Howard O. Hagen
Suite 3700
Des Moines, IA 50309
KRIS COY: (LEGAL ASSISTANT)
kcoy@dickinsonbradshaw.com
515.244.2600 x572
Introduction
Howard chairs Dickinson Bradshaw's Banking Law Group. For over 25 years he has counseled banks in virtually every Iowa county on such issues as regulation, acquisitions and various corporate and shareholder matters that have confronted banks in both good and troubled times. Howard also has served as counsel to the Community Bankers of Iowa for more than 25 years. He currently serves as a member of the American Bar Association Banking Law Committee. Earlier in his career, Howard served in the public sector as Assistant Attorney General and General Counsel to the Iowa Division of Banking.
Practice Areas
Education & Background
Education
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School (Phi Beta Kappa; National Law Honor Scholar)
- B.A., Grinnell College (Phi Beta Kappa, With Honors; Washington Semester Program)
Prior Experience
- General Counsel, Iowa Superintendent of Banking and Iowa Department of Banking, 1979-1985
- Assistant Attorney General, Director of the Division of Administrative Law, 1979-1985
Honors & Awards
Chambers USA
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Selected for inclusion in the 2008-2024 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a Leading Individual in the area of Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions: Banking & Finance in the state of Iowa. In 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Howard was the only Iowa attorney to be named a “Star Individual” in this area of law. Howard has drawn the following published commentary from the editors of Chambers USA:
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2024: "An ideal choice for clients needing advice on sophisticated banking and finance mandates, having advised on a plethora of financing deals, complex regulatory issues and wider corporate law matters.”
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2022: "He is the premier banking attorney in the state of Iowa."
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2021: "Howard is excellent; he does an outstanding job and knows everyone in the state."
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2020: "Hagen continues to be regarded as an ideal choice for clients needing advice on sophisticated banking and finance mandates, having advised on a plethora of high-value financing deals, complex regulatory issues and wider corporate law matters. He counts a number of leading banks and wider financial institutions among his impressive client base."
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2017: "Hagen is renowned for his work in banking and finance, especially for his long-standing involvement in community banking matters. Peers acknowledge him as an authority in this field, saying "he's one of the very, very best."
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2016: "His experience and knowledge in the financial institution industry and his insight in navigating the regulatory environment bring value."
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2015: "Howard is top-notch, responsive to our needs and very knowledgeable in the banking field."
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2013: "Head of banking Howard Hagen is recognized as a premier banking lawyer with extensive knowledge of banking regulatory matters. He has led on a number of significant matters, including Iowa Capital Investment Board’s restructuring of state obligations. Clients say that he ‘seems to have a sixth sense.’"
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Best Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion for 28 consecutive years in the 1995-2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Banking and Finance Law for the state of Iowa.
- Also selected for inclusion in the 2012-2015 and 2020-2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Financial Services Regulation Law for the state of Iowa.
- Named the Best Lawyers’ 2012, 2013 and 2015 Des Moines Financial Services Regulation Law "Lawyer of the Year."
- Named the Best Lawyers' 2024 Des Moines Banking & Finance Law "Lawyer of the Year."
Super Lawyers
- Named a Great Plains Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters since 2013 in the area of Banking.
Martindale-Hubbell
- AV Preeminent Peer Review rated since 1993 – the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards.
Jurisdictions
Admitted to practice in the following states:
- Iowa
Admitted to practice before the following federal courts:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- 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
- Represents community banks in:
- Regulatory matters before the Iowa Division of Banking, FDIC, Federal Reserve, and OCC;
- Acquisitions and sales of banks and branches;
- Capital raising and restructuring efforts; and
- Shareholder matters and disputes.
Memberships & Activities
- Dickinson Law Firm
- Past Member, Board of Directors
- American Bar Association
- Member, Banking Law Committee of the Business Law Section
- Member, Banking, Currency and Treasury Committee of the Administrative Law Section, 1989–1996
- Member, Cyberspace Law Committee
- Member, E-Commerce Payment & Information Security Committees of the Science and Technology Section
- Amana Society, Inc.
- Board of Directors, 2007 – Present; Chairman, 2012 – Present
- Amana Farms, Inc.
- Board of Directors, 2007 – Present; Chairman, 2012 – Present
- Amana Society Service Company
- Board of Directors, 2007 – Present
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Chair, Banking, Financial Institutions Committee, 1990–2000, 2002–2007
- Member, Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section
- Participant, Electronic Commerce Working Group
- Polk County Bar Association
- Public Director, Shazam Inc., August 2013 – Present
- Frequent speaker regarding economic issues and trends before non-profit groups and retreats
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
- Presenter, "Iowa Banking Law," Iowa Bankers Association's Lending Law Seminar, Urbandale, Iowa, October 26, 2023
- Presenter, "M&A and Fintech," and "Banking Today, Trends and Do You Hear the Chattering of AI Ahead?" Dickinson Law Banking Seminar, West Des Moines, Iowa, September 7, 2023
- Presenter, "Preparation, Pricing & Beyond," Iowa Society of CPAs Financial Institutions Conference, West Des Moines, Iowa, May 23, 2023
- Presenter, "AI ChapGPT and the Future," Iowa Renaissance 2023, Amana, Iowa, April 30, 2023
- Co-Presenter, "Iowa Banking Issues and M & A Environment," Day with the Superintendent (IDOB), West Des Moines, Iowa, April 27, 2023
- Moderator, "M&A Panel," Dickinson Law Banking Seminar, West Des Moines, Iowa, September 8, 2022
- Presenter, "Understanding Uncertain and Evolving Times in Banking – A Perspective," Dickinson Law Banking Seminar, West Des Moines, Iowa, September 8, 2022
- Panelist, "What Banks Need to Know About the M&A Market," 42nd Annual Eide Bailly Bank Seminar (virtual), November 16, 2021
- Presenter, "Iowa Banking: The Times They Are A-Changin'," Dickinson Law Virtual Banking Seminar, September 1, 2021
- Presenter, "What's Next for Banking M&A in 2021?," Community Bankers of Iowa and Dickinson Law partner webinar, November 5, 2020
- Presenter, "Dodge and Weave, We Must, Through the Tangled Web of 2020," Dickinson Law Banking Webinar Series, September 15, 2020
- Author, COVID-19: FDIC Issues FAQ for Financial Institutions, Iowa Banking Law Blog, March 18, 2020
- Presenter, "Farming in the 2020s: Will I Thrive or Take a Dive?" Hills Bank 2020 Ag Outlook, Riverside, Iowa, March 4, 2020
- Presenter, Curious Observations about the World, Banking, and Things Bankers May Misperceive, Dickinson Law Banking Seminar, West Des Moines, Iowa, September 5, 2019
- Bank Executive Panel Member, the Iowa Society of CPAs' Financial Institutions Conference, Altoona, Iowa, May 24, 2017
- Presenter, "Work, Work, Work: Is There a Future in That?" Nexus Executive Women's Alliance, Des Moines, December 20, 2016
- Presenter Before Various Community Banks' Boards of Directors and Strategic Planning Retreats, State of Iowa, December 2016
- Author, Iowa Ranked as the Healthiest Banking State in the United States, Iowa Banking Law Blog, September 9, 2016
- Presenter, "The New (Augmented) Realities in the World of Banking & the Old Truths That Remain," 2016 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, West Des Moines, September 7, 2016
- Presenter, "Survive and Thrive in This Increasingly Disruptive Banking Economy," Community Bankers of Iowa 45th Management Conference and Annual Convention, Okoboji, Iowa, July 14, 2016
- Presenter, "What is Happening Out There and How Does My Business Cope?" 2016 Cybersecurity Seminar, Des Moines, June 24, 2016
- Presenter, "Data Processing and Vendor Contracts: Issues, Terminations and Conversions - A Few Observations," Day With the Superintendent, West Des Moines, April 14, 2016
- Presenter, "Survive and Thrive in This Increasingly Disrupted Banking Economy," Community Bankers of Iowa - Leaders of Tomorrow, Des Moines, March 24, 2016
- Author, Let’s Call It What It Is: Cyberterrorism! Iowa Banking Law Blog, February 19, 2015
- Co-Author, with John Lande, Over 100 Banks Under Silent Siege, Iowa Banking Law Blog, February 16, 2015
- Presenter, “From Brains to Bits, Bytes & Bots: The Economic Revolution Ahead,” 2014 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, West Des Moines, September 4, 2014
- Author, Opportunity to Comment on Unnecessary Regulations, Iowa Banking Law Blog, June 4, 2014
- Presenter of Keynote Address, John Hughes Lecture Series, The University of Iowa – John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Iowa City, October 9, 2013
- Facilitator of Ongoing Bank Peer Group Presentations throughout Iowa on Current Bank Issues & the Economy, 2013
- Presenter, “State of the Banking World & the Strategic Implications Presented,” 2013 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Coralville, August 23 and West Des Moines, August 29, 2013
- Presenter, “The Urge to Merge,” 2013 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Coralville, August 23 and West Des Moines, August 29, 2013
- Presenter, “Mergers & Aquisitions in 2013,” Second Annual Community Bankers of Iowa State Fair Conference, Altoona, August 13, 2013
- Presenter of Ongoing Strategic Planning Sessions with Bank Boards of Directors and Managers throughout Iowa, 2013
- Presenter, “Bankers on a Hot Tin Roof – The State of the Banking World & Our Economy,” 2012 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, West Des Moines, August 30 and Coralville, September 7, 2012
- Presenter, “The Current Puzzling State of the Banking Industry and What Comes Next,” 2011 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., Coralville, Iowa, September 16, 2011, and West Des Moines, Iowa, September 9, 2011
- Author, Changes in Iowa Law Affecting Banks, Iowa Banking Law Blog, August 19, 2011
- Author, Seven Takeaway Thoughts on Dodd-Frank’s Impact on Community Banks, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., September 22, 2010
- Presenter, “The State of the Banking Industry Post-Dodd,” 2010 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., Coralville, Iowa, September 10, 2010, and West Des Moines, Iowa, September 2, 2010
- Author (with Arthur Owens), The Advantages of Being Seen as “Too Big to Fail”, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., August 24, 2010
- Presenter, “After The Chaos, Where In the World is Community Banking Now?,” 39th Community Bankers of Iowa Annual Convention, Okoboki, Iowa, July 16, 2010
- Author, Dodd-Frank Bill Passed Today: What it Means for Iowa’s Community Bankers, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., July 15, 2010
- Author (with Arthur Owens), The Uncertain Future of OCC Preemption, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 5, 2010
- Author (with Arthur Owens), FDIC Proposes Revisions of Deposit Insurance Assessments for Large and Highly Complex Institutions, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., April 22, 2010
- Presenter, “Iowa and the National Political Scenes, aka ‘Either Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way,’” Community Bankers of Iowa Leaders of Tomorrow, Johnston, Iowa, April 15, 2010
- Author (with L. Allyn Dixon, Jr. and Jeffrey J. Andersen), Who’s Your Regulator Under the Dodd Bill?, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., April 5, 2010
- Author (with L. Allyn Dixon, Jr.), “Regulatory & Supervisory Responsibilities Proposed by the Dodd Bill,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., April 2010
- Author (with Arthur Owens and Jeffrey J. Andersen), Seeking Safe and Sound Securitization, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., February 16, 2010
- Author (with Arthur Owens), Protecting the Enforceability of a Loan Guaranty, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., January 6, 2010
- Author (with Arthur Owens), Some Takeaways from the Policy Statement on Prudent Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., November 9, 2009
- Author (with Arthur Owens), FDIC Provides Guidance on Interest Rate Caps, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., November 4, 2009
- Presenter, “The Current State of the Banking Industry,” 2009 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., Coralville, Iowa, September 4, 2009, and West Des Moines, Iowa, September 3, 2009
- Presenter, “The State of Regulatory Affairs in Iowa and at the National Level, or More Appropriately, ‘What Just Happened & Where Are We Headed?’” Community Bankers of Iowa Annual Convention, Okoboji, Iowa, July 16, 2009
- Author (with L. Allyn Dixon, Jr.), TARP Capital Purchase Program to Re-open for Small Banks, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 13, 2009
- Author, Preventing or Producing a Bank Liquidity Crisis: Hobgoblin of Small Minds, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., August 13, 2008
- Presenter, “Brief Observations About Banking Today,” 2008 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., West Des Moines, Iowa, May 2, 2008
- Presenter, “Buying and Selling Banks – The Seven Year Itch & the Rules of Ten,” Iowa Bankers Association Annual Convention, Des Moines, Iowa, August 21, 2007
- Presenter, “Brave New World of Banking – Convergence or Collision,” 2007 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., Des Moines, Iowa, April 13, 2007
- Presenter, “The Brave New World of Banking: Convergence or Collision?,” Midwest Conference of Community Bankers, Beaver Creek, Colorado, July 23, 2006
- Presenter, “Ten Emerging Trends for Young Bankers,” Iowa Independent Bankers, Leaders of Tomorrow Spring Conference, Des Moines, Iowa, April 20, 2006
- Presenter, “Suspicious Activity Reporting Requirements for Corporate America,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Iowa Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa, April 13, 2006
- Presenter, “Accounting Judgments, Estimates, and Restatements: Implications for Audit Committee Oversight,” KPMG Audit Committee Roundtable, Des Moines, Iowa, November 3, 2005
- Presenter, “Perspectives on Protecting Your Bank and Customers,” Iowa Independent Bankers Annual Convention, Okoboji, Iowa, July 21, 2005
- Author, “The Shifting Interstate Branch Banking Terrain,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., September 6, 2004
- Author, “Affiliate’s Discount Offer Does Not Violate Bank Anti-Tying Provisions,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., September 6, 2004
- Co-author, Iowa Banking Law Guide for the Iowa Legal Research Guide (©2003)
- Lecturer, Bank Acquisitions, Iowa School of Banking, 1996-1997
- Instructor-Lecturer, School of Central Banking for Central and Eastern Europeans, Iowa State University, 1993, 1994
- Instructor-Lecturer, Summer Institute in Agricultural Law, Drake Law School, 1986