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Natalia Helmsing - The Warrior Advocate

Leading our Warrior Law Team’s efforts in Rocky Mountain and Southwest region of the United States, Natalia Helmsing brings nothing short of military law brilliance to our crew of Warrior AdvocatesTM.  Amidst the involved maze of the military, Natalia stands as a cornerstone of steady dedication and impeccable responsibility. Her distinguished tenure as a Major and Deputy Regional Defense Counsel (DRDC) in the U.S. Army Reserves isn’t just a job description, but an indication of her enduring commitment to military justice. After serving over 7 transformative years on active duty as a military lawyer, day in and day out, Natalia now passionately protects our Warrior ClientsTM, skillfully navigating them through the elaborate web of administrative challenges, exhaustive command-directed investigations, and the occasionally excessive reaches of authoritative command decisions.

 

However, her compelling and unique story doesn’t begin here. In the rugged terrains of Afghanistan, Natalia wasn’t fighting as a soldier; instead, she stood firm as a civilian pillar, helping service members in acquiring their college degrees amidst the challenges of a deployed environment. This experience, among others, has enriched her stock as a Warrior AdvocateTM. From her judicious role as a command legal advisor to her influential abilities as a prosecutor in the Army’s most active military jurisdiction, military magistrate, preliminary hearing officer, and special victim counsel, Natalia’s path as a military lawyer has been nothing short of inspiring. It sketches a vivid picture of relentless determination, profound intellect, and a staunch spirit that remains unshaken, even when confronted with the toughest adversities. As a military lawyer, she’s “been there, done that.”

Yet, describing Natalia merely by her professional deeds as a military lawyer would be a disservice. Beyond her credentials, she’s a rare talent, fiercely committed to our Warrior Clients™. Her military law approach goes beyond mere conventional textbook strategies; she leverages her rich experience to truly understand command motivations and considerations.  Always transparent, she demystifies the command intricacies, ensuring that our Warrior Clients™ are not only informed but also fully supported with a plan of action – clarifying why it offers the best chance for success.  Natalia interprets the military law proceedings, and engages in a collaborative dialogue, ensuring every step taken resounds with clarity and purpose. Her attitude of impassioned zeal, unwavering loyalty, and sharp command over involved military law complexities makes her an inspiration to our respected team of Warrior Advocates™.

Engaging Natalia Helmsing as your Warrior AdvocateTM is an experience in itself. An unmatched military lawyer, with her by your side, as a Warrior ClientTM, you aren’t just another case number or legal file; you become a part of a journey where you are supported, protected, and empowered, ensuring challenges are faced not just with hope, but with confidence.

Background Video

Educational Background

  • Albany Law School, Albany, New York, Juris Doctorate, 2014
  • State University of New York at Potsdam, Potsdam, New York, Bachelor of Arts, 2008 (Politics)

Professional Licenses & Memberships

Bar Membership: New Hampshire (Active)

Professional Legal Experience

Deputy Regional Defense Counsel/Defense Attorney

United States Army Reserves, 22nd Legal Operations Detachment, Deputy Regional Defense Counsel/Defense Attorney, May 2022 to Present.

  • Responsible for assisting manage a team of 11 trial defense attorneys, enforcing training requirements and detailing counsel.
  • Explain the investigative process and possible consequences of any disciplinary or separation action to USAR clients and represent them in administrative proceedings.
  • Advise USAR clients on adverse administrative actions and assist drafting responses and rebuttals to these actions.

National Security Attorney

United States Army North, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, National Security Law Attorney, July 2020 to May 2022, (Rated Top 5% Officer).

  • Served as a National Security Law Attorney, providing expert legal advice and risk-mitigation to senior level leadership.
  • Ensured staff recommendations and decisions complied with federal statutes and department policies.
  • Collaborated multiple times a week with planning groups and advised daily on the Army’s COVID response, federal law, constitutional implications of domestic operations, cyber and intelligence law, fiscal law, executive emergency powers and national emergency declarations.

Administrative Law Attorney

I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington, Administrative Law Attorney, July 2019 to July 2020, (Rated #1 of 6 Attorneys).

  • Provided daily written and verbal legal counsel on a broad spectrum of compliance related areas including, but not limited to, investigations, ethics, regulatory compliance, HIPAA, the Privacy Act, Equal Opportunity, open records requests (FOIA) and fiscal issues.
  • Served as a preliminary hearing officer (military grand jury), ethics counselor, and military magistrate (reviewing law enforcement search and seizure requests) as needed.
  • Created briefing products and training tools; taught CLE on Professional Responsibility and taught Ethics to the JBLM New Command Team Course on a bi-monthly basis.
  • Advised on over 30 investigations and furnished written 110 legal opinions.

Special Victims Counsel

I Corps, Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), Washington, Special Victims Counsel, July 2017 to July 2019 (Rated #1 SVC).

  • Drafted and litigated motions involving privacy rights on behalf of clients.
  • Provided legal assistance and investigation information to 85 clients prior to and during the criminal or administrative disposition of a sexual assault case, including, but not limited to, attending interviews of the victim and interfacing with investigators, prosecutors, defense counsel, and commanders.
  • Provided broad scope of legal assistance to clients on issues that have a direct nexus to the sexual assault, including but not limited to landlord tenant law, legal research, and interpretation of regulations, and ensuring compliance and accountability on behalf of agency leaders.

Trial Counsel (Prosecutor)

1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas, Trial Counsel (Prosecutor), January 2016 to July 2017.

  • Prosecutor for the 1st Cavalry Division for an element of approximately 5,000 Soldiers.
  • Served as a legal advisor to law enforcement, and oversaw high profile legal reviews and investigations, including those garnering national media attention.
  • Primary in-house legal advisor on criminal investigations and prosecutions to over 35 command teams. Responsible for prosecuting misdemeanor and felony level offenses, as well as administrative disciplinary and separation actions.
  • Regularly interpreted criminal case law and applicable regulations to provide clear, concise, and sound advice and risk analysis to leaders in a high-risk environment.

Administrative/Operational Law Attorney

1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas, Administrative/Operational Law Attorney, May 2015 to January 2016.

  • Multiple times per week, provided clear and concise written and oral legal opinions, guidance and briefings on internal investigations, regulatory compliance, ethics, financial liability investigations, workplace injury investigations, administrative separations, fundraisers, and proper use of government funds.
  • Advised approximately 40 commanders and regularly briefed appointed legal investigators on standards, procedures and best practices.

Your Warrior Law TeamTM – The Law Office of Will M. Helixon – Your Warrior AdvocatesTM

The Law Office of Will M. Helixon, your Warrior Law TeamTM, with over a century of combined legal experience, has served as Warrior AdvocatesTM in multiple complex and high-profile military cases.  Founded in 2015, and rebranded and relaunched on October 14, 2023, the Warrior AdvocatesTM of the firm represent Warrior ClientsTM in most military law cases, including military justice matters, adverse administrative actions, complex legal assistance issues, affirmative administrative actions, and fundamental military employment problems.

Our Warrior AdvocatesTM defend Warrior ClientsTM in military justice matters including courts-martial ranging from premeditated murder to rape and sexual assault, from BAH fraud to DUI and drug offense, and military offenses from maltreatment of subordinates and sexual harassment to violating lawful orders and insubordination. Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also represent Warrior ClientsTM pending law enforcement investigations, at administrative boards and non-judicial punishment hearings, and in involuntary separations and “chapter” actions alleging misconduct.
 

Experts in rebutting adverse administrative actions, our Warrior AdvocatesTM represent Warrior ClientsTM facing command-directed investigations and AR 15-6 investigations, responding to adverse findings of investigations and AAIP filings, and answering notices seeking to revoke security clearances and professional de-credentialing.

Pending the need for legal advice for complex legal assistance questions, Warrior ClientsTM routinely rely on our Warrior AdvocatesTM in responding to GOMORs, letters of reprimand, and referred, relief for cause, and negative performance evaluations (NCOERs and OERs), assisting with medical issues such as MEBs and PEBs, navigating centralized board actions such as applications to the service component Board of Correction of Military Records (BCMRs) and Discharge Review Boards, and answering QMP Boards, the DASEB, the AGDRB, SSRBs, and other service-specific boards.

When our Warrior ClientsTM suffer wrongs by their command or fellow service members, our Warrior AdvocatesTM advise and assist submitting Inspector General (IG) complaints, Equal Opportunity (EO) complaints, and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) grievances and filing complaints and claims under Article 138 UCMJ (remedying command wrongs) and Article 139 UCMJ (compensation for wrongful taking/damage to personal property).

Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also assist Warrior ClientsTM with basic military employment issues including responding to notices of suspensions and terminations and submitting initial applications with the EEOC and MSPB.

Call our Warrior AdvocatesTM at the Law Office of Will M. Helixon, your Warrior Law TeamTM, today to help with your legal issues in Germany, Poland, and the United States.  All our Warrior AdvocatesTM maintain licenses to practice before all military trial courts.Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also assist Warrior ClientsTM with basic military employment issues including responding to notices of suspensions and terminations and submitting initial applications with the EEOC and MSPB.

GERMANY

Vilseck: Bürgermeister-Weiss-Strasse 5, 92249 Vilseck, Germany

Wiesbaden: Bärenstrasse 3, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany

Kaiserslautern: Europaallee 33, 67657 Kaiserslautern, Germany

POLAND

Poznan: Andersia Business Ctr., 1st Floor, 7 Anders’ Square, Poznan, 61-894

UNITED STATES

Central Texas: 700 Smith St. #61070, SMB# 50377, Houston, TX 77002

Washington: 1201 Pacific Avenue, 6th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402

Colorado: 102 S. Tejon Street, Suite 1100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

KY/TN: 1860 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Suite 128L, Clarksville, TN 37040

OKC/N. Texas: 1019 Waterwood Parkway, Suite C, Edmund, OK, 73034

Germany +49 (0) 152 2990 0341

United States (913) 353-6466 (main)

Toll Free (844) HELIXON (435-4966)