Overview

Scott Halbur represents clients in food and agribusiness litigation, including products liability, mass torts, environmental and natural resources litigation, biotechnology, agricultural contracts and regulatory disputes. Scott also practices real estate law with a focus on sale, acquisition and development.

Agribusiness Experience

Scott has firsthand experience in agribusiness. Growing up on Halbur Farms near Carroll, Iowa, he helped manage the production of 55,000 hogs annually in a fully integrated system until sale of the system to focus on grain production. Scott remains involved in the family business which includes grain production in four Iowa counties.

Commercial Litigation

Scott has advised on agribusiness disputes involving contract breaches and enforcement, product contamination, product defects, personal injury, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Environmental Litigation

Scott helps agribusinesses protect their assets from environmental claims, defending nuisance, negligence and conspiracy claims related to alleged environmental issues. He also advises on administrative appeals. Scott has counseled integrated livestock and poultry producers on application and exemptions of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to livestock production activities and Animal Feeding Operations.

Past Experience

Prior to law school, Scott practiced in the tax and auditing departments of a private accounting firm.

Related Legal Services

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Illinois
Iowa

Court Admissions

U.S. Immigration Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

Education

Iowa State University
B.S. in Agricultural Business and Economics, with distinction

University of Minnesota Law School
J.D. cum laude

Iowa State University
M.Acc. in Accounting

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Chapter 5: Packers & Stockyards Act Claims
    Co-author, Agriculture & Food Handbook, American Bar Association, 2017 (expected)
  • Identifying and Managing Counterparty Risk
    2016 Iowa Institute for Cooperatives Summer Director/Management Workshop, June 2016
  • Defending Pesticides in Litigation
    Contributing author, Thomson Reuters, 2012-15
  • Administration Moves to Address Antibiotic Resistance
    Co-author, Feedstuffs, October 2014
  • Reading Permits, Nutrient Management Plans & Regulations — The Basics
    Cargill Pork Annual Contract Grower Meetings, August, September 2014
  • Will the EPA Use the Clean Water Act to Regulate Your Farm?
    Cartage Veterinary Service Annual Swine Conference, September 2014
  • Insurance Poor or Poorly Insured?
    Cargill Pork Annual Contract Grower Meetings, August, September 2013
  • Will This Florida Case End Gestation Crate Legislation?
    Author, PorkNetwork, September 2013

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

  • Faegre Baker Daniels Cross-Office Children at the Border Pro Bono Initiative — Part of the firms leadership team which has affiliated with various nonprofit advocacy groups in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota to represent children with applications for Asylum Status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T-Visas and U-Visas. 
  • Representing child from Honduras who was sexually assaulted in defending removal proceeding and applying for legal status under a U-Visa, including derivative application of two siblings and a parent.   
  • Representing child from El Salvador in guardianship proceeding in state district court, defense of removal proceeding in Federal Immigration Court, and application to Citizen Immigration Service of the Department of Homeland Security for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.  
  • Part of cross-office team representing two Guatemalan sisters and their two sons in a joint application for Asylum Status on account of membership in a protected social group. The case was referred to the firm by the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children.  

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Iowa State Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association

Honors

  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2021-23
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2013-17