- Shareholder
- rdandewe@nyemaster.com
- 515-283-3106
- Des Moines Office
Robert
Andeweg
“Whether advocating for a legislative change or closing a real estate transaction, it comes down to understanding the issue and finding a way to resolve it in a successful manner for the client.”
Public service is at the core of Bob Andeweg’s law practice. “I advocate for good results that are also good public policy,” he says. “People have a right to petition their government for change. At the heart of it, lobbying is advocating for clients’ interests and doing the best job you can.”
As legislative counsel, Bob represents clients before the Iowa legislature, governor, and regulatory agencies. He performs lobbyist functions at the state capitol. He monitors, proposes, advocates, drafts, and sometimes opposes legislation.
In his commercial real estate practice, Bob handles a mix of transactional work, development, and leasing.
During law school, legislative tracking at a law firm piqued Bob's interest in public policy. Today, public policy and public service remain embedded in Bob’s approach. “If I can help make good public policy for the state of Iowa through my role in representing my clients, that’s what I want to do,” he says.
His work as mayor of Urbandale, Iowa, since 2005 has introduced Bob to many of the players in all sectors of state government. Building trust and a reputation for integrity are key. “Relationships are the heart of public policy,” Bob says. “Working with legislators, you’re showing there’s a true need for the legislative change and real reasons why.”
In both government affairs work and real estate transactions, Bob prides himself on finding the creative solution. “There’s not a cookie-cutter approach to everything,” he says. “Depending on the circumstances, any number of issues could come up that you have to really think through to accomplish the best result for the client.”
In real estate transactions, every deal is an opportunity to be responsive to the client’s needs, creative in accomplishing their goals, and proficient in their work. No matter his client, Bob’s goal is the same: To get a deal done correctly and quickly.
Bob’s main goal is to find all his clients—whether it’s public policy efforts or a real estate deal—the most expeditious and beneficial solutions.
He feels the same way about his mayoral responsibilities in Urbandale. While handling basic services such as fire and police protection or water and sewer services might seem mundane, getting them to operate effectively—without disruption—is important.
“As mayor, I do what’s in the best interest of our city and our citizens,” Bob says. “That’s what I bring to legislative work—doing what’s in the best interest of our clients and what’s in the best interest of the state of Iowa too.”
American Bar Association
- State and Local Government Section
- Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
Iowa State Bar Association
- Real Estate and Title Law Section
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
- Government Practice Section
Polk County Bar Association
Candidate – CCIM Designation
Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association
ABI Leadership Iowa
2010–2011
Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association
Board of Directors, 2006–2008
Mayor, City of Urbandale
2005–present
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors’ Bureau
Board Member, 2005-Present
Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
2005–Present
City of Urbandale
- City Council Member, 2000–2005
- Planning and Zoning Commission, 1995–2000
State and local government economic development incentives and property acquisition for $1.4 billion industrial project (2012).
The Best Lawyers in America®
2006–2024
Chambers USA
America's Leading Business Lawyers, Real Estate, 2004–2024
Great Plains Super Lawyers
Real Estate, 2009–2024
CITYVIEW's Business Journal
Honoree
"21 from 2021: Business People Who Made a Difference"
Drake Law Review
Editor-in-Chief, 1986–1987
“Basic of 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges,” BrownWinick Client Seminar—Legal Strategies to Protect and Grow Your Business, 2006 (speaker)
Annual speaker and panelist at Iowa Real Estate Association Commercial Real Estate Expo
Frequent presenter for CCIM Continuing Education
“Iowa's IOLTA Program: A New Way to Finance Public Service Activities in Iowa,” 35 Drake L. Rev. 365, 1985–1986
“A Social Host Who Furnishes Intoxicants to an Intoxicated Guest May Be Civilly Liable Under Common-Law Principles for Damages Sustained by a Third Person as a Result of the Intoxicated Guest’s Tortious Conduct–Clark v. Mincks (Iowa 1985),” 35 Drake L. Rev. 433, 1985–1986
OVERVIEW
Public service is at the core of Bob Andeweg’s law practice. “I advocate for good results that are also good public policy,” he says. “People have a right to petition their government for change. At the heart of it, lobbying is advocating for clients’ interests and doing the best job you can.”
As legislative counsel, Bob represents clients before the Iowa legislature, governor, and regulatory agencies. He performs lobbyist functions at the state capitol. He monitors, proposes, advocates, drafts, and sometimes opposes legislation.
In his commercial real estate practice, Bob handles a mix of transactional work, development, and leasing.
During law school, legislative tracking at a law firm piqued Bob's interest in public policy. Today, public policy and public service remain embedded in Bob’s approach. “If I can help make good public policy for the state of Iowa through my role in representing my clients, that’s what I want to do,” he says.
His work as mayor of Urbandale, Iowa, since 2005 has introduced Bob to many of the players in all sectors of state government. Building trust and a reputation for integrity are key. “Relationships are the heart of public policy,” Bob says. “Working with legislators, you’re showing there’s a true need for the legislative change and real reasons why.”
In both government affairs work and real estate transactions, Bob prides himself on finding the creative solution. “There’s not a cookie-cutter approach to everything,” he says. “Depending on the circumstances, any number of issues could come up that you have to really think through to accomplish the best result for the client.”
In real estate transactions, every deal is an opportunity to be responsive to the client’s needs, creative in accomplishing their goals, and proficient in their work. No matter his client, Bob’s goal is the same: To get a deal done correctly and quickly.
Bob’s main goal is to find all his clients—whether it’s public policy efforts or a real estate deal—the most expeditious and beneficial solutions.
He feels the same way about his mayoral responsibilities in Urbandale. While handling basic services such as fire and police protection or water and sewer services might seem mundane, getting them to operate effectively—without disruption—is important.
“As mayor, I do what’s in the best interest of our city and our citizens,” Bob says. “That’s what I bring to legislative work—doing what’s in the best interest of our clients and what’s in the best interest of the state of Iowa too.”
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
American Bar Association
- State and Local Government Section
- Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
Iowa State Bar Association
- Real Estate and Title Law Section
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
- Government Practice Section
Polk County Bar Association
Candidate – CCIM Designation
Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association
ABI Leadership Iowa
2010–2011
Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association
Board of Directors, 2006–2008
Mayor, City of Urbandale
2005–present
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors’ Bureau
Board Member, 2005-Present
Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
2005–Present
City of Urbandale
- City Council Member, 2000–2005
- Planning and Zoning Commission, 1995–2000
REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS
State and local government economic development incentives and property acquisition for $1.4 billion industrial project (2012).
RECOGNITION
The Best Lawyers in America®
2006–2024
Chambers USA
America's Leading Business Lawyers, Real Estate, 2004–2024
Great Plains Super Lawyers
Real Estate, 2009–2024
CITYVIEW's Business Journal
Honoree
"21 from 2021: Business People Who Made a Difference"
Drake Law Review
Editor-in-Chief, 1986–1987
SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS
“Basic of 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges,” BrownWinick Client Seminar—Legal Strategies to Protect and Grow Your Business, 2006 (speaker)
Annual speaker and panelist at Iowa Real Estate Association Commercial Real Estate Expo
Frequent presenter for CCIM Continuing Education
“Iowa's IOLTA Program: A New Way to Finance Public Service Activities in Iowa,” 35 Drake L. Rev. 365, 1985–1986
“A Social Host Who Furnishes Intoxicants to an Intoxicated Guest May Be Civilly Liable Under Common-Law Principles for Damages Sustained by a Third Person as a Result of the Intoxicated Guest’s Tortious Conduct–Clark v. Mincks (Iowa 1985),” 35 Drake L. Rev. 433, 1985–1986