Kevin J. Visser

Iowa

Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
115 3rd Street SE, Suite 1200
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
United States

Tel: (319) 896-4059

Email: kvisser@spmblaw.com
Web: www.spmblaw.com

Professional Biography

Kevin Visser tries cases to juries and judges and handles the appeals from such decisions, as demonstrated in the public record, noted below. Of the 150 federal cases where he has served as lead counsel, and several hundred more in state courts, 70+ have been tried to verdict or judgment in 22 Iowa counties and five federal judicial districts, resulting in judgments, stock awards, or verdicts for firm clients of more than $77,000,000 in 14 of these cases – several of which involved prevailing defendants. In excess of 30 appellate decisions have followed these trials, divided between the Iowa appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals. Substantive issues in these cases primarily involve business torts, shareholder disputes, ownership or use of intellectual property (including trade secrets and fair competition questions) and employment issues (including class actions). Industries in which these cases have arisen vary from manufacturing, renewable energy, insurance, finance, transportation, retail, the legal profession, franchising, organized labor and agriculture.

For the firm’s clients that remain union organized, Mr. Visser has served as lead negotiator for more than 20 collective bargaining agreements and attendant issues which have arisen regarding unionized employment.

Mr. Visser’s work for clients has been consistently recognized by peers in Chambers USA®, The Best Lawyers® in America and Super Lawyers. He is also an AV Rated attorney with Martindale-Hubbell®. Mr. Visser’s professional affiliations included the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Mason Ladd Inn of Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), the Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA), the Linn County Bar Association (LCBA), and the AGC Labor Lawyers Council. Mr. Visser was a member of the United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa in 2014 and 2016.

Mr. Visser regularly presents to public and private groups on topics related to business or employment trial practice. He is the firm’s primary contact with the USLAW Network and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Honors & Awards

  • Included in the Best Lawyers in America© list, 2022
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor and Employment Litigation, Antitrust Law, Appellate Practice
  • Included in the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” list for Cedar Rapids
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2021
    • Employment Law – Management, 2015
  • AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Ranked in Chambers USA, 2010-2021
    • Labor & Employment
      • Kevin Visser is recognized as a top labor and employment attorney and has experience with complex commercial litigation. One source comments: “Kevin Visser is particularly notable for his experience in employment litigation.” Peers also describe him as an “outstanding litigator and a very effective judge and jury trial lawyer.”
        — Chambers USA
    • Litigation: General Commercial
      • “Kevin Visser is a notable trial lawyer with experience advising clients on disputes involving breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets and other business torts. He provides a skillful handling of class action lawsuits.”
        –Chambers USA
  • Included in Great Plains Super Lawyers list, 2007, 2009-2021
    • Business Litigation
  • Included in Super Lawyers Top 10 Attorneys in the State of Iowa, 2014

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    • Law Practice Section
    • Labor & Employment Law Section
    • Litigation Section
    • Division Membership in Senior Lawyers
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Litigation Section
    • Labor and Employment Section
  • Linn County Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
  • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Dean Mason Ladd American Inn of Court
  • AGC Labor Lawyers Council
  • USLAW NETWORK, Inc.
  • United States Magistrate Judge Merit Reappointment Panel for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 2003 & 2014
  • United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 2016

The Appellate Law Practice

Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC attorneys routinely appear and argue before the appellate courts of Iowa and the United States. They are familiar with all the aspects of state and federal appellate procedure. Our attorneys include several former clerks to the Iowa Supreme Court and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal.

We serve clients in defending or challenging determinations made by lower courts and administrative agencies. We are also available to assist colleagues from other firms in whatever capacity is needed, from discreet consultations to assuming full responsibility for an appeal.

About SPBM

With 56 attorneys, Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman  is one of the largest law firms in Iowa, practicing in over 30 fields of law.

We are a full-service law firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with an additional office located in Coralville, Iowa. The firm’s deep history dates back to 1916, having more than a century of experience representing national (and international) clients in matters from complex construction and intellectual property litigation to business transactions of all sizes. We are also home to one of the largest banking practices in Iowa and are known for our long history of serving the needs of families and their businesses, including estate and succession planning.

Our attorneys work together to find the most efficient solutions for the best outcomes for our clients.