed 3116 Ingersoll Ave Ste D
Call Directions Website Founded by experienced former large-firm partners Mark Schultheis and Patrick White, this firm brings nearly 50 years of combined high-level trial background. They specialize in complex civil and commercial litigation as well as high-stakes personal injury and professional malpractice claims across Iowa state and federal courts.[](https://www.youriowalawyers.com/)[[2](https://www.swlawiowa.com/)](https://www.swlawiowa.com/)
To help narrow down which practice might be the absolute best fit, could you share a bit more about the case?
What type of accident or incident caused the injury (e.g., commercial product failure, medical malpractice, multi-vehicle trucking accident)?
What kind of entities are involved as defendants (e.g., a major corporation, a hospital network, or a government agency)?
For a complex liability personal injury case in Des Moines, Iowa, I would prioritize firms with a strong record handling disputed fault, multiple potentially responsible parties, serious injuries, and high-value insurance claims—rather than choosing solely on advertising or online ratings.
The most important distinction is whether the case involves a straightforward negligence claim or a more difficult matter, such as a commercial truck crash, a dangerous property, a defective product, a construction accident, or several defendants blaming one another.
I’d compare attorneys on trial experience, resources for expert witnesses, experience with Iowa liability law, and whether the lawyer who evaluates your case will personally handle it.
My shortlist: Des Moines-area attorneys
These are the firms I would contact first based on their publicly described practice areas and litigation experience. This is a research-based shortlist, not a definitive ranking of case outcomes.
1. Shindler, Anderson, Goplerud & Weese P.C.
(Strong fit for trucking cases)
The firm specifically handles commercial truck and tractor-trailer accidents, catastrophic injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. It reports more than 50 years of combined personal injury experience and emphasizes trial advocacy.
Best for: Serious truck crashes, disputed fault, and cases requiring accident reconstruction or medical experts.
5015 Grand Ridge Drive, Suite 100, West Des Moines · 515-223-4567
Its published practice areas span truck accidents, product liability, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, premises liability, and insurance disputes. Its team-based approach may be useful when a claim involves several legal theories or defendants.
Best for: Cases involving multiple responsible parties, serious injuries, or overlapping workers' compensation and third-party claims.
1820 NW 118th Street, Suite 200, Des Moines · 515-705-0233
Its publicly described practice includes serious injury, wrongful death, and complex liability matters, including fires, gas explosions, and electrocution. Its founder, Steve Lombardi, has a long-standing civil litigation practice.
Best for: Catastrophic injuries involving technical evidence, potentially defective products, or unusual accident circumstances.
595 S. 60th Street, Suite 175, West Des Moines · 515-222-1110
The firm describes decades of personal injury trial experience and handles medical malpractice, premises liability, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death.
Best for: Claims involving professional negligence, unsafe premises, vulnerable victims, or wrongful death.
100 Court Avenue, Suite 315, Des Moines · 515-381-9842
A local plaintiff-side practice handling personal injury, workers' compensation, wrongful death, premises liability, and insurance disputes. This is another option to evaluate for a case where liability or insurance responsibility is contested.
Best for: A serious injury involving disputed responsibility, particularly where workplace and third-party claims may overlap.
2423 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines · 515-452-5650
Compare the firms by case type
A practical way to narrow the shortlist
If your case involves…
Start with
Commercial truck or fleet accident
Shindler, Anderson, Goplerud & Weese
Multiple defendants or overlapping claims
LaMarca Law Group
Fire, explosion, electrocution, or product defect
Lombardi Law Firm
Medical malpractice or nursing home negligence
Reid Law Firm
Workplace injury plus possible third-party fault
LaMarca Law Group and Nate Staudt
These are suggested starting points based on published practice areas, not guarantees that a firm will accept or win a particular case. Confirm the individual attorney's recent experience with comparable cases before hiring.
Locate the firms
Questions to ask before hiring
For a genuinely complex liability case, I would ask each prospective attorney these five questions:
Have you personally tried cases with similar liability issues? Ask for examples involving multiple defendants, disputed causation, or a similar injury.
What experts would you expect to need? Depending on the facts, these might include accident reconstructionists, engineers, medical specialists, or industry-standard experts.
How will you preserve critical evidence? Ask about surveillance footage, vehicle data, maintenance records, incident reports, witness interviews, and any evidence at risk of disappearing.
Who will actually handle the case? Establish whether the evaluating attorney will lead it through discovery, depositions, mediation, and trial if necessary.
What are the fees and costs? Clarify the contingency percentage, litigation expenses, responsibility for costs if the case is unsuccessful, and whether the percentage changes if a lawsuit or appeal is required.
You can verify an attorney's Iowa license and disciplinary history through the Iowa Judicial Branch.
One important caution: Iowa's comparative-fault rules and filing deadlines can significantly affect recovery. Don't delay getting case-specific legal advice while comparing firms.
Let me narrow this to the strongest two or three
What type of incident caused the injury? For example, a truck accident, workplace or construction accident, medical malpractice, defective product, unsafe property, or something else.
That detail will help distinguish attorneys whose experience is most relevant to your particular liability dispute.
