Coreen K.
Sweeney

“My corporate clients aren’t faceless. They are comprised of unique individuals. I take pride in giving them good value and good results.”

Before strength training and Little League were status quo for girls, Coreen Sweeney hit the grade school baseball field and high school weight room, competing alongside the boys. She continues to show her strength in her law practice.

 

Coreen applies her mental “strength training” to defend employers and insurance companies against workers’ compensation claims. “I enjoy the medical aspect of workers’ compensation cases, working with physicians, and the detailed statutory construction of the cases,” she says. Coreen also litigates bad faith claims, personal injury and tort cases, and serves as a mediator, often in workers’ compensation matters.

 

As a mediator, Coreen draws on her decades of experience to find reasonable resolutions to claims. She also draws on her creativity and thinking outside the box to find common ground between defense and plaintiff.

 

To best serve her clients, Coreen finds the perfect balance between her practical and passionate sides. “I’m fairly no-nonsense but am willing to dig in my high heels where needed.”

 

Her strength and experience as a lawyer have earned her positions on Nyemaster’s Executive and Marketing committees, as well as a past chair of the firm. “The firm is ever-evolving,” she says. “I’m proud to be part of the group that’s steering the ship.”

 

The Best Lawyers in America®
Lawyer of the Year, Workers’ Compensation Law—Employers, Des Moines, 2013


The Best Lawyers in America®
2013–2024

 

Martindale-Hubbell
AV® Preeminent

 

Drake Law Review
Casenote Editor, 1989–1990

 

Osage Education Foundation
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

Iowa State Bar Association

  • Workers’ Compensation Newsletter Committee, 1998–1999
  • Workers’ Compensation Legislative Committee, 1999–2001
  • Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, Seminar Chair, 1999–2000
  • Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee, Symposium Chair, 2003–2004
  • Iowa Bar Workers’ Compensation Section Council, 2018–2021

 

Polk County Bar Association

 

Iowa Defense Counsel Association

 

Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

  • Past President
  • Board of Governors

 

Iowa Self-Insurers Association

  • Seminar Co-Chair, 2009–2012
  • Member

 

Variety Club 
Board of Directors, 2013–2016

 

100+ Women Who Care
2012–2021

 

Riverfront YMCA 
Board of Directors, 2004–2011

 

Des Moines Triathlon Club 
Board of Directors, 2007–2009

 

Girls on the Run©, YMCA Youth Program

"Understanding Bad Faith Denial of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Iowa"
Nyemaster Goode Webinar, September 2021

 

Workers’ Compensation 2017: Brave New World
Webinars, May and July 2017

 

“Settlement Considerations for Workers’ Compensation Cases”
52nd Annual Workers’ Compensation Symposium, 2014

 

“Obtaining Information from Client and Employer”
Presentation to New Attorneys: Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Seminar, 2013

 

“60 Ways in 60 Minutes to Determine Whether a Claim is Legitimate or a Product of Exaggeration or Fabrication”
Iowa Self Insurers Association Conference, 2012

 

“Claims Investigation 101”
Iowa Self-Insurers Association, First Annual Work Comp Conference, 2009

 

“Section 85.39 Evaluation Issues”
Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Seminar, 2009

 

“Workers’ Compensation Update: Perspectives from an Employer & Medical Provider Standpoint”
Iowa Hospital Association, October 2007

 

“Mandated Record Keeping Requirements for Injuries and Illnesses”
Allen Memorial Hospital Occupational Health Seminar for Employers, April 2006

 

“Apportionment, Successive Injuries and Other Emerging Issues in Workers’ Compensation”
Iowa Defense Counsel Association, 41st Annual Meeting and Seminar, 2005

 

Iowa Legal Research Guide, Workers’ Compensation section, 2003 (J. D. Edwards, editor, 2003) (co-author with Joseph Quinn)

 

“Termination Notices and Other Claim Procedures”
Iowa State Bar Workers’ Compensation Seminar2003

 

“Medical vs. Legal Causation—A Defense and Claimant Perspective”
40th Annual Workers’ Compensation Symposium, 2002

 

“Claims Procedure”
30th Annual Iowa Governor’s Safety Conference, October 30, 2001

 

“Claims Procedure”
Iowa State Bar Association 2001 Seminar, April 18, 2001

 

“Hot Topics in Workers’ Compensation”
2000 Workers’ Compensation Symposium, June 8, 2000

 

“Workers’ Compensation in Iowa”
Lorman Seminar: Compensability and Case Resolution, November 9, 1999

 

“Practical Suggestions for Presenting Your Case to the Deputy”
ITLA 8th Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar, February 18, 1999

“In the Course of Employment”
1997 Workers’ Compensation Symposium, June 12, 1997

 

“Workers’ Compensation Update”
Lincoln Inn of Court, October 21, 1996

 

“Establishment Clause—Adolescent Family Life Act Upheld as Facially Valid after First Amendment Constitutional Attack on the Right of Religious Organizations to Receive Federal Funding to Counsel and Teach Adolescents,” 38 Drake Law Rev. 783, 1990

 

“AIDS in the Workplace: A Handicap Under the Rehabilitation Act?” 39 Drake L. Rev. 141, 1989

 

OVERVIEW

Before strength training and Little League were status quo for girls, Coreen Sweeney hit the grade school baseball field and high school weight room, competing alongside the boys. She continues to show her strength in her law practice.

 

Coreen applies her mental “strength training” to defend employers and insurance companies against workers’ compensation claims. “I enjoy the medical aspect of workers’ compensation cases, working with physicians, and the detailed statutory construction of the cases,” she says. Coreen also litigates bad faith claims, personal injury and tort cases, and serves as a mediator, often in workers’ compensation matters.

 

As a mediator, Coreen draws on her decades of experience to find reasonable resolutions to claims. She also draws on her creativity and thinking outside the box to find common ground between defense and plaintiff.

 

To best serve her clients, Coreen finds the perfect balance between her practical and passionate sides. “I’m fairly no-nonsense but am willing to dig in my high heels where needed.”

 

Her strength and experience as a lawyer have earned her positions on Nyemaster’s Executive and Marketing committees, as well as a past chair of the firm. “The firm is ever-evolving,” she says. “I’m proud to be part of the group that’s steering the ship.”

 

RECOGNITION

The Best Lawyers in America®
Lawyer of the Year, Workers’ Compensation Law—Employers, Des Moines, 2013


The Best Lawyers in America®
2013–2024

 

Martindale-Hubbell
AV® Preeminent

 

Drake Law Review
Casenote Editor, 1989–1990

 

Osage Education Foundation
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

Iowa State Bar Association

  • Workers’ Compensation Newsletter Committee, 1998–1999
  • Workers’ Compensation Legislative Committee, 1999–2001
  • Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, Seminar Chair, 1999–2000
  • Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee, Symposium Chair, 2003–2004
  • Iowa Bar Workers’ Compensation Section Council, 2018–2021

 

Polk County Bar Association

 

Iowa Defense Counsel Association

 

Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

  • Past President
  • Board of Governors

 

Iowa Self-Insurers Association

  • Seminar Co-Chair, 2009–2012
  • Member

 

Variety Club 
Board of Directors, 2013–2016

 

100+ Women Who Care
2012–2021

 

Riverfront YMCA 
Board of Directors, 2004–2011

 

Des Moines Triathlon Club 
Board of Directors, 2007–2009

 

Girls on the Run©, YMCA Youth Program

SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS

"Understanding Bad Faith Denial of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Iowa"
Nyemaster Goode Webinar, September 2021

 

Workers’ Compensation 2017: Brave New World
Webinars, May and July 2017

 

“Settlement Considerations for Workers’ Compensation Cases”
52nd Annual Workers’ Compensation Symposium, 2014

 

“Obtaining Information from Client and Employer”
Presentation to New Attorneys: Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Seminar, 2013

 

“60 Ways in 60 Minutes to Determine Whether a Claim is Legitimate or a Product of Exaggeration or Fabrication”
Iowa Self Insurers Association Conference, 2012

 

“Claims Investigation 101”
Iowa Self-Insurers Association, First Annual Work Comp Conference, 2009

 

“Section 85.39 Evaluation Issues”
Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Seminar, 2009

 

“Workers’ Compensation Update: Perspectives from an Employer & Medical Provider Standpoint”
Iowa Hospital Association, October 2007

 

“Mandated Record Keeping Requirements for Injuries and Illnesses”
Allen Memorial Hospital Occupational Health Seminar for Employers, April 2006

 

“Apportionment, Successive Injuries and Other Emerging Issues in Workers’ Compensation”
Iowa Defense Counsel Association, 41st Annual Meeting and Seminar, 2005

 

Iowa Legal Research Guide, Workers’ Compensation section, 2003 (J. D. Edwards, editor, 2003) (co-author with Joseph Quinn)

 

“Termination Notices and Other Claim Procedures”
Iowa State Bar Workers’ Compensation Seminar2003

 

“Medical vs. Legal Causation—A Defense and Claimant Perspective”
40th Annual Workers’ Compensation Symposium, 2002

 

“Claims Procedure”
30th Annual Iowa Governor’s Safety Conference, October 30, 2001

 

“Claims Procedure”
Iowa State Bar Association 2001 Seminar, April 18, 2001

 

“Hot Topics in Workers’ Compensation”
2000 Workers’ Compensation Symposium, June 8, 2000

 

“Workers’ Compensation in Iowa”
Lorman Seminar: Compensability and Case Resolution, November 9, 1999

 

“Practical Suggestions for Presenting Your Case to the Deputy”
ITLA 8th Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar, February 18, 1999

“In the Course of Employment”
1997 Workers’ Compensation Symposium, June 12, 1997

 

“Workers’ Compensation Update”
Lincoln Inn of Court, October 21, 1996

 

“Establishment Clause—Adolescent Family Life Act Upheld as Facially Valid after First Amendment Constitutional Attack on the Right of Religious Organizations to Receive Federal Funding to Counsel and Teach Adolescents,” 38 Drake Law Rev. 783, 1990

 

“AIDS in the Workplace: A Handicap Under the Rehabilitation Act?” 39 Drake L. Rev. 141, 1989