Nicholas A Heydenrych

Nicholas A Heydenrych

4.6
Rating: 7.0

Licensed for 19 years

DUI and DWI Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: DUI & DWI, Criminal Defense

4614 S Kelly Ave, Portland, OR

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2019
See Details

About Nicholas

Biography

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 19 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2006

Active

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2019

Location

Reynolds Defense Firm

4614 S Kelly Ave, Portland, OR, 97239

Reynolds Defense Firm

12725 SW Millikan Way Suite 300, Beaverton, OR, 97005

Reynolds Defense Firm

222 Commercial St SE Ste. 1803, Salem, OR, 97301

Reynolds Defense Firm

408 SW Monroe Avenue, Suite 150, Corvallis, OR, 97333

Reynolds Defense Firm - Eugene Office

207 E 5th Ave, Suite 253, Eugene, OR, 97402

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Nicholas A Heydenrych's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.6 /5.0

11 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (11) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Professionalism

Posted by anonymous | November 07, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Abandoned, Mismanaged, and Misrepresented — Proceed with Caution

I retained this attorney in May 2024 and paid a $5,000 retainer for legal representation. From the start, communication was poor, transparency about fees and strategy was lacking, and my repeated concerns about case management were ignored. After discussing these concerns with the attorney and th...eir supervising attorney, this attorney left the firm a couple of months later without notice or explanation. I only discovered their departure when I reached out myself. I never asked to terminate this attorney; I only wanted a discussion about how my case was being handled. During their brief representation, the attorney failed to properly vet witnesses and instead handed unvetted information directly to detectives. This led to mischaracterizations of my statements and character that were later used against me. My repeated requests to hire a private investigator were ignored, allowing these misrepresentations to go unchecked. Additionally, impeachment and exculpatory evidence that was explicitly part of my retainer agreement was never submitted, further jeopardizing my defense. Documentation I possess clearly contradicts any explanation the attorney might give for these failures. I later discovered that this attorney had prior disciplinary action with the Oregon State Bar, which was never disclosed to me. Had I known, I would not have retained them. The combination of abandonment, mismanagement, failure to submit critical evidence, and lack of transparency demonstrates a disregard for ethical duties and client welfare. I was left vulnerable, forced to intervene in my own defense, and burdened by mistakes that could have been prevented. I share this review in good faith to help prospective clients make informed decisions. Legal representation requires accountability, diligence, and transparency standards that were not met here.

Nicholas Heydenrych

Replied last November 20, 2025

I take client feedback very seriously and am committed to providing diligent, ethical, and transparent legal representation to every client. While I cannot comment publicly on specifics due to confidentiality obligations, I have carefully reviewed the concerns raised here. Based on my records as well as the conclusions of a professional fact-finder, the allegations described do not align with the services provided or the circumstances of representation. I have clear policies for myself in place to ensure regular communication, transparent billing, and thorough case management. I encourage any client who has questions or concerns about their representation to contact my office directly so they can be addressed appropriately. I remain dedicated to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards in all aspects of my practice.

Posted by Marc | December 12, 2014 | Immigration

Great trial lawyer!

Nick represented me on my DHS case, and fought tooth and nail for me. I was 100% protected, even the judge told me I was "WELL REPRESENTED".

Posted by Ryan | September 11, 2012 | Family

AWESOME ATTORNEY

Nick has been my attorney in law, family, and custody cases. By far the best attorney anybody could ask for, its not just a job to him he takes the time to actually care wich in the past is really hard to find. We always kept in touch and the information about our cases, he took his job very seriousl...y and also through in a personal touch. HE ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT OUR FAMILY. I have and would reccomend Nick to anybody.

See All Client Reviews

Nicholas A Heydenrych's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Nicholas
Anne E Tracey headshot
Anne Tracey

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I strongly endorse Nicholas Heydenrych. He is a skilled criminal and juvenile law attorney, and a very zealous advocate for his clients. I have known Nick for several years, and he always provides his clients with the highest level of representation."

Robert D. Olsen headshot
Robert Olsen

Unknown lawyer | Sep 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have worked with Nick for several years on criminal and family law matters and have found that he is always diligent and aggressive. He is compassionate and understands both the legal and personal aspects of practicing law. I would highly recommend Nick as an attorney for anyone looking for competence and caring."

Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Jan 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Russell J Hebets headshot
Russell Hebets

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jordan Michael New headshot
Jordan New

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Edward A Kroll headshot
Edward Kroll

Unknown lawyer | Sep 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Nick is an excellent attorney. It's said that if you're a jack-of-all-trades, you are a master of none, but Nick's success in all of his practice arenas turns that phrase on its head! Whether he is defending a client accused of a crime, fighting to keep a parent with their kids, or pursuing damages on behalf of an injured party, Nick's work is conducted with the utmost skill. You could do worse with a lawyer, but I don't think you could do much better than Nick Heydenrych."

Sunil K Raju headshot
Sunil Raju

Criminal defense lawyer | May 15

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer--Nick knows the law extremely well, and advocates aggressively for his clients. His easy-going manner belies how skilled he is as an attorney."

Jay Bodzin headshot
Jay Bodzin

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I refer clients to Mr. Heydenrych without hesitation."

Bartley E Herron headshot
Bartley Herron

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Nicholas is the kind of lawyer that I like to watch in court. He is well prepared and professional. It is easy to see that he genuinely enjoys helping his clients. I am pleased to recommend him."

Stacey L. Diedrich headshot
Stacey Diedrich

Litigation lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Nick in the legal community since 2006. I have consistently impressed with his detailed understanding of the law and strong advocacy in court. I endorse this lawyer."

Patrick D Angel headshot
Patrick Angel

Litigation lawyer | Nov 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

F. J. Capriotti III headshot
F. Capriotti

Litigation lawyer | Oct 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Mr. Heydenrych without hesitation. He is a consummate professional and takes his work very seriously."

Meghan S Bishop headshot
Meghan Bishop

Unknown lawyer | Oct 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Nick Heydenrych is an exceptional attorney. In the years that I have had the pleasure of knowing him, he has proven time and time again how effective he is in achieving appropriate resolutions for his clients. He is not afraid to fight for his clients against all odds and shows the compassion and understanding that is necessary to set him above the rest."

Mark C Cogan headshot
Mark Cogan

Family lawyer | Jul 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr Heydenrych impresses me as a very smart, thoughtful and caring attorney. He has deep knowledge of the law, and communicates well. These are the qualities that anyone would want in an attorney. I will be pleased to refer clients to the care of this fine attorney."

Matthew Alexander Holland headshot
Matthew Holland

Unknown lawyer | Jul 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Miranda Shanell Summer headshot
Miranda Summer

Unknown lawyer | Jun 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Nick's intelligence makes him a great lawyer but what really makes him stand out is his warmth and humor. He is skilled and compassionate - a great combination. I would have no hesitation referring clients to him."

Richard E Oberdorfer headshot
Richard Oberdorfer

Family lawyer | Jun 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

""Detail oriented," wrote one commenter above, and I have to agree. Encyclopedic knowledge, smart. Although I've worked in criminal procedural courts with Nick (and he's fantastic at that), I really enjoyed reading his family law client's comment above; and I almost smacked my forehead realizing how tenacious and amazing Nick must be at family law, in addition to criminal law. I've occasionally handled family law matters through pro bono work, and Nick is exactly the toughest kind of opponent: courteous, professional, and absolutely diligent in leaving no stone unturned in advocating for his clients. I endorse this lawyer."

Seth Alkon Gladstein headshot
Seth Gladstein

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Nicholas is a dedicated attorney, who aggressively advocates for his clients. He is detailed-oriented, and has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience in various family and criminal law matters. I highly recommend him."

John Dimitrios Andreopoulos headshot
John Andreopoulos

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Nicholas. He is a renowned lawyer and advocate."

Joseph Torri headshot
Joseph Torri

Unknown lawyer | Mar 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Nicholas is a zealous advocate for his clients!"

View All Endorsements
Justin Johnson headshot
Justin Johnson

Personal injury lawyer

Edward A Kroll headshot
Edward Kroll

Criminal defense lawyer

Sunil K Raju headshot
Sunil Raju

Criminal defense lawyer

Nathan G Law headshot
Nathan Law

Juvenile law lawyer

Bartley E Herron headshot
Bartley Herron

Criminal defense lawyer

Stacey L. Diedrich headshot
Stacey Diedrich

Child abuse lawyer

F. J. Capriotti III headshot
F. Capriotti

Immigration lawyer

Meghan S Bishop headshot
Meghan Bishop

Juvenile law lawyer

Orion Jacob Nessly headshot
Orion Nessly

Family lawyer

Mark C Cogan headshot
Mark Cogan

Criminal defense lawyer

Jay Bodzin headshot
Jay Bodzin

Divorce and separation lawyer

Richard E Oberdorfer headshot
Richard Oberdorfer

Criminal defense lawyer

Miranda Shanell Summer headshot
Miranda Summer

Family lawyer

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Military law lawyer

Robert D. Olsen headshot
Robert Olsen

Criminal defense lawyer

Anne E Tracey headshot
Anne Tracey

Criminal defense lawyer

Jennifer L Davis headshot
Jennifer Davis

Family lawyer

John Guinn headshot
John Guinn

Criminal defense lawyer

Ben Eder headshot
Ben Eder

DUI and DWI lawyer

Nicholas Patrick Merrill headshot
Nicholas Merrill

Land use and zoning lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.0 (Very Good)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2019.

Suspension - Disciplinary issued in OR, 2019

updated on 08/05/2019

This sanction means the attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a period of time. The attorney typically returns to practicing law when the suspension expires.

Work Experience

2025 - Present

Attorney, Reynolds Defense Firm

2023 - 2025

Associate Attorney, KN Defense

2010 - 2019

Managing Attorney, Sunset Legal PC

2006 - 2009

Associate, Hillsboro Law Group, PC (Formerly Known As Garland, Burton, McCaffery, PC)

Associations

2013 - Present

Washington County Bar Association - Judicial Selection Committee

Board Member

2009 - Present

Washington County Bar Association

Board Member

2006 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Member

2006 - Present

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

In the Marriage of G_____.

Success at contested arbitration

State v. A*****

Acquittal

State v. P********

Dismissed

H*** v. H***

Success - Request for indefinite support denied

State v. R******

Dismissed

State v. T******

Dismissed

State v. H******

Acquital

State v. P***

Dismissal & Acquittal

State v. N****

Acquittal

State v. E*******

Acquittal

See More Legal Cases

Education

2005

College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2002

Oregon State University

Publications

2011

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Form Book Chapter 6: Mental Health Issues in Criminal Defense

Languages

French

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2019
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution