About Shannon D.
Shannon D. Simms built her legal foundations at Iowa State University and Drake University Law School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from Iowa State in 2001 and later received her Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 2007. Those years framed an early interest in dispute resolution and family dynamics that would shape her career path.
After law school, Simms began practicing in Iowa. Over time she moved toward processes that aim to keep parties out of court. She trained and earned certification as a mediator from the Iowa Association of Mediators. She also completed the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals’ program and holds certification as a collaborative law lawyer. Those credentials have informed how she approaches client matters and how she designs cases to resolve without litigation when possible.
Her work blends mediation and collaborative practice. She sits in rooms where clients prefer negotiated solutions. She also handles matters that proceed into traditional litigation when necessary. Colleagues describe her as steady in hearings and patient in negotiation. That steadiness has been important in family law matters, where emotions and finances intersect.
Simms participates in professional associations and maintains memberships that keep her connected to peers in mediation and collaborative law. She has served on committees and taken continuing education courses geared toward dispute resolution. Her training emphasizes problem solving and practical outcomes rather than aggressive courtroom posturing.
In daily practice she balances intake work, client counseling, and dispute resolution sessions. She prepares settlement plans, drafts agreements, and leads mediated sessions. When cases require formal filings, she handles those as well. Her approach often involves preparing clients for the emotional and procedural steps ahead, so they can make informed decisions.
Peers and clients note that her communication style is direct and clear. She explains options in plain language and outlines likely timelines and costs. That approach helps clients weigh informal settlements against the costs and uncertainties of litigation.
Simms remains based in Iowa, offering services across her jurisdiction. She splits time between a main office and a branch office, conducting in-person and remote sessions as needed. She currently concentrates her practice on collaborative law and mediation in Iowa.
