Debra Rectenbaugh Pettit

Debra Rectenbaugh Pettit

Founding Attorney

Debra is a seasoned Iowa attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing individuals, families, farmers, insurance companies, and closely held businesses across the state. Her practice brings together deep courtroom experience with practical business counsel, allowing her to guide clients through both everyday decisions and complex legal challenges with clarity and confidence.

Raised in rural Iowa and actively involved in her family's Century Farm, Debra understands firsthand the values, pressures, and opportunities that shape small communities. Her work reflects that perspective—dedicated to protecting what matters, planning for the future, and finding solutions that are both legally sound and grounded in real life.

Debra has served as Chief Legal Officer for a family-owned Iowa manufacturing company, where she managed many roles, including overseeing commercial contracting from inception through execution, and directing all phases of trial and alternative dispute resolution proceedings in Iowa litigation. She also spent nearly two decades as a trial attorney at a leading Des Moines law firm, representing clients in a wide range of civil matters and earning recognition for professional excellence.

In addition to her private practice, Debra has worked closely with Iowa’s agricultural and rural business communities through her work at Drake University Law School, its Legal Clinic and Agricultural Law Center, supporting beginning farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and family businesses navigating ownership transitions and long-term sustainability.

At the firm, Debra focuses on helping clients make informed decisions, resolve disputes efficiently, and build strong foundations for the next generation. She is committed to providing thoughtful, accessible legal services rooted in trust, relationships, and a genuine investment in the community she serves.