Philip J. De Koster
LaMarca & Landry, P.C.
1820 N.W. 118th Street, Suite 200
Des Moines, Iowa 50325
Telephone: 515-225-2600 or 1-877-327-2600
E-Mail: philip@lamarcalandry.com
Philip J. De Koster’s practice includes estate planning and probate, business litigation, and healthcare law. Mr. De Koster joined the Firm in September 2010. He gained two years of valuable mentoring and practical experience as part of LaMarca & Landry, P.C.’s law student clerkship program. Mr. De Koster has worked on a number of the Firm’s complex business litigation and fraud cases.
Mr. De Koster was selected to be an Adjunct Professor at Drake Law School in the award-winning Legal Research and Writing program, which has been recognized as one of the top twenty-five nationally. He has been an invited guest on the Iowa Public Radio program, “Talk of Iowa.”
Mr. De Koster obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Drake University where he graduated summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, and was a Dwight D. Opperman Scholar. He received the “Top A” in several law school courses, including Estate Planning, Contracts, and HIPAA Privacy Law and received a Public Service Certificate for his volunteer work while in law school. He also was awarded the Jeffery and Elizabeth Goodman Distinguished Advocate Award for excellence and proficiency in client representation and advocacy, and the Iowa State Bar Association Graduating Senior Award. In addition to his academic achievements, Mr. De Koster served as the President and Secretary of Drake’s Moot Court Board, and competed on the ABA and National Moot Court teams. During his third year, he was awarded the Rodney L. Hudson Senior Advocacy Award in recognition of his service to the Moot Court Programs.
Before attending Drake Law School, Mr. De Koster graduated with distinction and honors from Iowa State University with a major in Sociology and minors in Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Music. At Iowa State, he served on many levels of residence hall student government, and was a teaching assistant for Introduction to Sociology, Law and Politics, and The American Judicial Process.
In his free time, Mr. De Koster is a licensed private pilot. He enjoys both indoor and outdoor gardening. He is an active member of Meredith Drive Reformed Church, where he sings in the choir and is a Leaders on the Horizon youth group leader. Mr. De Koster volunteers as a judge for Drake’s moot court programs, and serves on the Drake Law School Board of Counselors. He has also proudly endowed an award in honor of Dr. K.M. Waggoner to recognize Drake law students who work to be a mentor to their peers.
Education:
- Drake University Law School, Des Moines, IA (J.D., 2010)
- Summa cum laude
- Dwight D. Opperman Scholar
- Public Service Certificate
- Order of the Coif
- Iowa State University, Ames, IA (B.S. Sociology, 2007)
- With Distinction and Honors
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Phi Kappa Phi
Bar Admissions:
- Iowa State and Federal Courts
Awards and Honors:
- Jeffery and Elizabeth Goodman Distinguished Advocate Award
- Iowa State Bar Association Graduating Senior Award
- Rodney L. Hudson Senior Advocacy Award
- Order of the Barristers
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Iowa State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
