Robert S. Hatala Counsel
Contact Information
Practice Area
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Construction and Design Practice
- Municipal Law
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Probate, Estate and Trust Litigation
- Insurance Defense and Coverage
Bar Admissions
- State of Iowa
Court Admissions
- US District Court
- Northern & Southern Districts of Iowa
Education
- University of Iowa College of Law, JD, 1983
- University of Iowa, MA, 1983
- Public Affairs
- Iowa State University, BA, 1974
- Political Science
Robert (Bob) Hatala is a litigation attorney with Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC. He has practiced law in Cedar Rapids since his graduation from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1983. Mr. Hatala is engaged in the general practice of law including, but not limited to, commercial law, product liability, litigation, contracts, construction law, municipal law and insurance. Mr. Hatala also represents business clients on organizational and business matters and small municipalities on planning, zoning and other legal matters. Mr. Hatala has appeared before the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Court of Appeals in various types of cases. He is admitted to practice in the State of Iowa, and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa.
Mr. Hatala was born in 1952 in Fort Madison, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1974 with a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in 1983 from the University of Iowa in Public Affairs. After serving as Mayor of Fort Madison, Iowa, and Employee Relations Manager for a can manufacturing plant owned by Dial Corp., he entered law school at the University of Iowa where he graduated in 1983.
Honors & Awards
- Included in the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” list for Cedar Rapids, 2017, 2020 & 2022
- Litigation - Construction
- Included in the Best Lawyers in America® list, 2025
- Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Municipal Law
- Included in Great Plains Super Lawyers list, 2012-2024
- General Litigation
Professional & Community Affiliations
Professional Memberships
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Construction Law Section
- Litigation Section
- Board of Governors, Former
- Linn County Bar Association
- Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association
Community Involvement
- Kiwanis Club, Former President
- Washington High School Patrons of the Performing Arts, Former President
- Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Former Board Member
News & Events
2024
-
Robert Hatala Included in Best Lawyers in America® 2025, 8/15/2024
- Robert Hatala Listed in 2024 Great Plains Super Lawyers, 05/29/2024
2023
- Robert Hatala Included in Best Lawyers in America® 2024, 08/17/2023
- Robert Hatala Listed in 2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers, 05/30/23
2022
- Robert Hatala Included in Best Lawyers in America® 2023, 08/19/2022
- Robert Hatala Listed in 2022 Great Plains Super Lawyers, 07/28/22
2021
2020
- Best Lawyers In America Recognizes 37 SPMB Attorneys, 08/20/2020
- 2020 Great Plains Super Lawyers Announced, 07/31/2020