David M. Repp

SHAREHOLDER
David M. Repp
Tel/Direct 1:
515.246.4556
Location
801 Grand Ave.
Suite 3700
Des Moines, IA 50309
Support Team
PAM GOODMAN: (LEGAL ASSISTANT)

pgoodman@dickinsonbradshaw.com
515.246-5836

Introduction

David practices primarily in the area of taxation. He provides a broad range of tax counsel to small businesses on topics including federal and state income tax planning, taxation of employee benefits, equity structure and mergers, and succession planning. He also counsels and advises clients with respect to the management of their wealth to minimize estate and inheritance taxes through the use of asset protection trusts, grantor trusts, powers of appointment, lifetime gifts, QTIP trusts and generation skipping trusts. As part owner of a family farm operation, David provides income tax, FICA tax and succession planning counsel to many farm clients.

Honors & Awards

Best Lawyers Award Badge Best Lawyers Award Badge  

Best Lawyers

  • Selected for inclusion since 2007 in The Best Lawyers in America in the following areas:
    • Non-Profit / Charities Law
    • Tax Law
    • Trusts & Estates Law
  • David is the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America. 
  • David is the 2021 "Lawyer of the Year" for Nonprofit / Charities Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
  • David is the 2018 "Lawyer of the Year" for Trusts and Estates Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
  • David is the 2014 "Lawyer of the Year" for Nonprofit / Charities Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
  • David is the 2012 "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.

Chambers USA

  • David was selected for inclusion in the 2018-2020 and 2022-2024 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leader in the area of Private Wealth Law in the state of Iowa. David has drawn the following published commentary from the editors of Chambers USA:
    • 2020: Repp enjoys a strong reputation among his peers in Iowa. "He is very good," describes one source, who adds: "He has strong technical knowledge and equally strong knowledge in partnership and income tax. He has a broader-base skill set than most lawyers and is a great communicator with in-depth knowledge." 

    • 2022: "Repp is pragmatic and easy to work with."

    • 2024: "Repp has particular expertise in advising high net worth clients on tax matters. He is a very intelligent attorney."

Martindale-Hubbell

Super Lawyers

  • Named a Great Plains Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters since 2018 in the area of Tax Law.

Jurisdictions

Admitted to practice in the following states:

  • Iowa
  • Missouri

Admitted to practice before the following federal courts:

  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa

Reported Cases and Representative Matters

Reported Cases

  • In re Wright v. Repp Farms, Inc. 699 N.W.2d 684 (Iowa Ct. App. 2005). Successfully represented the defendant in a water drainage action brought by a neighboring land owner.

Other Representative Matters

  • Advises and assists small business start-ups with entity selection; drafts and implements LLC operating agreements for a broad variety of business ventures including restaurants, construction companies and agribusinesses.
  • Advises and consults small businesses with respect to employee stock ownership plans.
  • Represents business and individual taxpayers in Tax Court and before the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance on a broad array of topics ranging from corporate acquisitions to horse breeding and showmanship businesses.
  • Uses advanced estate tax planning techniques for high net worth clients utilizing trusts and special purpose entities such as corporations and limited liability companies.
  • Advises and consults small businesses with respect to ERISA welfare benefit plans and nontaxable fringe benefits.
  • Advises and consults farmers and agribusinesses with respect to income tax, FICA tax and succession planning.
  • Advises and consults individuals with respect to asset protection.

Memberships & Activities

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
    • Fellow, 2010-Present
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Chair, Taxation Section, 2008-2009
    • Member, Agricultural Law Section
    • Member, Corporate, Banking and Business Law Section
    • Member, Corporate Counsel Section
  • American Bar Association
    • Member, Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust; Member, Taxation Section
  • Polk County Bar Association
  • Des Moines Estate and Financial Planners Group
    • Member, 1993-Present; Past Chair
  • Iowa Homeless Youth Center
    • Chair, Community Advisory Board, 1995-Present
  • Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute
    • Class of 2004
  • High School Volleyball Coach
  • Farmer

Articles, Presentations, and Publications