Best's Insurance Professional Resources
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts
Best's Insurance Professional Resources
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts


Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

700 Second Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Established: 1989

Practice Areas

  • Insurance Defense
  • First and Third Party Defense
  • Subrogation
  • Commercial Law
  • Product Liability
  • Dram Shop Liability
  • Family Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Coverage Opinions
  • Litigation

Cases Gone to Trial: 200+

About Us

At the Des Moines law office of Elverson Vasey, we represent clients throughout Iowa and the Midwest in the areas of insurance litigation and subrogation, coverage opinions, business/corporate law, family law, real estate, and personal injury. The attorneys on our staff have more than 150 combined years of experience practicing law, and you can feel comfortable that we have the extensive knowledge of the legal system that your case needs to succeed. We bring personalized service, accessibility and affordability to each case as we vigorously represent each client who comes to us for assistance.

Client Information

Insurance Clients

Personnel Information

Partners


Jon A. Vasey

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 1983
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, 1984
Jon Vasey is a partner and founding member of Elverson Vasey. For the past 30 years, Jon has focused his career on civil defense, insurance litigation and coverage issues. 

Jon graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa in 1980 and earned his Juris Doctorate from Drake University in 1983. Jon was admitted to the Iowa State Bar Association in 1983.

Jon has received the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards from Martindale-Hubbell, earning an AV Preeminent peer review rating. Jon is included in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers for Insurance Defense and was selected for the 2023 Best Lawyers in America list.
Memberships:
  • Iowa State (Insurance Committee, 1989-1993) and Polk County (Unauthorized Practice Committee) Bar Associations
  • American Academy of ADR Attorneys
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
Education:
  • The University of Iowa, B.B.A., 1980
  • Drake University, J.D., 1983
Fraternity Information:
Delta Theta Phi (Dean, 1982-1983)

Allison R. Abbott

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 1999
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa, 2002
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa, 2005
Allison Abbott has been with Elverson Vasey since 1999 and has been a partner in the firm since 2006. She received her B.A. from Arizona State University in 1994 and received her Juris Doctorate with honors from Drake University Law School in 1999. Allison was admitted to the Iowa State Bar in 1999.

Allison has earned the Distinguished peer review rating for high professional achievement from Martindale-Hubbell. She was selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of the Best Lawyers in America.
Memberships:
  • Iowa State, Polk County and Dallas County Bar Associations
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association
  • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
Education:
  • Arizona State University, B.A., 1994
  • Drake University, J.D. (with honors), 1999
Fraternity Information:
Delta Theta Phi

W. Adam Buckley

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 2007
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
Adam Buckley is Partner at Elverson Vasey. His areas of practice include insurance defense and general civil litigation, including subrogation and collection. 

Adam attended Knox College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001. He received his Juris Doctorate with high honors from Drake University in 2007.
Memberships:
  • Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association
Education:
  • Knox College, B.A., 2001
  • Drake University, J.D. (with high honors), 2007

Nathan A. Russell

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa
Nathan A. Russell grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Advertising and a Business minor in 2007. In 2011, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law.
Memberships:
  • Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations
Education:
  • Iowa State University, B.A., 2007
  • University of Dayton, J.D., 2010

Joshua R. Strief

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 2014
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
Josh Strief was born in Sac City, Iowa. He received his B.A. in Political Science with honors from Drake University in 2010 and his Juris Doctorate with honors from Drake University Law School in 2014. During law school, Josh was named to the Order of the Barristers and was awarded the Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts Award for Excellence in Advocacy and the 2014 Martin Tollefson Award. 

Josh's practice areas include insurance subrogation and defense, and personal injury. He was recently included on the 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list.
Memberships:
  • Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association
  • Defense Research Institute
Education:
  • Drake University, B.S. (cum laude, with honors), 2010
  • Drake University, J.D. (with honors), 2014

Attorneys


Spencer Vasey Dirth

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, 2019
Spencer joined Elverson Vasey in 2018 after earning her Juris Doctorate with Highest Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law. Prior to attending law school, she obtained her B.S.B.A Summa Cum Laude from Drake University, where she also played on the women’s soccer team. During her time at the University of Iowa College of Law, Spencer was heavily involved in moot court, earning the Harrison Tweed Award for Best Brief and the College of Trial Attorneys Award for Best Oral Advocate at the New York City Bar Association National Moot Court Competition. During her final year at Iowa, Spencer clerked for United States Chief Magistrate Judge C.J. Williams in the Northern District of Iowa. Spencer was recently named to the 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list.
Memberships:
  • Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association
  • Defense Research Institute
Education:
  • Drake University, B.B.A. (summa cum laude), 2015
  • The University of Iowa College of Law, J.D. (with highest distinction), 2018

Max Burkey

Des Moines, IA

Admitted
  • Iowa, 1976
Max Burkey grew up in Garrison, Iowa and served in the Army from 1966 to 1968. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and subsequently received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Drake University in 1976.
Memberships:
  • Polk County Bar Association
Education:
  • University of Northern Iowa, B.A., 1973
  • Drake University, J.D., 1976

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