WV Executive

Nick Preservati is not a usual attorney.

In a t-shirt, jeans and muddy boots Preservati does not fit the stereotypical idea of an attorney. He is not afraid to get down and dirty for the benefit of his clients. This particular day, he was called in to help handle a crisis in a coal mine for one of his clients. He drove down to personally to investigate the scene and interview witnesses.

“Nick, for one is brilliant and two he is very aggressive when it comes to putting clients first,” says Paul Helmick, CEO of Premier Strategies.

Preservati grew up in Princeton, West Virginia and his whole family works in the coal industry. “It is funny how they say you come back to what you know,” Preservati laughs. “Here I am investigating accidents and representing coal companies.”

Preservati remained in West Virginia until he began his work as an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. There he earned a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in psychology and sociology. While at Notre Dame he was part of the varsity track team and tried his luck on the gridiron for a short while. Preservati attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law where he earned his juris doctorate degree.

He began his career with Hinshaw & Culbertson in Chicago, where he stayed for about a year. During that time he had a few unusual opportunities. The firm dealt with defending deaths penalty cases which required Preservati to write to the Pope on three separate occasions to ask him to request a pardon or a stay of execution.

After 10 years away, Preservati knew it was time to move home. “West Virginia was calling my name,” says Preservati. “I was shocked at how much it had become part of me. I had been away too long.”

Preservati joined Goodwin and Goodwin as an associate. He worked with them for a few years until he received an offer from American Electric Power (AEP) as their Regional Counsel. While working for AEP, Preservati married his wife Christine Nelson in February of 2002. The two now have a daughter, Julia Marie.

After gaining further experience and confidence, Preservati took the bold step of venturing out on his own. He started his own firm, Preservati Law Offices, PLLC in June of 2004. “I grew up in a family of business. I like the freedom and the challenge and being held accountable,” says Preservati. “Usually people don’t go into business doing defense work. But here I am working everyday defending businesses and families in West Virginia.”

The Office

Preservati took a different approach to making his firm work for his clients. “I like to surround myself with good people from other areas. That is why we lease office space to other people,” he says.

Preservati has expanded his office suite to allow for space to bring in other people that he deems valuable for his clients in times of need. He gave the example of having a client who had to deal with a work related death. Preservati has leased space in his suite to a media crisis consultant who can counsel the client on how to discuss the accident with the media.

Preservati Law Offices is located in the old Kanawha Valley building at 300 Capital Street, and is under construction to expand the suite to make room for people with different areas of expertise.

Paul Helmick, CEO of Premier Strategies and Amy Shuler Goodwin, founder of the Goodwin Group are already part of the family on the 10th floor. Jack Canfield owner of Jack Canfield, LLC and Joseph Thompson an agent with American International Group joined this September. There are still three openings left to lease that they are hoping to fill with equally essential people.

This is an unique set-up for a law firm, but Nick Preservati is a unique kind of man.

“That is the way I grew up. My dad was a thinking man. You can’t just think about today. You have to think about the next day, the next month, the next year,” says Preservati.

Preservati, is not only expanding the office in Charleston but also statewide. “We just opened an office in Huntington and are looking to open an office in Princeton in the next three to six months.”

Christine Preservati’s father was the former Major of Huntington, which is part of the reason for opening the office in Huntington, to keep the family close. Preservati is very family oriented. “Most of my free time is spent with my wife and daughter,” he says. “I really try to leave work at work. I don’t like to take work home.”

“He keeps a great balance between work and his family,” says office mate Helmick.

Goals

“My vision; I have a professional vision and a personal definition of success,” says Preservati. “I always try to be a positive influence on those around me.”

This philosophy seems to be working out well for him.

John Haddy, long time friend and legal assistant to Preservati says, “He is easily the greatest motivator I have ever seen. We got to be friends at Goodwin and Goodwin playing basketball at the office. Whether it is in the office, on the court or running down the boulevard he is constantly motivating. He wants to help you reach your end goal.”

Preservati has a different viewpoint for each aspect of his life and measures success with a different approach. “Business wise, my goal is to branch out a corporate defense practice in West Virginia and the surrounding states,” he says. “People need to think big.”

“If 40 years from now all I am is an attorney I will be disappointed,” says Preservati. “I want to travel, start a non-profit and get into Real Estate. I have always wanted to have a bar. How much fun would it be to just close it down for a birthday or family celebration? To see my dad behind the bar pouring drinks,” he says.

Preservati does take his charity work seriously. He was appointed by the Governor as a School Building Authority Board Member. He is also serving on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. ““I believe everyone is obligated to give in some manner people just do it in different ways. I would love to make tons of money just to give it away. To be Bill Gates would be awesome,” he laughs.

Personal

“I look at it like this: If I am on my death bed, I want people to look back and say he was a loving and faithful husband and a good parent. He did his best. It is not measured with money or big cases. That is how I see success.”

Along with not measuring his success with a monetary value, Preservati has what could be considered an uniquely positive vision. “The glass is not only half full but there is a whole other pitcher of water in the refrigerator. If you drink that glass, there is always more,” he says.

“One of the reasons I moved back to West Virginia was the jokes. I got so tired of the jokes and bad reputation,” explains Preservati. “West Virginians are just as talented and competent as any group I’ve met. However, there is a slight underdog mindset. I don’t mind being the underdog, but I am not going to always accept it either.”

What bothers Preservati is that he feels this mindset does not allow people to gain their full potential. “More people need to understand that there are no limitations except the ones you put on yourself.”

Preservati is an unique attorney, practicing in an unique situation and is willing to take unique chances for the benefits of his clients.