About Amanda James

Ms. James is a shareholder and attorney of the Sullivan & Ward Professional Corporation. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Grinnell College in 2003 and graduated from Drake University Law School in 2008 with a Certificate in Litigation and Conflict Resolution and a Certificate in Constitutional Law.

To Sign or Not to Sign

In both business and legal situations, being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement or nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is becoming increasingly common.  Certain information about the company’s business, its finances and its operations needs to be legally protected to ensure the company keeps its competitive advantage.  NDAs are used to protect such sensitive information. What’s an [...]

By |2019-10-21T18:48:06+00:00May 2nd, 2017|Business Law, Employment Law|

Radon – An Invisible Issue

RADON MITIGATION isn’t usually top of mind when builders plan to build a house or when home sellers put out their “For Sale” sign.  It’s not visible or noticeable to the average person, but it’s real and it’s ubiquitous. Iowa is prone to high levels of radon, an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that naturally occurs [...]

Important Terms in Construction Agreements

Construction professionals who understand basic contract terms are less at risk of agreeing to poorly written contracts. By better understanding their own contracts, Contractors can spot where negotiation is possible, make changes to clarify, or add protection. This article highlights potential negotiating points and briefly explains important contract provisions. Scope of Work/ Plans and Specs [...]

By |2019-10-21T18:48:09+00:00January 31st, 2017|Business Law, Real Estate|

New Year, New Threats – Cyberattack Concerns

With the most recent election season behind us and cyberattack investigations underway, cyberspace creates a new frontier for applying existing privacy laws. Small businesses are increasingly targeted for cyberattacks and cybersecurity for small businesses is different than in years past when a company only had to worry about protecting desktop computers and locally stored files. [...]

By |2019-10-21T18:48:09+00:00January 25th, 2017|Business Law, Employment Law, General Law|

Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul?

Several employers prepared communication plans and made final arrangements for compensation modifications in an effort to comply with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule, which was set to go into effect on December 1, 2016. On November 22, 2016, the DOL’s new rule was preliminarily blocked on a nationwide basis by the U.S. [...]

By |2016-12-14T18:41:30+00:00December 5th, 2016|Business Law, Employment Law|

Drug Testing in the Workplace

With marijuana legalization spreading, employers are starting to rethink about substance abuse polices and testing. According to a survey conducted by Mashable.com, 9.7% of Americans smoke marijuana before going to work. Surprised? In Iowa, if you’re in the private sector, drug and alcohol testing is optional and an employer can even make it a condition [...]

By |2019-10-21T18:48:09+00:00September 15th, 2016|Employment Law, General Law, Regulatory Compliance|

Gronewald Completes West Des Moines Leadership Institute

Sullivan & Ward, P.C. Shareholder, Samantha Gronewald, has recently graduated from the West Des Moines Leadership Institute (“WDMLI”). Now in its 8th year, WDMLI has seen over 300 community leaders go through the program. The West Des Moines Chamber’s leadership program is centered on creating leaders through community training and leadership development. Class members attend [...]

By |2019-10-21T18:48:09+00:00August 31st, 2016|Employment Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate|

Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty?

In today’s challenging environment, being a director on the board for a for-profit business, a nonprofit organization, or a homeowner’s association can be difficult, even for experienced leaders. During difficult financial times, directors and officers and their actions are likely to be under increased scrutiny. Because hindsight is always 20/20, it’s important to know what [...]

By |2019-10-21T18:48:09+00:00August 3rd, 2016|Business Law, General Law, Litigation, Trial & Mediation|
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