Meet the Team
Bruning Law Group
Protecting Companies Large & Small
Bruning Law Group attorneys have argued cases before the United States Supreme Court, the Eighth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits of the United States Court of Appeals, and the Massachusetts and Nebraska Supreme Courts. We are committed to resolving issues through effective communication and creative solutions, avoiding the need for trial whenever possible. But when amicable resolution is not feasible, we leverage our courtroom experience to deliver favorable outcomes for our clients.
With Bruning Law Group’s diverse expertise and commitment to excellence, our clients benefit from our creative solutions to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and protect their interests.
Jon Bruning
Managing Partner
Jon Bruning was elected Attorney General of Nebraska three times in 2002, 2006, and 2010. When first elected, he was the youngest Attorney General in the nation and the youngest in Nebraska’s history. Bruning, a Republican who works well with Attorneys General of both parties, served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2009-2010 and was elected to the post by 30 Democrats and 20 Republicans. Prior to being elected Attorney General, he was elected as a Nebraska State Senator in 1996 and 2000.
Today Jon Bruning is Managing Partner of Bruning Law Group, a niche law firm where he and his unparalleled team of former senior staff…
David Cookson
Partner
David Cookson served in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office for 16 years. He was Nebraska’s Chief Deputy Attorney General from 2007-2014. Prior to assuming that position, Cookson was Special Counsel to the Nebraska Attorney General with a focus on interstate water issues, environmental law and major multi-state litigation. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Cookson was a partner with the law firm Webb, Carlock, Copeland, Semler & Stair in Atlanta, Georgia. He specialized in medical malpractice claims and complex federal multi-district litigation.
Cookson has represented the State of Nebraska as lead counsel in two…
Holley Bolen
Partner
Holley Bolen served as Chief of Staff for the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office from 2003-2015. Prior to that position, she served as Legislative Assistant to Senator Bruning from 1999-2003. As Chief of Staff, Bolen was responsible for creating and implementing the Attorney General’s annual legislative package, managing communications and public relations, and overseeing operations and staff. Through Bolen’s efforts, the Attorney General’s Office successfully worked with legislators to pass more than 36 initiatives critical to law enforcement. Those initiatives included legislation placing pseudoephedrine behind the counter in retail outlets, which resulted in an 86% reduction in meth labs in Nebraska. Additionally, Bolen worked to pass several bills…
Katie Spohn
Partner
Katie Spohn has been a partner at Bruning Law Group since 2015. Previously, Spohn served in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office for 12 years, including as Solicitor General from 2012-2014. She handled the state’s most complex civil litigation cases in that role, specializing in nationally-significant constitutional law issues. Spohn led the Office’s efforts to numerous multi-state challenges to federal regulations and successfully defended the constitutionality of a law regulating the Keystone XL pipeline before the Nebraska Supreme Court…
Blake Johnson
Partner
Blake Johnson served in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office from 2011-2015. During that time, he worked with many state agencies to address various regulatory issues, including advising for compliance with rule-making limitations, assisting in enforcing statutory and regulatory violations and serving as defense counsel in litigation brought against the State. Johnson acquired a broad range of litigation experience in matters involving environmental and natural resources, water rights, civil rights, and contract disputes. His diverse litigation practice led to appearances before various administrative and judicial tribunals at the state and federal levels…
Claire Reeves
Associate
Claire Reeves joined Bruning Law Group as an associate in 2020 following clerkships at the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and the Seward County Attorney’s Office. She earned her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law and graduated magna cum laude from Northwest Missouri State where she majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish and Criminal Justice. In addition to business planning and public procurement, Reeves specializes in helping some of the nation’s leading companies engage with state attorneys general on a variety of political, legal, and investigative issues…
Staff
Anita Scheuler
Business Manager
Marsha Erixson
Special Projects Coordinator
Julie Lowry
Assistant Business Manager
