After graduation from Notre Dame Law School, Aaron passed the bar exam in Arizona and Iowa, and then worked for several prominent Iowa immigration law firms, and was General Council at Alewelt Inc. Throughout his career, Aaron’s practice has focused on employment and immigration law, and Aaron’s practice has evolved to focus on business immigration with an emphasis on H-2A (Agricultural), H-2B (Non-agricultural) Temporary Labor, and TN (NAFTA Professionals) visas, while still significantly practicing in the areas of consular processing for all types of visas, administrative appeals, employment immigration compliance, and wage and hour laws. Aaron has spoken at numerous events and seminars on immigration law and corporate immigration compliance. Growing up, Aaron enjoyed all sports including basketball, snowboarding, soccer and tennis. Aaron put his athletic aspirations on hold to serve a two-year LDS mission in Croatia from 1995-1997. It was on this mission where Aaron was able to learn to speak Serbo-Croatian fluently and experience both the pains of the Yugoslavian Civil War and the excitement of peace as the civil war ended. Born to British parents, having a best friend who was German, and serving a mission in the Balkans, all factored into Aaron’s choice to study International Relations. Thus, after a brief period fulfilling a lifelong dream to play NCAA tennis, Aaron transferred to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, UT where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy in 2000. Aaron is still an avid tennis player. Aaron is happily married, has 7 children and 2 stepchildren, and enjoys spending time with his family.

Stuart Matthews is a Senior Associate Attorney with The Bernard Firm. Stuart graduated law school from the University of Maryland School of Law, and has a Master of Arts in International Affairs from American University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University. Stuart brings to The Bernard Firm extensive experience with business and corporate immigration matters. He has extensive experience and knowledge in many subfields of immigration law and has worked with a variety of organizations and individuals to help them navigate the complex and ever-changing immigration landscape to achieve their lawful objectives in the United States. Stuart enjoys spending time with his family and traveling internationally.

Stephen received his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he served as Co-President of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Law Students Association. Stephen also graduated from Queen’s University in Canada with a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. While in Wisconsin, Stephen gained clinical experience supporting the Wisconsin Innocence Project as a law student and as a legal extern at the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, and continues to be active in the Asian American community and volunteers with Taiwan Innocence Project, offering his expertise to help communicate advanced legal concepts to people in the local community. Stephen is dedicated to serving clients with the highest level of professionalism and care. He comes from a background in providing full-service employment-based immigration solutions in the U.S., as well as Canadian immigration services and global visa processing. With knowledge across three practice areas (U.S., Canadian, and Global), Stephen is uniquely positioned to provide strategic, well-rounded immigration support to corporate clients with both U.S. and international operations. He offers a unique perspective, drawing on his lived experience as an immigrant from Taiwan, and leverages both his knowledge and personal understanding to guide clients through the complex immigration landscape. Outside of work, Stephen enjoys cinema, traveling around the world, wine tasting, cooking, and exploring food pairing combinations. Stephen is also passionate about tailoring and vintage clothing. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese, and thinks he is a better karaoke singer than he actually is.

After graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Afhan started his own practice in Houston, Texas. For over nine years, his practice focused on a wide range of immigration matters. In 2021, Afhan accepted a great opportunity to join The Bernard Firm PLC, and he moved to Ames, Iowa. Afhan’s practice is focused primarily on H-2B visas, I-9 audits, Department of Labor appeals, wage and hour audits and compliance, consular processing, and family-based immigration. Afhan’s family immigrated to the US when he was fifteen years old, and he is particularly interested in tackling the daily conflicts that perpetuate and sustain the field of Immigration Law. Afhan experienced how the immigration process can change lives for the better, and it has always been important to him to practice in a field of law that allows him to help others achieve the American dream – the same way his family did. For him, there is no other field of law that is as gratifying or fulfilling. Afhan is happily married, and he and his wife enjoy traveling and going on long drives.

My experience spans more than 30 years representing accident victims and injured workers. I represent injured clients across the entire state of Iowa. The primary focus of my practice is personal injury. I represent victims of car, truck, motorcycle and work place injuries, slip and fall victims, and others injured by the fault of another. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay unless we recover money for you. I also handle medical malpractice cases, workers' compensation, wrongful death, dog bites, as well as industrial accidents, products liability, and class actions. I speak fluent Spanish and can assist Spanish speaking clients with a variety of legal needs. Let me put my legal experience to work for you.

Jamie L. Cox is a partner at Willson & Pechacek, PLC, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. Cox’s general litigation practice focuses on personal injury law, employment law, estate and trust litigation, business law, and civil rights law. He represents clients in Iowa and Nebraska. A native of Wapello, Iowa, Mr. Cox graduated with honors and distinction from the University of Iowa, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in history and sociology in 1998. He later obtained his law degree from The University of Iowa College of Law in 2001. Licensed to practice in the state courts of Iowa and Nebraska, Mr. Cox is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, the U.S. Tax Court, the Iowa Supreme Court, the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined Willson & Pechacek, PLC, in 2001 and became a partner in 2006. Mr. Cox belongs to a number of professional organizations, including the he American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Nebraska State Bar Association, the Pottawattamie County Bar Association, and the Iowa Defense Counsel Association. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association section councils for Litigation and Employment Law, and also belongs to the dispute resolution, labor and employment law and state and local governing sections of the American Bar Association. In addition to his professional commitments, Mr. Cox enjoys participating in his local community. He serves as member of the Board of Directors of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, as a soccer coach for the Council Bluffs Soccer Club, and a Boy Scouts adult leader.

Thomas Viner is a practicing lawyer in the state of Iowa. He received his J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2004. He currently works for the privately owned firm of Viner Law Firm.

I am a Social Security disability attorney who helps people involved in Social Security disability cases as well as veteran’s disability cases. I am a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) and the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA). An Iowa native, I received a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College in 1996. I received my Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law graduating with distinction in 2000. I am admitted to the Iowa Bar, the Illinois Bar, the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa Federal Court, the Central District of Illinois Federal Court, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. I am a member of the Dubuque County Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association.

At Stowers & Nelsen, we are committed to providing experienced and dedicated representation to clients throughout the Des Moines metro area and the state of Iowa. We are keenly aware of your most urgent needs and priorities. We aim to preserve your freedom while offering honest legal counsel. We pledge to pave the way toward the most favorable outcome attainable in your case. Take charge of your destiny in the face of criminal allegations. If you or a loved one has been charged with, or is under investigation for, a crime, take an immediate step toward protecting your rights. We are here, ready to stand by your side after an arrest or accusations.

Attorney Michael F. Hupy is the senior partner at Hupy and Abraham overseeing 11 offices in 3 states. Through Attorney Hupy's leadership during the past three years, the firm has donated more than $500,000 to worthwhile organizations and causes. In December 2008, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle presented Attorney Hupy with a Certificate of Commendation for many years of leadership in making "the community a better place to live." The Governor previously publicly thanked Attorney Hupy for his help in reversing a unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that could have reduced damages for injured motorcyclists. In 2009, the State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs presented Attorney Hupy with a commendation for making a $5,000 donation to the Veteran's Assistance Program in recognition of Dave Zien's million-mile ride. Attorney Hupy was on the back of Zien's bike when he reached the million-mile mark on April 4, 2009. Attorney Hupy has been AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 20 years. This is the Gold Standard of Lawyer Ratings - highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards - and has been since 1987. This award is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Process that is managed by the world's most trusted legal resources - not made up ratings and scores based on posts, reviews, and responses to public forums.