Biography

Stephen W. Roberts

steveroberts@davisbrownlaw.com

CONCENTRATION

Steve is a named senior shareholder of the Davis Brown Law Firm the Business Division. His practice focuses on Administrative Law, Business Organization and Transactions, Finance, Governmental Relations, and Tax.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
• Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law and Government Relations Law.

SUMMARY

Steve serves as the Firm’s full time lobbyist at the Iowa Legislature. He specializes in dealing with the Iowa Department of Revenue involving Iowa Corporate Income Tax, Nexus, and Sales Use Tax Cases.

In his Administrative Law practice he represents clients in front of the Iowa Governor’s Office, Iowa Department of Agriculture, Iowa Department of Revenue, Iowa Department of Transportation, the Inspection and Appeals Board, the Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Utilities Board, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, Iowa Department of Management, and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

In his Business Law practice, he has represented clients being acquired by another business entity, including a major hotel and casino development and currently sale of an international diversified agriculture product marketer. He also has represented a larger shopping center builder, developer, and owner in the prevention of reduction of market share.  

MEMBERSHIPS

• Iowa Department of Revenue Business Advisory Group
• The Streamlined Sales Tax Advisory Committee
• The Industrial Process Exemption Study Committee
• Past Iowa Republican State Chairman
• Board of Directors, Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)
• Board of Directors, Iowa Taxpayers Association
• Board of Directors, Greater Des Moines Partnership
• Government Policy Council, Greater Des Moines Partnership (Chair 2005-2006)

OF NOTE

Steve clerked for the Honorable Harvey M. Johnsen, Chief Judge of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

COMMUNITY

Steve is active with the Boy Scouts of America as a member of the Executive Board of the Mid-Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America as past president of the Board and in 1993 was awarded the distinguished Eagle Scout Award.  He also is former head of the Des Moines Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. and former Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society, Iowa Division.

Resources