William
Laursen

“The role of a corporate lawyer is to ensure that the client’s interests are being met as the parties work to reach some common goal.”

Corporate law is particularly satisfying and engaging for William Laursen. “If I’m taking a look at a contract and its provisions, it’s really satisfying to catch something, to recognize this would benefit our client or taking this out would make a difference for what our client is looking for,” Will says.

 

His corporate law practice covers a wide range of matters, including contract drafting and review, real estate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.

 

Will knows each client has specific needs and goals for their contracts and transactions. “In contract law, you’re trying to come to a deal,” he says. “That’s the whole point of a contract—to find common ground between the parties. Sometimes the client is going to need the contract to be very rigid. Other times it’s going to have to give a little bit of sway. The negotiation aspect between different parties is always going to play a role too.”

 

Will is diligent and hardworking. He finds the relevant details that matter to his clients. “I want to meet expectations and then exceed those expectations,” he says.

 

That always starts with the client. “Every client is unique,” Will says. “Every client has a different situation. Each contract for the client is going to need to be unique as well.”

 

For Will, law school was always on the horizon. “Law school seemed like the natural progression of everything that I was doing in my life,” Will says.

 

After an undergraduate class in constitutional law, the idea moved from an undefined possibility to an active pursuit. “The class was styled the same way that a law school class was designed,” Will says. “It was not necessarily the constitutional law aspect that piqued my interest, but performing well in that legal-style class definitely helped.”

 

Will has honed his legal skills in clerkships and internships. At an insurance company, he applied his skills at contract review. “If there was a claim filed, I would review the insurance policy, which is just a contract, to see whether coverage would apply underneath that contract,” he says. “Now, I look at a contract, interpret its meaning, and advise clients what potentially an adverse party might or might not be able to do.”

 

Expanding his legal knowledge to litigated disputes, Will worked as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Iowa Supreme Court. “Whenever the Justices have a legal question, it’s our role as clerks to answer that legal question for them,” Will says. “A lot of my research was researching the Iowa Code. That’s completely applicable to everything that I’m doing with contracts and transactions as well.”

 

Settled in Iowa with his young family (Will’s wife is an Iowa native), Will values both the family support and career opportunities. “Besides, the family ties here, it is a good place to work,” he says. “Des Moines is a good hub of economics, and there’s lots of great growth here.”

Iowa State Bar Association

 

American Bar Association

 

Boy Scouts of America

Eagle Scout Award

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Order of the Coif

 

Dean’s List (all eligible semesters)

 

Drake Law Review

Online Editor

 

Moot Court Board

Board Member

 

Negotiations Team

 

Entrepreneurship and Transactional Clinic

 

Business Law Certificate

 

Academic Achievement Award 

Top “A” in Criminal Procedure Investigations

OVERVIEW

Corporate law is particularly satisfying and engaging for William Laursen. “If I’m taking a look at a contract and its provisions, it’s really satisfying to catch something, to recognize this would benefit our client or taking this out would make a difference for what our client is looking for,” Will says.

 

His corporate law practice covers a wide range of matters, including contract drafting and review, real estate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.

 

Will knows each client has specific needs and goals for their contracts and transactions. “In contract law, you’re trying to come to a deal,” he says. “That’s the whole point of a contract—to find common ground between the parties. Sometimes the client is going to need the contract to be very rigid. Other times it’s going to have to give a little bit of sway. The negotiation aspect between different parties is always going to play a role too.”

 

Will is diligent and hardworking. He finds the relevant details that matter to his clients. “I want to meet expectations and then exceed those expectations,” he says.

 

That always starts with the client. “Every client is unique,” Will says. “Every client has a different situation. Each contract for the client is going to need to be unique as well.”

 

For Will, law school was always on the horizon. “Law school seemed like the natural progression of everything that I was doing in my life,” Will says.

 

After an undergraduate class in constitutional law, the idea moved from an undefined possibility to an active pursuit. “The class was styled the same way that a law school class was designed,” Will says. “It was not necessarily the constitutional law aspect that piqued my interest, but performing well in that legal-style class definitely helped.”

 

Will has honed his legal skills in clerkships and internships. At an insurance company, he applied his skills at contract review. “If there was a claim filed, I would review the insurance policy, which is just a contract, to see whether coverage would apply underneath that contract,” he says. “Now, I look at a contract, interpret its meaning, and advise clients what potentially an adverse party might or might not be able to do.”

 

Expanding his legal knowledge to litigated disputes, Will worked as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Iowa Supreme Court. “Whenever the Justices have a legal question, it’s our role as clerks to answer that legal question for them,” Will says. “A lot of my research was researching the Iowa Code. That’s completely applicable to everything that I’m doing with contracts and transactions as well.”

 

Settled in Iowa with his young family (Will’s wife is an Iowa native), Will values both the family support and career opportunities. “Besides, the family ties here, it is a good place to work,” he says. “Des Moines is a good hub of economics, and there’s lots of great growth here.”

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

Iowa State Bar Association

 

American Bar Association

 

Boy Scouts of America

Eagle Scout Award

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Order of the Coif

 

Dean’s List (all eligible semesters)

 

Drake Law Review

Online Editor

 

Moot Court Board

Board Member

 

Negotiations Team

 

Entrepreneurship and Transactional Clinic

 

Business Law Certificate

 

Academic Achievement Award 

Top “A” in Criminal Procedure Investigations