Hidden Gems: Meet Nathan Hoerschelmann of Hoerschelmann Dietz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Hoerschelmann.

Hi Nathan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a single father of three amazing kids. I own a law firm with a fantastic partner. After years of practicing law in areas that were incredibly unsatisfying and in firm environments that left me unfulfilled, I embarked out on my own. I now do work, primarily helping small businesses, particularly creatives, and transactional matters, that gives me tremendous personal and professional happiness.

A lot of getting to this point was really accepting who I am as a person, how I operate, what matters to me and truly dialing into and recognizing myself. Miles Davis has a beautiful quote, essentially that it can take a long time to sound like yourself. That was true for me in a lot of ways. When I started out as an attorney, I always felt like I needed to sound or look like other attorneys. That approach never worked and I was constantly feeling frustrated or inadequate.

It took a long time to understand that my lawyerly style is not like anyone else’s and to embrace my own approach and voice. I am now far happier and more successful as clients, opposing counsel and anyone else I work with knows me and how I approach each matter. I operate with integrity and thoughtfulness as well as with some humor and flair. The authenticity shines through now.

But again, that journey of self-discovery, self-understanding takes time. That path has not always been easy but I have been diligent in the effort to consistently improve and better myself – both as a lawyer and even more as a man.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The path to where I am now has been met with considerable struggles. I lost both of my parents in a horrible car accident when I was 11. When I was 21, I was involved in a second major car accident where my entire face was crushed and rearranged. The first event completely shattered me emotionally, had major impacts on how I see or trust the universe and left me incredibly wounded. The second accident stripped me of my identity – how I looked and then exasperated the feeling that not only is the universe unsafe but that nothing will work out. Both of those events were devastating in their own right and horribly impactful. It has taken a long time to work through the trauma and grief of each of these.

The impact of these two events stretched across every part of my life. There was a lot of denying how painful these incidents were and trying to put on a brave face through it all. That failure to deal with things led me to becoming very lost for a while. There were times where I would spin out emotionally, drink too much, make rash large decisions without processing the possible consequences and ended up losing a lot – money, friends, professionally, etc. It took a long time to slow things down, get a sense of acceptance and then build myself back again.

That journey is not over. I am grateful to have found my bearings and to be headed in the direction I am. But this requires diligence, mindfulness, compassion and faith in the unknown. Not always easy but certainly worth every effort.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Hoerschelmann Dietz PLLC?
Hoerschelmann Dietz PLLC is a small, agile and personal law firm. We serve a lot of businesses, especially creatives, in a number of ways: formations, agreement drafting/negotiating, licensing and copyright issues, trademark filings, commercial lease concerns. In essence, we help with all of the non-sexy parts of owning a business.

We also help with a lot of transactional matters serving as escrow attorneys, drafting purchase and sales agreements, handling escrow payments, etc.

Our main goal is to become your trusted advocate and counsel. The greatest compliment we get is when a client comes to us with one question or issue and then repeats coming to us for any concern they have down the road, even ones far different than the initial concern. We take great pride in being in your corner.

How do you define success?
The truest measure of success for me is happiness by living as authentically as possible. If I am true to myself and give my best efforts then I am always happy with myself and can live with whatever comes to pass. If you want to see me at my happiest, it is usually outside with my kids. Time with them gives me the greatest personal joy. Satisfying clients with strong work gives me the greatest professional joy. And that leaves me wildly successful.

Contact Info:

• Email: NATHAN@HDPNW.COM
• Website: www.hdpnw.com
• Instagram: @hoerschelmannlaw

Image Credits
John Curry Photography