Bridget Bailey

Integrity. Innovation. Dedication.

Bridget offers an approachable demeanor and practical solutions for your legal needs, whether in the courtroom or the boardroom. Bridget possesses a well-rounded career in the legal industry: from “big law” experience in Minnesota to small firm experience in Iowa, to time spent as a Vice President of a large regional bank working with commercial and agricultural loan officers and document operations to becoming a trust officer, Bridget has the hands-on experience to address a wide variety of issues-particularly “dirt, death and debt.” Bridget speaks fluent “bank” and fluent “farm” and her clients appreciate the leadership roles she possesses in local and State organizations, including the Iowa State Bar Association’s Agricultural Law Council.

Bridget and her husband Andy have one son and reside in Spencer, Iowa, minutes from her family’s crop farm homestead in rural Northwest Iowa. In her spare time, Bridget enjoys attending her son’s hockey and baseball games, and volunteering on local community boards.

Representative Experience

Successfully negotiated a favorable Antenuptial Agreement for an owner of a multi-billion-dollar livestock corporation.
Successfully negotiated a $9 Million dissolution of marriage property settlement in favor of client owner of multi-million-dollar metal fabricating business.
Obtained custody and primary physical care in favor of father in a highly contentious interstate custody battle.
Orchestrated formation of an Iowa Bank, conversion of a Minnesota Bank.
Orchestrated a IRC Schedule D restructure of a multi-million farm corporation.
Composed employment handbooks, including Iowa-specific drug policies and DOT manuals, for several multi-million dollar companies in the agricultural, commercial and manufacturing industries.
Orchestrated acquisition of large chiropractic practice.
Advisor for multiple soccer league organizations.
Obtained numerous timely, successful orders and verdict for banking and finance clients in a case involving 15 parties.
Advised clients in complex commercial litigation and transactional matters including employment, real estate, contracts, agricultural law, banking and finance, estate planning and administration, business succession planning, and telecommunications.
Obtained a special exception permit over heavy objection for a multi-million dollar telecommunications company at a complex city administrative hearing.
Served as corporate counsel for numerous closely held corporations, LLCs, limited and general partnerships, and other organizations.
Participated in cases before State, Federal and Appellate Courts.
Co-chaired a family law practice group and associate mentoring program.
$1.0 million verdict for corporation that lost profits from a breach of a non-solicitation provision in a joint venture contract.
$2.0 million arbitration award for client involving breach of an inter-creditor participation agreement.
Court award for a client of $2.6 Million in damages in a breach of fiduciary duty in closely held business and breach of Trust Agreement.
Managed 12-party litigation surrounding thousands of acres of estate farm ground, a defective QTIP trust and sale of John Deere Dealership.
Managed multi-million-dollar conservatorship lawsuit surrounding management of crop ground and residual beneficiary assets.
Provided support for farm management team including farm lease drafting and review; farm bill review and analysis of cash rent prices.
Developed and orchestrated the implementation of an internal electronic filing system for client files, a unique automated client bill-pay system and electronic workflow for automated internal administration and regulatory forms.
Managed estate, trust and conservatorship administration.
Drafted a comprehensive regulatory procedural handbook for the trust department and worked with State regulators to ensure implementation.
Served as documentation and servicing manager for the commercial and agricultural lending department, governing approximately 30 lenders and 7 loan administration staff.
Provided legal and regulatory training as well as drafting of comprehensive regulatory procedures and operational procedures and standards; Drafted complex legal documentation.
Orchestrated the implementation and integration of a new loan documentation system for the consumer and commercial/agricultural departments in the three Charters of a $1+B large regional bank.

Representative Cases

Tri-State Grease & Tallow Co., Inc. v. BJB, LLC, 2011 WL 251894 (Minn. App. 2011)
Friends of Lake Minnie Belle v. Meeker County Bd. of Commissioners, 2007 WL 4564145 (Minn. App. 2007)
In re the Marriage of Gail Ann Larson v. Donald Jay Larson, 2010 WL 2731808 (Minn. App. 2010)

Professional Memberships and Groups

Licensed Attorney in the States of Minnesota and Iowa, and in the U.S. District Courts of Minnesota and Iowa
State Bar Associations: Minnesota and Iowa
Ninth District Bar Association, Minnesota (Past-Secretary)
Iowa Bankers Association Leadership Institute Graduate
Iowa Bankers Association Commercial Lending School Intro Graduate
President, Iowa State Bar Association Agricultural Law Section

Trade Organizations & Community Activities

Iowa State Bar Association Agricultural Committee, Appointed Board Member
Spencer Hospital Board of Trustees, Appointed Member of the Quality and Planning Advisory Board
Spencer Women of Vision, Past Board Member
Clay County Community Foundation, Past President
Spencer Rotary Club, Member
Church Board, Past Vice President
Minnesota Mock Trial, Past Attorney Coach
Spencer Community Schools Foundation, Board Member

Speaking Engagements

Instructor-Parents Forever-Family Court-Brown County, MN
Lecturer-In-house speaker to area financial institutions regarding lending, regulations, risk, and bad debt
Lecturer-Farm Management Issues and Family Dynamics During Succession, Annie’s Project/Iowa State University’s Women in Ag
Lecturer-Farm Business Succession Planning, Northwest Iowa Farm Business Association
Lecturer-Trusts 101 presentation for National Business Institution
Lecturer-Estate Planning, St. Luke’s Nursing Home Association
Lecturer-Agricultural lending, Minnesota

Awards and Accolades

Super Lawyers, Rising Star: 2015, 2016

Education

Drake University Law School – Juris Doctorate
- Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, Executive Editor
- Agricultural Law Certificate
- Intellectual Property Law Scholarship
Iowa State University-Bachelor of Science, with Distinction
- Degree in Science Journalism and Mass Communication, minor-biology

Bridget was efficient with her time, thorough with her preparedness and produced the exact outcome I desired. I’d highly recommend working with Bailey Law Firm to any friends or family that needed legal representation.

Bailey Law Firm produced the exact results I desired. Bridget was very easy and friendly to work directly with, timely with responses, and diligent in researching and preparing for litigation. I will continue to use Bailey Law and would recommend friends and family to do so as well.

Toni

Bridget is extremely professional, thorough, and timely. When I was searching for an attorney I wanted someone that would grow with my business, someone that could help me navigate the legal world so that I could sleep at night. Knowing complex documents are taken care of and off my plate is a relief. Bridget has met or exceeded my expectations every time!

Garrett W.

Bridget is so knowledgeable and conscientious; she is thorough, determined, and extremely professional in her work. She helped me through some challenging times when I started a new business and when I needed it the most.

Corbin S.

Bridget is very intelligent, but can explain things in a way that we understand them. She is able to navigate through tough discussions with confidence.

Bob