- Shareholder
- cksweeney@nyemaster.com
- 515-283-8160
- Des Moines Office
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