Robert C. Gainer

Background

Bob Gainer’s practice is a general litigation practice, focusing on Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Law, Financial Insolvency issues (including foreclosure, bank note defense and defense against actions by the IRS and Iowa Agencies), and the defense of employers in workers compensation and civil defense matters throughout the state of Iowa.

Bob has significant experience in Bankruptcy reorganizations, having represented Debtors and Creditors in Chapter 11, Chapter 12 (farm bankruptcy), Chapter 13, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases.   Bob serves as a Chapter 7 panel trustee for cases in the Southern District of Iowa, and a subchapter V trustee, for small business cases throughout Iowa.

Chapter 11 clients include Debtor, Trustee, and Committees.  Debtor Reorganization clients include manufacturing companies, landlords, professional individuals, construction companies, and small businesses.  Chapter 7 representations including representing Debtors in preference actions brought by the Trustee and fraudulent transfer defenses.   In his litigation practice, he frequently represents clients with contract disputes, issues with banks and lending institutions (including foreclosure and banknote defense), construction payment (including public and private actions through mechanics liens and public improvement bonds), fraud defenses, and Collections work.

In his workers' compensation and civil defense practice, Bob defends multiple employers and insurance carriers in cases throughout the state of Iowa.  He serves in both a defense and advisory capacity, working with clients to minimize exposure while defending cases at the agency, state, and appellate levels.

Prior to joining the Cutler Law Firm, Bob clerked for the Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and then went on to work for the United States Department of Justice as a Special Assistant, United States Attorney, and with the United States Trustee Program in Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Bob is current chair of the Iowa State Bar Association Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section, the former president of the Federal Bar Association, Iowa Chapter, and Bankruptcy Committee Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association.  He previously served as the deputy boxing commissioner for the State of Iowa.  He is a frequent lecturer on the topics of bankruptcy law, collections, enforcement of mechanics liens and public improvement actions (Iowa Chapter 573 and Miller Act enforcement). 

Admissions

Iowa State Courts
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
Federal District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa