Newman Grove, NE

Brian S. Koerwitz

Brian Koerwitz serves as the firm’s litigation specialist. In addition to representing fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and heirs in estate and trust litigation for the firm, Brian practices in the areas of commercial litigation and construction law. His experience in commercial litigation includes, among other things, landlord-tenant disputes, nonjudicial foreclosures, loan defaults, UCC claims and defenses, and collections. Brian also represents owners, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in all types of matters related to public and commercial construction projects, including contract disputes, construction defects, bond and lien claims, project delays, change orders, and professional negligence. Brian has authored numerous construction e-briefs and has been a contributing author to several construction law reference books, including the State-By-State Guide to Design and Construction Contracts and Claims, 2015 Supplement. In addition, Brian routinely provides training to clients and industry groups across Nebraska. If your organization could benefit from in-house training in the areas of construction contracts, project management, payment protection, or other related topics, contact Brian about setting up a customized seminar or workshop.

Jeffery T. Peetz

From the time Jeff founded his law firm in Lincoln, Nebraska he has made significant contributions to the life of the firm, both personally and professionally. As the former Chair of the ACTEC Heart of America Region and ACTEC State Chair for Nebraska he is committed to improving the estate and trust profession in Nebraska and throughout the Midwest. Jeff is dedicated in his service to clients and generous in sharing his insight and expertise with colleagues as a mentor, advisor, and friend. Jeff is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). ACTEC consists of approximately 2,200 of the nation’s top estate and trust estate attorneys. Membership requires nomination review at the state and national levels and election by the ACTEC Board of Regents. This acknowledgment is the highest achievement one can obtain in the estate and trust practice. His involvement in ACTEC is exemplary as is his passion for the development of estate planning and business succession planning for his clients. Jeff is a current member of the ACTEC’s Fiduciary Litigation Committee, Fiduciary Administration Committee, and Long Range Planning Committee. He also currently serves as one of three Chancellors for the Heart of America Institute III tasked with developing and educating younger attorneys in the Trust and Estate practice in the five state Heart of America Region. Jeff is a shareholder of the Firm, Chair of the Firm’s Estate, Trust and Business Planning practice group, and a member of the Fiduciary Trust and Estate Litigation practice group. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and law degree from Creighton University School of Law. Jeff has spent more than 40 years providing clients with solutions to issues regarding their business, family tax and estate planning, as well as developing and implementing plans to protect their business and family relationships. His experience and skill support his practice with informal and formal mediation for estate and trust disputes and for family and business succession planning solutions for the challenges presented to his clients.

Michael L. Lafleur

Michael Lafleur is a native of Madison, Nebraska, and practices in the areas of probate and trust administration, estate and trust planning, business formation and succession planning, and real estate. A primary part of Mike’s practice is assisting farmers, professionals, and business owners with putting in place succession plans for family farms and businesses. Mike also has experience with preparing Form 706s, U.S. Estate Tax Returns, and Form 709s, U.S. Gift Tax Returns. Mike is a graduate of the Heart of America Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). The purpose of the Institute is to foster excellence among future leaders of the trust and estates profession. Mike has previously spoken on estate planning for the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems. Mike co-presented at the Nebraska Bankers Association Agri-Business Conference on succession and estate planning for agricultural businesses. Mike and Jeff Peetz presented on engagement letters at the Nebraska Bar Association’s 2022 Advanced Estate Planning Institute. Mike has also presented at his church and to other groups regarding estate planning and charitable giving. Prior to joining the firm in May of 2020, Mike practiced in western Nebraska and still serves clients from western Nebraska. Mike also serves northeast Nebraskans by regularly meeting with clients at the firm’s Newman Grove office. In 2022, Mike was named a shareholder with the firm. In law school, Mike earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award® in three classes: Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning Problems, and Clinical Practice‐Entrepreneurship Clinic.

Alan M. Wood

Alan was born and raised in Lincoln. He graduated from Hastings College in 1969 and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1972. From 1972 to 1977 he served as Staff Counsel to the Nebraska State Court Administrator assisting in Nebraska’s revision to the County Court System and the implementation of the Nebraska Uniform Probate Code. Alan practiced law in Syracuse, Nebraska from 1977 to 1988 and thereafter moved his law practice to Lincoln joining the Bailey, Polsky, Cada, Cope & Wood law group. In 1994 Alan became a senior shareholder with the Lincoln and Omaha Law Firm of Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C.. The sole law practice of Alan Wood Law, LLC, LLO was established in 2020. In 2023 Alan joined Peeetz Kowerwitz & Lafleur, PC LLO as Of Counsel in the Firm’s Estate, Trust and Business Planning group. Alan is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), the highest achievement one can obtain in the estate and trust practice. In addition Alan’s practice areas include real estate and county fairs and rural water district law.

Jim R. Titus

Jim Titus has over 40 years of experience in corporate, business and transactional law, estate planning, elder law, real estate law, and arbitration. His practice includes formation of entities; negotiating and reviewing contracts, including employment, marketing, licensing and business acquisition or sales. He has practiced agricultural creditor litigation since 1983. He is a hearing officer for the State of Nebraska’s Departments of Banking and Finance; Administrative Services; Revenue; Education; Labor and the Nebraska Secretary of State. He serves as an arbitrator privately, and for the American Arbitration Association, American Health Lawyers Association, and the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services. He is also general counsel to the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy.

Eric W. Knutson

A proud native of Schuyler, Nebraska, Eric is a graduate of Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska College of Law. At Peetz Koerwitz & Lafleur, Eric’s practice will focus on administrative law, estate planning, probate and trust administration, LLC formation, construction litigation, commercial litigation, real estate, and guardianship and conservatorship. Prior to joining the firm, Eric worked as a prosecuting attorney for 11 years, while maintaining a general practice law firm. As a prosecutor, Eric served as a deputy county attorney for several counties for over a decade, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony crimes and handling duties of juvenile court. As a general practice attorney in Northeast Nebraska, Eric represented individuals, farm corporations, financial institutions, businesses, and political subdivisions. Eric looks forward to continuing to represent his Northeast Nebraska clients, while taking his practice and expertise to the next level. Knowing the value of community, Eric spent his time outside of the office serving on the boards of the local hospital, community foundation, civil service commission, and library foundation for many years. In addition, Eric volunteered with the local chapters of Teammates, Rotary, and Knights of Columbus. Outside of the office, Eric enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and reading history books, although his wife and three young children keep him quite busy.

Allyson G. Rafferty

Allyson’s practice focuses on estate planning and business and wealth succession. This includes preparing powers of attorney, wills, trust documents, and business entity formation for clients, with the goal of preserving family wealth and reducing tax consequences. She also assists individuals with estate and trust administration, advises corporate clients on business and tax matters, and supports the firm’s estate and trust litigation and commercial litigation practice. Prior to joining Peetz Koerwitz & Lafleur, Allyson served on active duty as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army for nine years. In this role, she prosecuted felonies in one of the Army’s busiest jurisdictions, deployed to the Middle East twice, and served as Chief Deputy Counsel to a special operations aviation unit, the first female to do so in the history of the unit. She continues to serve as a major in the Army Reserve. Before law school, Allyson worked in the U.S. Congress for two Nebraska Senators, the Honorable Chuck Hagel and the Honorable Mike Johanns. Allyson received her J.D. with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law (2013) and her B.S., cum laude, from Creighton University (2008). She is licensed to practice in Nebraska and North Carolina.