jtempleman@lolaw.com

Office: 515-243-8157
Fax: 515-243-3919

Bar Admissions
Iowa
Illinois

Court Admissions
Iowa Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa

Memberships
Polk County Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association

Legal Assistant
Britney Miller
bmiller@lolaw.com
515-698-5940

Joel’s practice includes advising his clients regarding all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and sales, commercial loans, commercial leases, subdivision platting and condominium development.  His clients include developers, lenders, landlords, tenants and other business entities that become involved in real estate transactions in connection with the operation of their businesses.  Joel’s real estate practice also includes assisting his clients at the municipal level to negotiate development agreements, assist with zoning, site plan approval, variances and conditional use permits.  Joel also represents several homeowner associations throughout the Des Moines area. In addition to the real estate issues above, Joel’s practice also includes corporate and general business law, business acquisitions and transactions, general litigation and eminent domain.

Joel and his wife, Mandi, have three children. Joel and Mandi enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and being involved with their children’s many activities.

Education
Creighton University, B.A.
Creighton University, J.D.

Professional Ratings
Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Best Lawyers® in America since 2021 – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law

Significant Cases

  • CR Collins LLC v. City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa et al, Linn County District Court Case No. CVCV084115 (counsel in obtaining a jury verdict in excess of 1.7 million dollars)

  • First American Bank Group, Ltd. v. Iowa Dep’t of Transportation, 898 N.W.2d 203 (counsel in obtaining a jury verdict in excess of $1.3 million dollars)

  • Judith Anne Lamb as Trustee of the Judith Anne Lamb Revocable Trust v. Dakota Access, LLC, Boone County Case No. CVCV040803 (lead counsel in obtaining a jury verdict of $250,000.00 for landowner)

Representative Matters

  • Seller’s counsel for downtown Des Moines development projects.

  • Purchaser’s counsel for warehouse located in downtown Des Moines.

  • Developer’s counsel in acquisition and platting of numerous parcels of residential and commercial real estate.

  • Counsel for acquisition and sale of  businesses.

  • Lender’s counsel for multi-million dollar financing for commercial projects.

  • Negotiated and prepared options to purchase residential, commercial and agricultural property.

  • Prepared documents to establish condominium regimes for commercial and residential property pursuant to Iowa’s Horizontal Properties Act.

  • Purchase and sale of hotels.

  • Represented homeowner associations throughout the Des Moines and the surrounding areas.

  • Successfully enforced restrictive covenants on behalf of numerous homeowners’ associations.

  • Counsel for property management companies.

  • Property tax protests throughout Iowa.

  • Represented clients before City Planning and Zoning Commissions, City Councils and Boards of Adjustment on numerous land use issues including rezoning, variances, and infraction matters.

  • Represented clients in the economic development of real estate to include development agreements, tax increment financing (TIF) arrangements, tax abatement and property tax assessment appeal.

  • Obtained numerous settlements and jury verdicts for clients against governmental bodies (city, county, Department of Transportation (DOT)) in complex condemnation cases throughout the State of Iowa.