Business Details
Trusted Legal Representation in Spencer, Iowa
Cornwall Avery Bjornstad & Scott has served clients in Spencer, Iowa since 1891, combining over 261 years of collective legal experience with personalized service. Our attorneys specialize in diverse areas including personal injury, business litigation, real estate, trusts and estates, workers compensation, and social security disability. We prioritize client needs through active listening, transparent risk assessments, and tailored legal strategies.Our practice spans civil litigation, probate, corporate matters, and employment claims, supported by forensic accounting and expert testimony when required. With generations of local expertise, we provide title opinions, estate planning, and Medicaid guidance while maintaining a commitment to ethical representation and community trust.
Services
Personal Injury
Business Litigation
Real Estate
Estate Planning
Workers Compensation
Social Security Disability
Probate
Civil Litigation
Employment Claims
Highlights and features
- We offer 130+ years of continuous local legal service since 1891
- Our team provides personalized attention with 261+ combined years of experience
- We handle complex cases across 9+ practice areas including litigation and estate planning
- We serve Spencer, Iowa and surrounding regions with community-specific legal knowledge
- We combine traditional values with modern legal strategies for practical solutions
Services
Personal Injury
Our personal injury practice represents clients injured through negligence or defective products. With over 100 years of combined experience, we develop cases using medical testimony to establish damages. We handle medical malpractice, product liability, and negligence claims, pursuing fair compensation for plaintiffs while maintaining rigorous case preparation standards.
Estate Planning
We provide comprehensive estate planning services including wills, trusts, and lifetime gifting strategies. Our attorneys create limited liability companies and trusts for wealth transfer, prepare federal estate tax returns, and advise on Medicaid planning. We help clients establish special needs trusts and charitable giving arrangements while ensuring compliance with current tax regulations.
Business Litigation
Our business litigation practice handles complex contractual disputes between companies and individuals. We utilize forensic accounting and economic expert testimony to resolve financial matters. The team represents both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving contract breaches, business torts, and corporate governance issues, providing strategic litigation support from pre-trial through verdict.
Real Estate
We advise clients on residential and commercial real estate transactions, including purchase, sale, and financing. With over a century of experience, our attorneys prepare title opinions for diverse clients and handle lease agreements for commercial, residential, and agricultural properties. We provide guidance on property ownership structures and resolve title disputes through negotiation or litigation.
Workers Compensation
Our workers compensation practice assists injured employees in obtaining rightful benefits. We handle claims for workplace injuries, occupational diseases, and repetitive stress injuries. The team works with medical experts to document disabilities and negotiates with insurance carriers to ensure fair compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and permanent impairments under Iowa workers compensation laws.
People
Stephen F. Avery
Attorney
Practicing since 1966, Stephen F. Avery specializes in medical malpractice, personal injury, and employment law. He graduated from University of Iowa Law School and handles complex litigation cases involving product liability and contract disputes.
Christopher A. Bjornstad
Attorney
Phi Beta Kappa graduate from University of Iowa Law School, Christopher Bjornstad focuses on estate planning and real estate law. He handles business entity formation and property transactions with over 25 years of legal experience.
David A. Scott
Attorney
David A. Scott has practiced law since 1972, concentrating on personal injury, workers compensation, and social security disability cases. He graduated from University of Iowa Law School after attending University of South Dakota.
Sarah K. Haack
Attorney
Sarah K. Haack specializes in real estate and estate planning. Graduated from University of Iowa College of Law in 2019, she handles probate matters and trust administration for individuals and families.
Lisa M. Steffen
Attorney
Licensed in Iowa and Minnesota, Lisa M. Steffen focuses on estate planning, agricultural law, and business planning. She earned her law degree from Suffolk University in 2003 and provides tailored legal solutions for rural clients.
Questions
What areas of law does Cornwall, Avery, Bjornstad & Scott specialize in?
We specialize in personal injury, business litigation, real estate, estate planning, probate, workers compensation, social security disability, employment claims, and civil litigation.
How long has the firm been in operation?
Our firm has provided legal services since 1891, with current attorneys holding over 261 combined years of legal experience.
Do you handle cases outside Spencer, Iowa?
While based in Spencer, Iowa, we serve clients throughout northwest Iowa and Minnesota, particularly in real estate and estate planning matters.
What makes your firm different from other law practices?
We combine multi-generational local expertise with modern legal strategies, offering personalized attention while maintaining rigorous professional standards across diverse practice areas.
How do you approach client consultations?
We begin by listening to client needs, then provide transparent assessments of case viability, risks, and alternative resolution approaches tailored to individual circumstances.
Can I get help with both litigation and transactional matters?
Yes, our practice handles both litigation (personal injury, business disputes) and transactional work (real estate, estate planning) with equal expertise and professional dedication.
