Throughout his 41-year career, Gene represented large and small companies with unionized workforces with their employment and labor issues. He regularly helped companies in the healthcare and manufacturing industries with wage-hour issues, collective bargaining negotiations, and unfair labor practice proceedings. He was considered an expert at handling complicated union work and National Labor Relations Board issues.

An experienced trial lawyer, he defended employers in courts throughout the country in all types of employment-related matters. Gene worked with clients to respond to state or federal civil rights complaints and defended those actions in court. Another important part of Gene’s practice was to advise clients on hiring, discipline, and discharge to avoid the expense of lawsuits.

Gene built a reputation amongst clients and colleagues for his willingness to lend a hand, give advice, and act as the voice of reason. Board member and former mentee, Chris Jannes said, “Gene has an uncanny ability to reduce complex things down to a few concise issues or points.”

Capital Markets and M&A Lawyer Beverly Evans

Bev was adept at working with start-ups and Fortune 500 companies alike with their regional, national, and international transactions. Over her 40-year career, Bev practiced in Nebraska and Iowa and served on the Davis Brown Board from 2010-2013.

She worked closely with the Iowa Capital Investment Corporation (ICIC), an entity authorized by the state to form, through the use of incentive tax credits, a fund of funds designed to encourage the development of venture capital in the state. She has also worked with Iowa-based entities to successfully apply for and deploy Federal New Market Tax Credits.

In one of her most notable deals, Bev, along with Frank Carroll, acted as corporate counsel to Rain and Hail in the 2010 transaction by which ACE Limited purchased, for $1.1 billion, an 80% ownership of Rain and Hail, an Iowa-based crop insurer. Frank Carroll said, “I had the opportunity to work with Bev on a number of transactions. I enjoyed discussing issues with Bev because it helped me focus and I knew she was generally right. What I really appreciated about Bev was her friendly attitude and her patience with me.”

Described as articulate and thoughtful, Bev will be missed by colleagues for her wealth of knowledge in the securities law arena.