Our Team
Barry Kaplan
Barry has practiced law since 1975 and has been a managing partner at Kaplan & Frese, LLP since 1976. Mr. Kaplan received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1972 in his home state of New York and his Juris Doctor from the Drake University College of Law in Iowa in 1975. Since moving here to attend Drake University, Barry has made Iowa his home. In 2011, he completed coursework to become a certified Iowa Mediator.
Currently, Mr. Kaplan is admitted to practice law in the Iowa Courts, Northern District of Iowa Federal Court, Southern District of Iowa Federal Court, and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. His areas of practice include family law, contract disputes, tort litigation, will preparation, real estate law, and criminal law.
Mr. Kaplan has won decisions in front of the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Iowa Supreme Court. As a general law attorney who has served the people of central Iowa for more than four decades, Barry Kaplan is available to provide you with unparalleled legal expertise.
Chad Frese
Chad Frese earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids in 1992. In 1996 he earned his Juris Doctor from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. Frese has earned admissions to all Iowa Courts to include: the Supreme Court of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa Federal Court, Southern District of Iowa Federal Courts, U.S. Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. He also represents the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa’s tribal court.
Prior to becoming a partner at Kaplan & Frese, LLP, in 2000, Mr. Frese practiced general law at Moon Law Office. His first position upon graduating from law school was as a Narcotics and Career Criminal Prosecutor for the Marshall and Hardin County Attorney’s Office. Chad’s 27 years of experience in the legal profession, combined with his membership in professional organizations such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, enable Mr. Frese to provide unparalleled legal representation to his clients.
Scott Hunter, originally from Colorado, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at the State University in 1989. Scott Hunter currently lives in Des Moines, IA, where he studied at the Drake University, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1993 and has been practicing in Iowa since his admission to the Bar. First, Scott worked as a General Practice Attorney, honing his skills in a broad range of legal matters. Next, at the Iowa Board of Parole, Scott served as an Administrative Law Judge. Then, he worked at the Public Defender’s office for over 15 years. With this, Scott has over 25 years of experience as a trial attorney.
Scott specializes in Criminal Defense, with extensive experience in civil and family cases. He will be happy to meet with you as soon as possible, call today!
Scott Hunter
Joel Waters is from Des Moines, IA, where he spent his formative years involved in athletics. He then studied at the University of Iowa, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in History in 2016.
Joel earned his law degree from Drake University in 2019 and spent his time in school studying a wide array of legal subjects. During law school, he was a research assistant for a Professor Emeritus of Law at Drake involved with the NAACP’s Legal Redress Committee. The volunteer work he did earned him a Public Service Certificate with his law degree. Joel was also an editorial staff member of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law. Additionally, he interned at Cartwright, Druker, and Ryden Law Offices in Marshalltown before joining Kaplan & Frese, LLP in 2020.
Joel is an efficient attorney with experience in criminal, family, personal injury, and civil law. Contact us today to set up an appointment to speak with him.