Arrested in Eastern Iowa?

Call Me Directly, Day or Night: 563-275-8820

50 years of criminal defense. Manhattan trial experience.
I answer the phone myself — at 2 AM, on weekends, the moment you need me.

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Defense Legacy

50 Years Defending Criminal Cases

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Manhattan Experience

12 Years in Manhattan, Alongside Well-Known Trial Attorneys

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Trial Practicum

Drake Law — Home of the Country's Only First-Year Trial Practicum

You Don't Need a Big Firm. You Need the Right Attorney.

Most OWI arrests happen between 10 PM and 3 AM. The Iowa DOT's 10-day appeal window starts at the moment of arrest — not when an office opens Monday morning. Every hour matters, and when you call me, you get me. Not a screener. Not a voicemail. Me.


I spent 12 years in Manhattan, trying cases that landed on the front page of the New York Post. I brought that experience back to eastern Iowa. You get big-city trial preparation at Davenport rates, and you get a lawyer who will tell you honestly whether your case should go to trial.

What I Defend — And What I'll Fight For

Every case I take, I handle personally. No junior associates. No hand-offs. If your name is on the file, I'm the one in the room.

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OWI / DUI Defense — First Priority

A first OWI can cost you your license, your job, and your record. A third is a felony. I defend all of them — first offense through felony OWI, license revocation hearings, and ignition interlock challenges.

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Traffic Offenses

Speeding, reckless driving, driving while barred, CDL violations — a traffic charge on your record can follow you for years. I work to keep it off.

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Assault & Domestic Assault

These charges move fast and the consequences are serious. I defend both assault and domestic assault cases across eastern Iowa.


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Drug Crimes

From simple possession to delivery charges to federal drug cases, I've handled the full range. I know where the weaknesses in the state's case usually live.

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Guns & Weapons Charges

Weapons charges often come alongside other charges — and they compound the stakes. I defend gun and weapons cases throughout the Iowa 7th Judicial District.

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White Collar & Federal Defense

Federal investigations move slowly and then all at once. If you're under investigation or already charged, the earlier I'm involved, the more options we have.

Serving Eastern Iowa — In the Courts That Matter

I practice throughout the Iowa 7th Judicial District and know the prosecutors, judges, and procedures in each county I work in. That familiarity matters when it's your case on the docket.


I regularly appear in Davenport and Scott County, Bettendorf, Iowa City and Johnson County, Muscatine, Dubuque, and Clinton. If you're elsewhere in eastern Iowa, call me — I'll tell you directly whether I can help.

Recent Trial Outcomes

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Four major cases tried in the last year. These are results — not promises — but they reflect what 50 years of preparation looks like in a courtroom.


  • OWI third offense (felony): Not guilty verdict at trial
  • Felony assault charge: Reduced to simple misdemeanor prior to trial
  • Drug delivery charge: Acquittal after jury trial
  • Domestic assault charge: Dismissed following suppression hearing


Every case is different. What I can tell you is that I try cases — I don't just plead them out because it's easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What happens if I'm arrested for OWI in Iowa at night?

    Call me immediately at 563-275-8820. I answer 24/7 — you'll speak with me directly, not a service. The Iowa DOT's 10-day window to request a license revocation hearing starts at the moment of your arrest. Waiting until Monday morning can cost you that right entirely.

  • Do I really need a lawyer for a first-offense OWI?

    Yes. A first-offense OWI in Iowa carries potential jail time, license suspension, fines, and a criminal record that affects employment, housing, and professional licenses. The outcome of your first charge also affects the severity of any future charges. Getting it right the first time matters.

  • How is Gary Koos different from the larger firms in Iowa City or Des Moines?

    I'm a solo practitioner, which means you work with me from the first call through the last day of your case. I have 50 years of criminal defense experience and spent 12 years at a top Manhattan litigation firm — I've tried complex, high-stakes cases. What I don't have is a billing structure that charges you for every associate who touches your file.


  • What areas of Iowa does Gary Koos serve?

    I serve the full Iowa 7th Judicial District — Davenport, Bettendorf, Iowa City, Muscatine, Dubuque, Clinton, and the surrounding counties. I also handle select cases in western Illinois. If you're not sure whether I cover your area, call and ask.


  • What should I do in the first 24 hours after an arrest?

    Don't answer questions from law enforcement without an attorney present. Write down everything you remember about the arrest while it's fresh. Then call me. The decisions made in the first 24 hours — especially around chemical testing and DOT hearings — can shape the entire case.

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Ready to Talk? I'll Pick Up.

You don't have to figure this out alone tonight. Call me directly at 563-275-8820 — any hour, any day. If you'd prefer to reach out by form, I respond to every message personally.