Mon - Fri: 9:00 - 5:00
Law firm located in Pocatello, Idaho
Echo Hawk & Olsen are excited to welcome Nathan R. Long and Joseph T. Preston as partners in its Pocatello office.
Long recently joined the firm after serving as general counsel for Varsity Contractors, Inc. for 13 years. In that capacity, he represented Varsity and its affiliated companies throughout the nation on a wide variety of matters such as contract negotiations, intellectual property, product liability, worker’s compensation and general liability defense.
A large amount of his experience with Varsity centered on labor and employment law, and he represented Varsity on all aspects of the employment relationship and defended the company on a variety of state and federal discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and retaliation claims throughout the country. In addition to managing the company’s Legal Department, he managed the Human Resources and Risk Management departments and worked closely with others on employee onboarding and payroll matters.
As a leader of multiple departments, Long gained valuable insight into coordinated management of teams, functions and business alignment. With that experience, he learned to provide legal representation in a way that coordinated with business leaders and helped the company reach strategic goals while remaining compliant with legal requirements.
Starting with the end in mind and focusing on what is truly important are core values that Long’s mentor in the law, the late Honorable Judge Larry M. Boyle, U.S. magistrate judge, taught him as he started his legal career. Long remembers fondly how Boyle would often say, “Good lawyers solve problems.”
That advice has stayed with him. From working in the Boise office of a large, nationally recognized law firm headquartered in Denver, to representing a multi-national corporation, to Long’s new surroundings, Long has always represented clients with the client’s long-term success and objectives in mind.
Long’s clients include all sizes of businesses from many different industries — from medical, service, construction, manufacturing, financial, property management and technology industries. From large employers to small, he works closely with managers to be compliant not only with employment laws but also to focus on employment relations with the goal of providing efficient, productive and enjoyable work environments. He enjoys representing businesses with their document and contract negotiation needs and does so with an eye toward avoiding liability pitfalls that exist in the fine print of today’s complex agreements.
His background in risk management and insurance coverage disputes paired with his experience of reviewing hundreds of contracts and proposal annually, allow him to quickly focus on the key contract provisions and help his clients obtain the best terms possible with the goal of avoiding liability problems down the road.
As a native of Pocatello, Long loves living, raising his family and working in the area. And he enjoys working with people and businesses to help them be successful. Good lawyers solve problems. Long welcomes the opportunity to see how he can help you and your business succeed.
Joseph T. Preston is a fourth-generation Idaho native who was born and raised in Burley. Preston has always loved Idaho, and this love for the Gem State led him to Washington, D.C., during college where he worked a semester for Sen. Michael Crapo.
Preston attended the prestigious J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University where he graduated with honors.
His legal career began as a judicial staff attorney for Judge David C. Nye. In this role, he was able to learn from one of the brightest legal minds, how to think through difficult problems and situations. These skills shape his legal practice and proved invaluable as he successfully argued a case before the Idaho Supreme Court.
He enjoys working with small businesses and uses his considerable knowledge and experience in helping individuals establish and operate businesses. He has been involved in numerous business purchases and sales, and he specifically looks for ways to maximize the protections available to his clients through this process.
Strong legal advice is an essential component in business success. Preston delivers informed, practical legal counsel to small and large businesses. He understands the bottom-line concerns of businesses and develops clear strategies to help business owners meet their goals. He strives to form lasting, mutually successful partnerships with each of his clients.
His experience working with businesses also includes minority owners involved in the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program. He has worked with businesses seeking 8(a) certification, creating joint ventures to pursue government contracts, and similar issues involving federal government contracting.
Preston has considerable estate planning, probate/trust administration experience. Having a death in the family is a difficult experience. Preston has experience helping individuals and families make this difficult process easier by taking necessary precautions, establishing a plan and guiding families through the probate and trust administration process.
Additionally, Preston has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law. As a real estate investor himself, he has knowledgeable hands on practical experience that applies to landlord and tenant issues and beyond.
He is married to Sarah Preston, who works for Portneuf Medical Center as a registered nurse. They love raising their three children in this great community.
