Martin J. McLaughlin Attorney
Contact Information
Practice Area
Bar Admissions
- Iowa, 1986
Education
- J.D., Drake University, 1986
- B.A., University of Iowa, Special Education and Elementary Education, 1982
Attorney Martin McLaughlin recently joined Simmons Perrine PLC following a distinguished 38-year career as an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Iowa. Martin's extensive background in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and federal litigation enhances the firm’s highly regarded banking, finance, and bankruptcy practice.
Representative Experience
Assistant United States Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Iowa (Sioux City & Cedar Rapids) 1987–2025
- Handled thousands of bankruptcy and foreclosure cases for federal agencies, including the IRS, USDA, SBA, and DOE, in federal and state courts.
- Represented the government in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 bankruptcy cases, contested matters, adversary proceedings, and appeals in the Eighth Circuit.
- Appeared in state courts across every county in the Northern District of Iowa and before the Supreme Court of Iowa.
- Developed expertise in real estate law, secured transactions, and tax law, especially the application of federal law to complex litigation.
- Preserved and collected over $300 million for the United States through litigation.
Asset Forfeiture Coordinator & Criminal Division Attorney
- Litigated asset forfeiture cases involving the DEA, IRS, and FBI, including vehicles, airplanes, cash, and real property.
- Prosecuted criminal cases to recover assets for victims and law enforcement, collecting over $100 million in forfeited assets and judgments.
- Developed expertise in money laundering and structuring violations.
- Collected restitution for banks, the United States, and other victims, handling over 1,500 cases and recovering millions in restitution.
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Commercial and Bankruptcy Section
- Agricultural Law Section
Honors & Awards
- John Marshall Award for Outstanding Achievement in Asset Forfeiture, U.S. Department of Justice (1992)
- Multiple awards from the DEA, FBI, and other federal agencies for achievement in forfeiture
Presentations
- Frequent guest lecturer for DOJ’s National Advocacy Center on bankruptcy, asset forfeiture, and restitution
- Speaker at training events in Iowa and for other DOJ offices nationwide
- Selected to evaluate and mentor attorneys in DOJ offices across the United States