Olivia Smith

Legal Assistant

Olivia Smith

Bar Admission

  • State of Iowa, 2020
  • US District Court
    • Northern District of Iowa
    • Southern District of Iowa
  • Court of Appeals
    • Eighth Circuit

Education

  • University of Iowa College of Law, JD, with high distinction, 2020
    • Dean’s Award in Secured Transactions
    • Faculty Award in Administrative Law
    • Merit-based Full Tuition Scholarship
  • Georgia State University, MA, 2017
    • Philosophy
  • Iowa State University, BA, magna cum laude, 2015
    • Philosophy

Joseph Porter is a litigation attorney at Simmons Perrine PLC, where he represents clients in business and commercial litigation, banking and finance disputes, bankruptcy matters, and real estate law. Known for his analytical precision, Joe is quickly building a reputation as a rising advocate in complex civil litigation.

He is a graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Annual Trial Academy—one of the nation’s premier training programs for trial lawyers—where he honed his advocacy skills alongside top litigators from across the country.

Joe graduated with high distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2020, where he was a member of the Baskerville Moot Court Team and the Legal Clinic. He earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy, magna cum laude, from Iowa State University and later completed a master’s degree in philosophy at Georgia State University, where he also served as a graduate student teacher.

Originally from Sioux City, Iowa, Joe now lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife and two daughters.

  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Commercial and Bankruptcy Section
    • Construction Law Section
    • Litigation Section
  • Linn County Bar Association

Presentations

  • Survey of Recent Iowa Supreme Court Ethics Opinions for the Association of Corporate Counsel Forum, 6/07/2024
  • Regulatory Changes and Case Law Updates for Financial Institutions, 8/04/2022
  • Donor Intent and Iowa’s Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act Webinar, Iowa Hospital Association, 8/18/2021

Publication

  • International Association of Defense Counsel’s Annual Trial Academy Graduate, 2025
  • Included in Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch, 2025–2026
    • Banking and Finance Law, 2026
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2026
    • Commercial Litigation, 2025, 2026