Ryan Koopmans is a member of firm’s
Litigation Department. He focuses on appellate matters and complex litigation involving federal and state constitutional law, class actions, antitrust, election law, products liability, and ERISA. Ryan speaks frequently on Iowa’s appellate courts and is the principle contributor to
On Brief, a legal blog that covers the Iowa Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Ryan started private practice in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he focused on appellate and complex commercial litigation. Before that, Ryan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Steven M. Colloton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Ryan earned his law degree with highest distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. During law school, Ryan served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Randy J. Holland of the Delaware Supreme Court. Ryan graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in economics.
The Governor has appointed Ryan to serve on the District 5C Judicial Nominating Commission. He also sits on the Board of Governors of the Iowa State Bar Association.
Significant Cases
Obtained complete defense judgment in bench-trial involving multi-million dollar product-liability claims brought by Fortune 50 company.
Represented a telecommunications company in an Iowa Supreme Court case involving a constitutional challenge to Iowa’s property tax scheme. (Decision pending).
Defended a large insurance carrier in an Iowa Supreme Court case involving the Iowa Insurance Commissioner’s ability to retroactively challenge filed insurance rates. (Decision pending).
Represented the Iowa Association of Business and Industry as amicus curiae in an Iowa Supreme Court case involving the public-policy exception to the at-will employment doctrine. (Decision pending).
Defended the Iowa Governor in challenge to constitutional item-veto authority.
Obtained
dismissal in a trade-union challenge to Iowa Governor’s executive order prohibiting project labor agreements on public works projects.
Defended life-insurance company in an Eighth Circuit case involving the affect of bankruptcy on a probate beneficiary.
Represented an Israeli citizen before the Eighth Circuit in a novel case under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.