Local attorney Darin Luneckas and Mount Vernon High School graduate R.(Rebecca) Saffin Parrish-Sams have earned national recognition based on their excellent work and reputations as plaintiff and claimants’ attorneys. On Thursday, the two were named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America(r) which recognizes the top five percent of legal talent in private practice throughout the United States.
According to Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer the accolades are based on the review of other top lawyers practicing in the same geographic and practice areas.
“Those practicing against each other in mediation or arguing across the aisle in court are providing positive feedback on their peers’ skillset, knowledge and professionalism,” said Greer. “These awards are a genuine vote of confidence in their fellow lawyers.”
Trial lawyer Parrish-Sams was awarded for her exceptional work in the category Workers’ Compensation Law — Claimants and has built her reputation working in civil litigation for over 25 years. The Mount Vernon 1989 graduate is currently a shareholder at Parrish-Sams Luthens Law, PC in West Des Moines where her primary practice areas are in workers’ compensation, wrongful death, and workers compensation bad faith. Parrish-Sams has held several statewide leadership roles including president of the Iowa Association for Justice in 2018 and board member for the Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, Iowa Foundation for Justice and as workers’ compensation section counsel for the Iowa State Bar Association.
“Every day I focus on serving my clients: Iowans injured on the job who need
treatment so they can get better, and weekly benefits to feed their families
and pay their bills while dealing with the fallout of their injuries,” said Parrish-Sams. “Being selected by Best Lawyers means it’s not only my clients who know I work hard to help them and get good results. This recognition by my peers — even those on the opposing side of cases — means I have built a professional reputation that reflects my efforts.”
Luneckas says he feels honored to be named to the Best Lawyers list. “Knowing that this award is based solely on reviews from my colleagues gives me a great deal of pride. After 23 years of practice my reputation among the attorneys I work cases with and against is strong and that matters,” he stated. “I know I’m doing the right thing professionally. With this recognition I’m even more motivated to continue my work to help injured Iowans recover and get justice.”
Luneckas was awarded for his excellent work in the categories Workers’ Compensation Law — Claimants, and Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs on the 2024 Best Lawyers list. The sole attorney at Luneckas Law, P.C. in Cedar Rapids, Luneckas practices primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation and personal injury law serving clients across eastern Iowa and has been an active leader in the local and state legal community. He was president of the Linn County Bar Association (LCBA) in 2017-18 and remains on their Board of Governors. Luneckas has also served as the Iowa Association of Justice Governor for Iowa’s Sixth Judicial District and on the State Judicial Nominating Commission for that same district. As a member of the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities Luneckas is a supporter of arts and athletics in the districts, he can often be found cheering on the Lions or Mustangs and attending concerts at the new Performing Arts Center.
Marking a milestone 30th edition this year, The Best Lawyers in America is created from a comprehensive peer-review survey, which was comprised of more than 13.7 million confidential evaluations from peers. The purely peer review methodology is at the core of the company’s credo, “the best lawyers know who the best lawyers are.” Attorneys are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers.
Attorneys with local ties named to national Best Lawyers list
August 24, 2023

Ted Sandeen
R. Saffin Parrish-Sams
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Darin Luneckas