Meet the Team

  • Laura Bergus

    Laura Bergus

    Attorney
    (319) 255-7500
    laura.bergus@astraea.legal

    Laura started her professional life in local government, and has found ways to serve the community ever since. The first in her family to pursue a legal career, Laura didn’t know until working in the legal clinic at the University of Iowa how much she would enjoy practicing law.

    Laura helps her clients unwind marriages, start new businesses, plan for big life changes, manage the death of loved ones, and resolve disputes among all kinds of people and organizations.

    Laura is a mediator, and practices collaborative law. She was at the Hayek law firm from 2011 until co-founding Astraea in 2024. She is licensed to practice law in Iowa.

    Laura is a life-long Iowa City resident. She’s currently serving her second term on Iowa City city council. She lives in the South District with her husband, Nick Bergus, and their adopted huskador, Zuri. Laura and Nick have one child, who’s in college. Laura’s been a Jazzercise instructor for more than a decade.

  • Daphney Daniel

    Attorney
    (319) 255-7592
    daphney.daniel@astraea.legal

    As a first-generation American, Daphney understands family bonds are worth protecting even as families face difficult decisions and new chapters. When clients are weighing difficult decisions, they need someone who understands that even seemingly small things, like pets, are part of the equation, too. She believes her clients want what’s best for their families. Daphney works hard to make that happen.

    Daphney knows she can be the loudest person in a room, and whether it's family law, non-profit or business incorporation, or government benefits, she uses her voice to amplify the voices of her clients.

    Daphney is the former president of the Johnson County Bar Association, and is active in the Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys. Daphney serves on the board of the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and the Iowa Labor History Society.

    Daphney is an Iowa City resident and aspiring homesteader who shares her home with her partner, pets, and plants.

  • Ingrid Gronstal

    Attorney
    (319) 255-7587
    ingrid.gronstal@astraea.legal

    Ingrid is an experienced problem solver and advocate for systemic change. She previously fought for environmental change in Iowa through nonprofit advocacy, ensured the University of Iowa was in compliance with complicated regulatory requirements, and worked with academics to envision new legal approaches to challenges such as land use and climate change.

    Ingrid is an alumna of the OneIowa Leadership Institute, where she gained valuable skills and insights into holistic leadership and community building. She builds coalitions, invites multiple perspectives, and thinks creatively about ways to achieve just and equitable conflict resolution.

    Ingrid has lived in Iowa City for two decades and been active in the community on many fronts, including as the co-chair of the Iowa City Climate Action Committee, long-standing member of the Iowa City Cycling Club, and current member of the Quire of Eastern Iowa. Ingrid has a deep love for this community and is committed to providing legal services to all its members, especially those who have found it difficult to access them.She lives on the northeast side of Iowa City with her dog, Harper, and her cat, Finch.

  • Karina Miller

    Attorney
    (319) 255-7555
    karina.miller@astraea.legal

    Karina focuses on being a warm, calming, and logical presence to guide her clients to their ideal resolution, regardless of the problem in front of them. She prepares her clients for the future by crafting personalized estate plans; guides them through the complicated dynamics in dissolutions, custody, and guardianship/conservatorships; advocates for them when they face criminal allegations.

    Karina serves on the board of the Iowa City Free Medical & Dental Clinic and the Dean Mason Ladd Inn of Court. She is active in the Johnson County and Iowa bar associations and the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys.

    Karina loves Iowa City. As a former student-athlete, she loves attending University of Iowa sports. She’s usually hanging out with her husband, Ross, tackling home renovations, playing volleyball, or going to the playground with their two young children.

  • Noelle Parsons

    Paralegal
    (319) 255-7595
    noelle.parsons@astraea.legal

    Noelle has more than a decade of experience supporting attorneys in a general practice setting, particularly with family law, mediation, litigation, probate, and real estate.

    She, a graduate of Kirkwood Community College’s paralegal program, is solution-oriented with a keen eye for detail, a kind approach to serving clients, and a strong sense of justice and fairness.

    Noelle originally hails from Nebraska, but has been a proud Iowa City resident for more than 20 years. She lives with her spouse, their children, and a Boston Terrier on Iowa City’s east side, where the family enjoys making art, cooking and baking, music of all types, comics (both stand-up and the printed kind), and video games.

  • James Pierce

    Legal Assistant
    (319) 255-7596
    james.pierce@astraea.legal

    James provides a variety of support to Astræa’s attorneys and other staff. With several years of experience in legal support roles, he is well equipped to provide whatever assistance you need to make your experience at Astraea Legal better.

    James holds a paralegal certificate from Kirkwood Community College, a B.L.S. from the University of Iowa, with a focus in justice & ethics. He is currently in law school at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law based in the Twin Cities, becoming the first in his family to pursue a legal education. When he’s not working or studying, he enjoys spending time with his husband, Josh, and their rescue dog, Benson, practicing yoga and playing video games.