Richard K. Whitty earned his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with High Distinction. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Drake University, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Whitty has been admitted to practice in Iowa for over 40 years. Through Martindale-Hubbell, his peers have rated him “Preeminent”, the highest rating accorded for legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability, legal experience, and ethical standards.

Mr. Whitty is a member of the Dubuque County, Iowa State, and American Bar Associations, the Iowa Defense Counsel Association(where he served on the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2018 and as President from 2016-2017), and a former member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute, Inc. He has served on the Iowa District 1A Judicial Nominating Committee. He has served in leadership roles at O’Connor & Thomas PC for many years including 11 years as president.

Mr. Whitty currently serves on the Board of Directors, as well as the Executive Committee, of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. He has been active as a member of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as the Chair and two terms on the Board of Directors. He also served as Board Chair of Stonehill Franciscan Services and as a director of the Stonehill Benevolent Foundation. He served for many years on the Medical Moral Commission of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Mr. Whitty’s general practice includes the defense of people and companies who have been sued for money damages including cases involving personal injury and professional malpractice as well as serves as lead counsel for a private college, nursing home and health care center.