Dave Bright

Associate Director, Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center
Associate Director, Nonprofit Structure and Strategy Clinic
Adjunct Instructor

Dave Bright earned his BS in 1992 from the University of Iowa and his JD in 2001 from the University of Iowa College of Law. After graduation, he entered private practice and later joined the College of Law as an Adjunct Professor of Law in 2013. Dave rejoined the Center in 2022 as its Associate Director and serves as Associate Director of the Center’s Nonprofit Structure and Strategy Clinic. Dave serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the College of Law where he teaches Art and Entertainment Law; Art, Law, and Ethics; Cultural Property/Heritage; and Nonprofit Structure and Strategy Clinic.

While in private practice, Dave represented clients on matters including art law; cultural property and heritage; business transactions; estate planning and probate; franchising and distribution; land use and real estate development; museum law; and nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations law. 

Dave is active in the local community through volunteering and board service. He presently serves on the boards of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (Vice President), Humanities Iowa (President), Iowa Museum Association, Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (President), Surface Design Association, and YMCA Camp Wapsie (Chair).

Research areas

  • Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations law
  • Art and entertainment law
  • Cultural property and heritage law
  • Museum law
  • Franchise law

Teaching areas

  • Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations law
  • Art and entertainment law
  • Cultural property and heritage law
  • Museum law

Professional affiliations and memberships

  • American Bar Association Art and Cultural Heritage Committee (Committee member)
  • Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (Board member and Vice President)
  • Humanities Iowa (Board member and President)
  • Iowa Museum Association (Board member)
  • Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (Board member and President)
  • Surface Design Association (Board member)
  • YMCA Camp Wapsie (Advisory Committee member and Chair)

Awards and honors

  • Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV” Peer Review Rating
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© for Franchise Law (2022 and 2023)
Faculty portrait of Dave Bright, wearing blue sweater and standing outside with trees and the Boyd Law Building sign in the blurred background.
dbright@uiowa.edu
319-335-9636
BS, University of Iowa
JD, University of Iowa College of Law