Meet Our Legal Team

Rob Schafer is the Managing Partner at Smith Schafer Davis with a law practice focusing on agricultural law, business law, estate planning, probate and trust administration, real estate law, and taxation. Born in Pawnee City, Nebraska, Rob is a sixth generation Nebraskan who has built a distinguished career marked by leadership and serving others. 

In the realm of public service, Rob was appointed to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents by Governor David Heineman on March 20, 2013. He went on to be elected by the people in November 2014, and re-elected in 2018, serving as Vice Chair in 2017 and Chair in 2018 and 2024.

Rob's professional journey is complemented by his personal life, where he is happily married to Andrea Darling and a father to their two children, Brooklyn and Addison. His entrepreneurial spirit thrives through his ownership of Premier Chevrolet Buick GMC Beatrice and his farm and livestock operation raising corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle. 

A Lieutenant Colonel with the Kansas Air National Guard, Rob serves as a Staff Judge Advocate, exemplifying his commitment to both his community and country. Rob's 39 years of continuous military service is exemplary, with a history of various roles in the infantry and legal fields, including his current assignment as Staff Judge Advocate to the 184th Wing, McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. 

Rob's academic credentials include a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. A dedicated alumnus, he also holds a lifetime membership in the University of Nebraska Alumni Association. 

Rob is an active member of St. John Lutheran Church and participant in numerous civic organizations, including the Beatrice Rotary Club, where he is a past president, Beatrice Mary YMCA as a past board member, and as a current board member of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His professional affiliations are equally extensive, holding positions such as Chair of the Nebraska Young Lawyers Section, Executive Council Member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, Vice Chair of the Nebraska State Bar Association Military Law Committee and current President of the Tri County Bar Association consisting of Gage, Jefferson, and Saline Counties. 

Jeff works with individuals and families in providing a full range of estate planning services. Jeff’s practice focuses on avoidance and deferral of death taxes and other transfer taxes, on gift and estate planning, on the preparation of simple and sophisticated wills and trusts, and on Medicaid and other long-term care issues. Additionally, Jeff assists clients in the formation of new businesses and in business succession planning, real estate transactions (including tax-deferred, like-kind exchanges), and non-profit formation and governance.

Jeff grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and holds an undergraduate degree in business (2001) and a law degree (2005) from Loyola University Chicago. Jeff is admitted to practice law in Nebraska, Kansas, Connecticut, and New York, as well as before the United States Tax Court. He joined the firm in 2009.

In 2016, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Jeff to serve on the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. The Commission enforces Nebraska’s law related to political ethics and campaign finance.

Jeff is a member of the Real Estate, Probate, and Trusts Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association, and previously served on the Association’s Legislation Committee. 

Jeff is active in Kiwanis Club of Beatrice and the Beatrice Conference of the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul and is a past president of the Gage County United Way and the Bearice Area Chamber of Commerce. Jeff sits on the board of directors of Beatrice Community Players, the Stake Your Claim Foundation and the Hevelone Foundation. He is concertmaster of the Beatrice Regional Orchestra and is the principal organist at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beatrice. 

Jeff lives in Beatrice with his wife Brenda and their three daughters.

Duane was Senior Partner of Smith Schafer Davis through 2020 and, thereafter, has held the position Of Counsel for the Firm since 2021. He actively practiced with the firm from his admission to the Bar in 1977 through 2020. Duane practiced in the areas of estate planning and administration, real estate transactions, agricultural law, taxation, and business law. His current business interests include Premier Chevrolet Buick GMC Beatrice and farm management.

Community involvement is particularly important to Duane. Public education is the focus of his service. He has served on the Board of Directors of Educational Service Unit No. 5 for over 40 years, servicing as president for many years and currently serves as secretary. ESU No. 5 provides service to K-12 school districts in Gage, Jefferson, and Thayer Counties.

Duane has served on the boards of many community organizations, including Southeast Nebraska YMCA Foundation, Beatrice Public Library Foundation, Beatrice Educational Foundation, and Beatrice Noon Kiwanis Club. He is a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and has served on its Board of Trustees, Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee, and the Television Ministry Committee.

On a statewide basis, Duane was a board member and president of Nebraska Public Radio Foundation. He served for ten years on the board of directors of Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) in Kearney, Nebraska, and was the board president two years. MONA is the repository of art created by Nebraska artists, art having subject matter involving Nebraska, and art having a nexus with the State.

Duane served in the US Army for two years during the Viet Nam War. His military experience was the foundation for his ongoing support of veterans.

Duane is actively involved in managing family farms. His involvement with farming began as he grew up in a farming family near Bertrand, Nebraska. His formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in science from Nebraska Wesleyan University, with a physics major and supporting fields in math and chemistry. He studied law at University of Nebraska College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor Degree.

Duane is married to Debbie Ross Smith, and the couple have two children, David and Ashley. David is married to Amber Abascal and live in San Antonio, Texas. Ashley is married to Neal Belt and live with their children, Easton and Harper, in Gretna, Nebraska.

Therese brings a wealth of experience and a diverse skill set to her dual role as Office Manager and Legal Assistant at our firm. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Biology from Cloud County Community College, showcasing her academic versatility.

Her professional journey is marked by a significant tenure in the grain elevator industry, where she started as a bookkeeper. Over 25 years, Therese's expertise and leadership skills propelled her to manage a grain facility for nine years. She then advanced to the role of Office Manager, adeptly overseeing operations across nine grain elevators.

In 2006, Therese transitioned her remarkable managerial abilities to the legal sector, joining our firm. Here, she initially trained as a legal assistant specializing in corporate and real estate law. Her proficiency and dedication quickly led to her taking on the additional responsibility of managing our law office.

Therese resides in Holmesville with her husband, Bryan, and their beloved array of animals. Her blend of managerial acumen and legal knowledge, combined with her commitment to our team and clients, makes her an invaluable asset to our firm.

Diane provides support to our attorneys in managing estates, trusts, and probate matters.

A native of the Pickrell area, Diane pursued her education at Southeast Community College, where she not only earned her Associate of Applied Science in Accounting but also actively played on the school's volleyball team.

With a career spanning over 30 years as a legal assistant, Diane has dedicated over 20 of those years to specializing in Probate and Trusts, showcasing her depth of knowledge and experience in these areas. 

Diane resides near Pickrell with her husband, Steve. She is a proud mother to her son, Cason, and stepmother to Brianna. Diane dedicates countless hours traveling across the Midwest supporting her son’s baseball team at various games and tournaments. Diane is also a proud member of the Christ Lutheran Church in Pickrell. 

Joyce is our front-line receptionist and contributes to our legal team by assisting with guardianship and conservatorship cases.

A Beatrice High School alumna, Joyce has an extensive 34-year background working with the Farm Service Agency in Beatrice. She joined the team at Dalke, Smith and Maurstad in 2010, bringing with her a wealth of administrative expertise.

For the past 13 years, Joyce has navigated life as a widow and is the matriarch to her three children: Jodi, a professional at Blue Valley Behavioral Health in Beatrice; Dallas, a mechanic with United Rentals in Lincoln; and Dan, who splits his time between flying for United Airlines based in Houston, Texas, and serving with the Nebraska Air Guard in Lincoln. Joyce is also a grandmother to three grandsons who live in Houston and Bellevue.

Outside of the office, Joyce's joy comes from family gatherings and participating in events at the local Beatrice Eagles Club and the Vets Club.

Amy is an integral part of our team, offering specialized support in real estate transactions and estate planning.

Since earning her Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Amy has been a loyal member of our firm since 1995. Her experience spans across various branches of law, showcasing her adaptability and extensive knowledge.

Apart from her professional commitments, Amy dedicates her time to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elk Creek, where she teaches Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She's also deeply involved in her children's education and extracurricular activities, serving as an officer and member of the Lewiston School Booster Club.

Together with her husband, Rod, Amy also volunteers at the Nebraska State Fair as a Pit Boss for the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit restaurant, demonstrating their shared passion for the community.

Residing near Steinauer with her family, Amy is an active participant in production agriculture, ensuring she stays connected to her roots and contributes to the community's well-being.

Brittany provides valuable assistance to our attorneys in the areas of business and corporate law, estate planning, and tax preparation.

A native of Beatrice, Brittany attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, complemented by a minor in Psychology in 2011. Her professional path has been diverse, including roles as an assistant manager at Kohl’s department store and positions in sales and insurance, before she joined our firm as a legal assistant in 2016.

Brittany's commitment to her community is evident through her involvement with the Kiwanis Club of Beatrice, where she not only serves but has also led as President. She has also served as the President of the TeamMates Mentoring Program and contributed her skill set to the Mainstreet Beatrice Board of Directors. Her technical skills are further utilized in maintaining the website for Stone Hollow Brewing Company.

A member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Pickrell, Brittany's life is rooted in her faith and community. She resides in Beatrice with her husband, Nick, and their children, Maverick and Monroe, where they enjoy the close-knit community life.

Nolan is a Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Nebraska College of Law expecting to graduate in May of 2025. His legal journey is reinforced by his background in accounting, having served as a tax associate at FORVIS, LLP, where he received his license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 2022. Nolan graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2020 where he balanced earning his degree in accounting and minors in finance and human resource management with collegiate football. 

In the summer of 2023, Nolan broadened his legal perspective through a study abroad program at Cambridge University. Prior to his embarkment he assisted Smith Schafer Davis as a legal intern where he contributed to client engagements and complex estate planning. He continues to work throughout the school year to assist the firm in preparing tax returns by leveraging his CPA background. 

Raised on a farm near DuBois, Nebraska, Nolan remains engaged in agricultural life, managing a growing cattle operation alongside crop production. He is involved in various professional groups, including the Student Bar Association, Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, Greater Nebraska Connections, Environmental and Agriculture Law Society, and Sports, Entertainment and Business Law Society.

Nolan's interests are as diverse as his professional pursuits, including hunting, hiking, weight training, golfing, snowboarding, watching Husker football, and scuba diving.