John D. Twillmann

John D. Twillmann Associate

Background

John completed his undergraduate degree in 2012 at the University of Iowa, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Iowa College of Law, where in 2014, he received his law degree. While in law school, he was active with the Federalist Society, worked as a legal intern for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa and the Iowa Appellate Defender’s Office, and experienced two epic adventures—a 2,655-mile solo thru-hike from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail and a long-distance solo kayak trip on the Missouri River. Following graduation, John was a judicial clerk in Cedar Rapids while preparing to take bar exams in both Missouri and Iowa. After his admission to the Bar in both states, his early career was spent working at a small general practice firm in rural Keokuk County before moving to the Des Moines area to serve as Corporate Counsel for Rueter’s—a company with equipment dealerships throughout Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Following John’s time with Rueter’s, he served as the Assistant Guthrie County Attorney for almost four years, where his advocacy and courtroom skills were honed following more than one hundred jury trials, bench trials, and suppression hearings against skilled and seasoned attorneys from across Iowa. In the summer of 2022, John joined Bump & Bump, alongside partners Jeffrey Bump and William Bump.

Experience

John has developed a wide variety of experience and knowledge over his legal career. He has successfully represented the United States and the State of Iowa as a prosecutor. He has represented criminal defendants and civil litigants at the district court and appellate level, where his clients consistently obtain dismissals, acquittals, or defense verdicts. He has represented large corporations and small businesses in the areas of real estate, taxation, regulatory compliance, acquisitions, and succession planning. John zealously represents businesses, cities, individuals, estates, and trusts. Although he specializes in trial work, he primarily works with these same clients outside of the courtroom in matters relating to real estate, tax counseling and preparation, estate planning and administration,landlord and tenant law, agricultural law, and business formation. In addition to his civil work, John is a criminal defense attorney representing clients throughout central Iowa.

Civic Involvement

John currently serves as an officer and director of the Panora and Lake Panorama Development Group, assists the firm in its service as city attorney to Panora and Yale, serves as trustee for several local scholarship trusts, and is a member of both the Guthrie County and Iowa Bar Associations. John is also a proud Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a member of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

Interests

John is a passionate hunter, outdoorsman, and conservationist. He enjoys deer, turkey, and pheasant hunting in Iowa and pursuing big game across the American West and Alaska. When he is not hunting, he enjoys managing and improving the farm he and his family own near Panora.

Personal

John was born in 1990 in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2021, he married Emily nee Kimpston, and together they have a young son, Mark. John and his family are members of Lutheran Church of Hope and live in rural Panora.

Representative Cases