Managing Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
By Samantha Ricketts
John Hussell strives to be the best at anything he does. That’s how he got to be the managing partner of Dinsmore & Shohl’s Charleston office.
“I am motivated by my desire to be the best trust and estate lawyer in West Virginia,” Hussell says. “I love what I do and I want to be the best at it.”
Even though there weren’t many attorneys in Ceredo, WV, where Hussell grew up, he knew his talents were suited to it. “Once I outgrew the dream of being a professional ballplayer for whatever major sport was in season, I had a pretty good idea that I wanted to be an attorney.”
Hussell’s love for sports continued into his adult life, as he now coaches youth soccer, basketball and baseball. “I am able to use specific skills or interests I have to make a positive impact on the community,” he says.
His impact doesn’t stop at sports. He is also the chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of the State of West Virginia and a former member of the Vestry of Saint Matthews Episcopal Church. He serves on the board of directors of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Tennis Club and the foundation for Thomas Memorial and St. Francis hospitals. “I participate in these activities because I believe it is important to ensure the quality of life that we enjoy in West Virginia.”
In his spare time, Hussell stays outdoors where he enjoys hiking, trail running, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking. “I have run three marathons, biked across the State of West Virginia and climbed the tallest peak in the Rockies,” he shares.
He also likes to relax with a good book, saying he can’t live without them. “I am more introverted than most would suspect,” he says. “Life would be virtually meaningless without the written word to communicate and convey that which makes us human.”
On top of his career, volunteer work and hobbies, Hussell is occupied with his family. “On a personal level, my greatest success is being a father in a loving relationship with two wonderful sons.” Being involved with so many things can be challenging, however. “The biggest challenge I have faced in my career is balancing the demands of my job with the demands of being a father and being active in the community,” Hussell says. “To overcome that obstacle, it is imperative to make family a priority, work diligently and surround yourself with good, motivated people.”
He attributes his success to the support he received from his parents, teachers and two other important figures—Carl Ward, his high school football coach, and Milton Herndon, a leading estate planning attorney in West Virginia. “Coach Ward taught me that success is based as much on attitude as ability, and Milton Herndon taught me how to be a lawyer,” Hussell shares. “I got where I am today by standing on the shoulders of giants who supported me throughout my youth, education and formative years in the practice of law.”
West Virginia is the only place for Hussell. “I have been able to make a decent living my entire adult life in the kind of place that people from other parts of the country save up money all year just so they can come and visit for a week or two,” he says. “The sense of family and community is stronger in West Virginia than anywhere else in the country. With a population of 1.8 million people, West Virginia is a place where you can make an impact and see the tangible results of the positive contribution you make to the state.”
As managing partner, he is happy with his place in life at Dinsmore and Shohl. “I am honored to have a thriving estate planning practice and to be respected by my peers as accomplished in my chosen field.”
Photography by Tracy Toler on location at Adventures On the Gorge
