The Member News column announces new hires at Iowa law firms.
Caroline E. Burks has joined Fredrikson’s intellectual property litigation practice in the Iowa office. Burks focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation, representing patent holders and businesses in federal courts nationwide and before the International Trade Commission. She represents clients ranging from solo inventors to multinational corporations on matters involving software, hardware, standard essential patents and biomedical devices. Burks brings experience in case strategy, motion drafting, legal research and discovery analysis, as well as oral advocacy ranging from fact and expert depositions to oral arguments before federal courts. She also handles patent litigation and privacy law matters involving emerging technologies.
Tiara Musel is now serving with Mark Gray Law, PLC, as an associate attorney after working with the firm for over five years as a paralegal. She will be representing clients in estate planning, estate and trust administration, real estate transactions, and corporate law matters. Tiara was awarded the Dean's Leadership Award from Vermont Law & Graduate School and graduated magna cum laude. In addition to her prior experience as a paralegal, Tiara has served 18 years with the Army National Guard, is currently the Iowa Army National Guard's State Senior Food Service Advisor and is Vice President of the Hawkeye Silver Chapter of the Warrant Officer Association.
Elena Pinnow has joined Dickinson Bradshaw as an associate attorney. Elena’s diverse practice will focus on assisting clients in the areas of employment and labor law, family law, and bankruptcy law. She earned a B.A. in political science from Luther College in 2021 and a J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2025. While completing her legal education, Elena served as a summer associate at Dickinson Bradshaw in 2024, a note editor at the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law from 2024-2025, and as an editorial staff member from 2023-2024. She also gained experience as an intern at the Battered Women’s Justice Project and as a student attorney in the Entrepreneurial and Transactional Clinic at Drake Law.
Please submit new hire announcements for the Member News column via email at communications@iowabar.org in Word document format with a headshot.
