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Angel A.
West

“My business is knowing my clients’ business.”

Goal-oriented and hardworking, Angel West began walking beans and detasseling corn at age 12. Her early entry into the work force taught her valuable lessons that have served her and her clients well over the years, including leadership skills, business savvy, and pragmatism. Angel is not shy about working hard to get the job done and doing it right.

Angel serves as the chair of the Litigation group and co-chairs the Cybersecurity & Privacy practice group. Her litigation practice includes consumer class actions, ERISA litigation, product liability, and commercial litigation.

Angel has litigated a variety of cases, including: Section 36(b) management fee cases, ERISA fee litigation and breach of fiduciary class actions, health care and labor and employment class actions. She also works on products liability cases and general commercial matters. “I find law intellectually challenging,” she says. “Complex, sophisticated cases make my days interesting.”

Benchmark Litigation has recognized Angel as one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation for the past eight years. While heartened by repeated recognition from peers, clients, and industries, Angel is most motivated by her clients. “My job is very personal,” she says. “It’s all about my clients and our relationship. I work for good people associated with good companies, and if I didn’t believe in them, it would be difficult to do my job effectively.”

Along with her personal investment, Angel brings other critical elements to the table. She’s highly driven, fiercely competitive, and passionate about her work. She also recognizes the advantage of being inventive and resourceful in her work. “It’s my business to know my clients’ business so that I can help my clients achieve good outcomes in their cases. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach in litigation.”

Outside the office, Angel served many years on the board of Iowa Women Lead Change (IWLC) and strives to master the work-life balance.

Benchmark Litigation
Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2012–2020
Local Litigation Star

Martindale-Hubbell
AV® Preeminent

Litigation Counsel of America
Fellow

Great Plains Super Lawyers

Civil Litigation Defense, 2012, 2015–2017
Personal Injury, Products: Defense, 2018–2020

American Bar Foundation
Fellow

Phi Beta Kappa

University of Iowa Collegiate Scholar

Drake Law Review
Associate Editor, 1996–1997

American Bar Association

Iowa State Bar Association

Polk County Bar Association

Iowa Defense Counsel Association

Defense Research Institute

Women in Law Committee
Women in Law Program Marketing Subcommittee
Product Liability Committee

International Association of Defense Counsel

Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee
Products Liability Committee
Business Litigation Committee

Litigation Counsel of America
Iowa State Delegation Co-Chair

National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

Iowa Women Lead Change (IWLC)
Board Member, 2009–2016

Rozo v. Principal Life Insurance Company, 4:14-cv-00463 (S.D. Iowa, Sept. 25, 2018).

American Chemicals & Equipment, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan v. Principal Management Corporation, 4:15-cv-00302 (S.D. Iowa, Feb. 29, 2016); 864 F.3d 859 (8th Cir. July 24, 2017).

McCaffree Financial Corporation on Behalf of the McCaffree Financial Corporation Employee Retirement Program v. Principal Life Insurance Company, 4:14-cv-00102 (S.D. Iowa, Dec. 10, 2014); 811 F.3d 998 (8th Cir. Jan. 8, 2016).

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