Bio

Michael R. Blaser is a member of BrownWinick and is a past member of the firm's Management Committee. Mike currently serves as the Chair of the firm's Agribusiness practice group and is a member of the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee. From 1995 to 2000, Mike served as general counsel to Iowa Select Farms, an Iowa pork production that is currently the fourth largest independent hog producer in the United States. Before and since his work with Iowa Select, Mike has been actively involved in value-added agriculture, particularly in the livestock industry. Based on his experience, Mike advises agricultural clients in Iowa and other states as to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that affect their businesses. Mike also has considerable experience dealing with corporate farming laws in Iowa and other upper Midwest states. He has registered as a lobbyist in Iowa when needed, representing clients on legislation of interest, including major Iowa livestock regulation laws enacted in 1995, 1998 and 2002 and the rules adopted to implement those laws. A frequent speaker to industry and bar association groups on business and environmental issues, Mike has served on the Section Council of the Agricultural Law Committee of the Iowa Bar Association. He has also written legal issue columns for Feedstuffs magazine. Mike is a member of the National Pork Producer's Council Environmental Committee. He was appointed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to the Nutrient Work Group for the Governor's 2003 Iowa Water Summit and by Mike Johanns, United States Secretary of Agriculture to the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force for 2006-2008. Since 2006, Mike has been selected as a leader in Iowa for inclusion in Chambers USA® in the area of corporate/M&A. Mike has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships and agricultural law. Mike has served on the Board of Directors and in other leadership roles with the Iowa Society of CPAs. He also serves on the Finance Council for St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines, Iowa, and is the Chairperson of the Board of Adjustment for the City of West Des Moines, Iowa. Mike received his B.B.A. in accounting in 1982 and his J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1985. He also passed the CPA examination in 1983.