Ethan Kinney

Employment Litigation Defense

Ethan helps employers of all sizes defend against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage-and-hour violations under federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Iowa Civil Rights Act. He handles matters from the agency charge stage through litigation and appeal. That work includes drafting position statements, assessing cases early, managing discovery, and briefing dispositive and postjudgment motions. He focuses on resolving disputes efficiently while protecting what matters most: the client's business.

Media Representation

Ethan worked in journalism before law school, so he understands newsrooms from the inside. His current practice centers on news organizations, publishers, broadcasters, and other communications and media clients. Ethan helps media clients get access to government records and meetings under Iowa's Open Records Act (Iowa Code chapter 22) and Open Meetings Act (Iowa Code chapter 21) and the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Additionally, Ethan helps edit the Iowa section of the Media Law Resource Center's 50-state survey, a national reference on state media law.

Appellate Practice

Ethan clerked for Justice Thomas Waterman of the Iowa Supreme Court, which gave him an insider's view of how appellate courts decide cases. During law school he completed a semester-long externship in Justice Waterman's chambers, and after graduating he returned as the justice's judicial clerk. As a clerk, he drafted judicial opinions and memoranda on a wide range of complex issues. He now uses that experience to draft appellate briefs, preserve issues for appeal at the trial level, and advise trial teams on dispositive motions. Since joining the firm, Ethan has briefed complex appeals before the Iowa Supreme Court and three federal circuits: the US Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits.

Personal Interests

Outside of work, Ethan enjoys spending time with his wife and attending sporting events.