Overview
Siobhan Briley is a multi-talented trial, commercial, and business litigation lawyer who also has vast experience in fiduciary and estate litigation, bankruptcy litigation, criminal defense, and appellate law. Before joining Ellis & Winters, she was a partner at Pugh Hagan Prahm PLC in Iowa where she handled a large and diverse caseload of litigation matters. Prior to building her legal practice in Iowa, Siobhan litigated high-stakes cases for many years in New York City, and Washington, D.C.
A native of Washington, D.C., Siobhan earned her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, at Georgetown University Law Center, while working as a legal assistant for Walter Estes Delinger III, when he led the appellate practice at O’Melveny & Myers. In fact, it was Mr. Dellinger who initially encouraged Siobhan to attend law school, noting her inquisitive mind, knack for analyzing evidence, and ability to comprehend complex issues quickly and efficiently.
A keen interest in learning new things and a passion for trial law led Siobhan to become very active in a few key professional legal organizations. She connects with people easily and has built a large network of colleagues throughout the country. She is the co-chair of the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section, and a member of the DRI Litigation Skills Steering Committee. Additionally, she is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Litigation Counsel of America, a former member of the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission and was inducted into the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2023. In addition to her litigation practice, Siobhan is experienced and adept at commercial arbitration and mediation.
Siobhan earned her B.A. in Literature, summa cum laude, and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Oregon. After graduating from law school, she was a law clerk for the Honorable Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has litigated and tried cases on such a wide variety of subjects, many consider her the “Swiss Army Knife” of attorneys. She always finds the right tool in her arsenal of litigation skills to bring to bear for her clients.
Siobhan and her husband, Chris, a securities attorney, live in Raleigh with their rescue fur-baby, Milo. She is a comedy enthusiast and enjoys spending time in the mountains and hiking the trails in and around the area. Since moving to North Carolina, she has decided to reengage in trail running and Milo could not be happier.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2006
- magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, Georgetown Law Journal
- M.F.A, University of Oregon, 1997
- B.A., University of Oregon, 1995
- Honors: English Department Honors
- Phi Beta Kappa
State Court Admissions
- North Carolina State Courts
- Illinois State Courts – pending
- Iowa State Courts
- New York State Courts
- District of Columbia Courts
- Maryland State Courts
Federal Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United Stated Tax Court
- United States Supreme Court
Memberships and Associations
- Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission American Bar Association, Member (2024-present)
- Co-Chair, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Litigation Committee, Litigation Section (2023-present)
- Iowa State Bar Association, Member
- Probate, Trust & Estate Section, Council Member (2019-present)
- DRI, Member (2017) (2021-present)
- Steering Committee, Litigation Skills
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow (2019-present)
Experience
- Partner, Pugh Hagan Prahm PLC, Coralville, Iowa, 2020-2026
- Associate, 2016-2019
- Attorney, Whitfield & Eddy LLP, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, 2016
- Associate, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York, NY, 2012-2015
- Associate, Gregory P. Joseph Law Offices LLC, New York, NY, 2010-2012
- Associate, Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason Anello & Bohrer, New York, NY, 2009-2010
- Associate, Steptoe & Johnson, Washington, D.C., 2007-2009
- Law Clerk, Hon. Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, US Court of Appeals, 9th Cir., Phoenix, Arizona, 2006-2007
- Summer Associate, O’Melveny & Myers, 2006
- Law Clerk, Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP. 2003-2006
- Summer Associate, Irell & Manella LLP. 2005
- Summer Associate, O’Melveny & Myers, 2004
Presentations/Publications
- Presenter, “Let’s Talk About It! An Open Forum,” at DRI Litigation Skills Seminar, Miami, FL
- Author, American Bar Association, Fiduciary Claims, Estate Litigation chapter
- Presenter, Iowa Paralegal Association, “Discovery, Litigation Hold Protocols, and e-Discovery”
- Presenter, Iowa State Bar Association Corporate Counsel Institute, “Preparing to Defend and Defending Lawsuits: The Discovery Process”
- Author, Iowa State Bar Association Real Estate Manual, Mortgages chapter, with David J. Bright and Samuel Young
- Author, DRI, “The Law of Life Insurance,” Iowa law chapter, with Richard Kirschman
- Author, Iowa Lawyer, “What We Do Everyday”
- Author, DRI, Iowa Defense Counsel Update, “Expedited Civil Actions in Iowa—a Defense Perspective,” with Stephen Doohen
Awards/Recognitions
- Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America® , Litigation – Real Estate, 2025
- Super Lawyers
- Rising Star, New York Metro Area, (2015)
- Rising Star, Great Plains Area, (2016-2020)