July 30, 2014
Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility

Dear Ms. Engelhardt,

In connection with the above-referenced case, I have been asked to submit a letter attesting to the general character of John ("Jack") G. Hoeschler. Please note that even if I had not been requested to do so, I would gladly take the time and make the effort to write this letter. Few of my many friends, colleagues and acquaintances at the bar-local, state and national—can rival the high personal and professional regard I have for Jack.

I have known Jack for 30 years. My first contact with him occurred while I was an associate at Briggs & Morgan working "on loan" in the real estate workout division of what was then First Bank Saint Paul. I was responsible for the disposition of various ORE0(1), and in that role, I sold a parcel to a buyer represented by Jack. Jack was 12 years my senior, which, at the time, was a significant disparity, given my relative youth and inexperience. Nevertheless, Jack treated me with great respect and fairness, and the transaction was negotiated smoothly, beneficially and otherwise satisfactorily for all concerned.

Soon after the transaction closed, Jack invited me to join him in his mentoring of several members of the local Laotian community (as I recall, the people involved were from Laos but not Hmong; the encounter predated the tremendous influx of Hmong refugees to St. Paul). These Laotians wanted to open a wholesale food operation but needed a fair amount of legal guidance. I met several times with Jack and his mentees and marveled at how generous Jack was with his time and expertise. He guided these entrepreneurs well, for they subsequently became quite successful. Jack neither sought nor received any recompense--in legal fees or otherwise-­ for his considerable assistance.

Several years passed. With the wave of Hmong refugees into our community, I became engaged in resettlement efforts through my church. In that regard and knowing Jack's interest in helping recent immigrants, I reached out to him for specific assistance. Not only was Jack's assistance forthcoming. It cascaded. In addition to financial help, Jack provided serious, ongoing mentoring to ease the transition from refugee camp to American citizenship. He modeled the behavior to which more of us should aspire to ensure that our country remains one in which newcomers can assimilate and become productive.

More time passed. I had just made a lateral move to Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly, where I became lead attorney for a firm client in a protracted, high-visibility, highly arcane, complicated and contentious matter. At the vortex of the case was none other than Jack Hoeschler - positioned not as an ally but as my principal adversary! For the next several years, we (with a bevy of other lawyers in tow) battled through numerous motions, cross-motions, evidentiary hearings and appeals. Rarely have I fought so hard or long against another lawyer. But never have I developed greater respect for an opponent. With every contact, at every juncture, I knew that I, as well as every single other lawyer in the case, not to mention the court, could count on Jack being as civil, ethical and professional as he was intellectually engaging and rigorous. If only every practitioner were of Jack's ilk and quality, our profession would enjoy far greater esteem than it does.

Years later, I wound up sharing offices with Jack(2). Although our practices were not joined, we consulted each other frequently, and for the duration of our office-sharing, my respect and admiration for Jack as a person, a practitioner and a serious contributor to the well-being of our community expanded further. I readily saw too that I was not alone in my respect and admiration for Jack. Many others, pillars of the community, greatly admire who he is and what he has accomplished in the name of and for the benefit of the community.

Among Jack's many notable community accomplishments is his contribution to the revitalization of the World Press Institute, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. When the executive director of this world class, Minnesota-based organization reached out for new energy, I, as a member of the board nominating committee, immediately endorsed Jack and actively recruited him for board membership. For several years now, I have witnessed his active participation at close range. Would that every non-profit organization in the Twin Cities claim such an able, selfless, engaged and engaging force as Jack Hoeschler.

Jack is also a fearless champion for those with little or no voice. Exhibit A in evidence of Jack's concern would be his pro bono legal work, particularly on behalf of immigrants (Hmong and Cameroonian). Exhibit A-1, however, in proof of his courage would be his formative experience as community legal counsel in the heart of the projects of the south side of Chicago in 1968. One day while walking past an apartment building, Jack was summoned to the aid of a resident who called out in distress from her first floor apartment window. Before Jack could gain entry to the building, he was attacked by a group of thugs, who beat him viciously and left him in a bloody heap. Many a decent person would have eschewed such a “combat” pro bono position I the first place. Many a better-than-decent person volunteering for such a post would have avoided, nonetheless, an anonymous cry for help. And upon such a bloody confrontation with reality, many a person with Jack’s courage would have abandoned, nevertheless, his sense of mission. Not Jack. When he eventually returned home to his conservative friends and family, they all assumed that in light of his violent encounter he had been "cured" of that sense of mission. How surprised they were when he declared that the opposite effect had been rendered! How many of us can say we've mixed the practice of law so directly with caring and physical courage at the level demonstrated by Jack Hoeschler?

I would like to give one more insight into Jack's character. About 10 years ago, Jack and his wife Linda (in her own right, an extraordinary contributor to the community) were in a horrible car wreck in Sweden, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Their painful and daunting recovery and rehabilitation required protracted care in Sweden. After emerging from this ordeal, they staged a celebratory event to express their gratitude for all the health care personnel who had nursed and doctored Jack and Linda back to life. In addition to a great feast, they arranged for the famous Swedish baritone, Hakan Hagegard to sing-literally-their heartfelt thanks.

What you need to know is that among Swedes, Hakan Hagegard is a household name and a beloved musician in a country known for its singers and choirs. That Jack and Linda could and would arrange for Herr Hagegard to sing "thank you" was an astonishing gesture. I would bet that all in attendance were moved to tears. When I heard this story, however, I was not surprised: Jack is as gracious as he his grateful.

In short, just as Jack is a credit to our profession, he is every bit a tribute to the community at large. He gives in unsurpassed abundance, his time, talent and treasure-and not for personal gain or recognition but purely because being generous in this fashion is ''the right thing to be." His generosity is matched by his civility and respect. With Jack, a person-every person-can always expect to be challenged intellectually but always treated with fairness and good cheer. He is a proverbial pillar of our community, and each of us-knowing or unknowing-is richer as a result of Jack's active practice oflaw and his drive to make this a better community for all. Personally, I am most definitely a better lawyer and a better citizen because of Jack's fine example as both lawyer and citizen.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this reference. I would gladly repeat and supplement it as any occasion permits or requires.

Very truly yours,

Eric Nilsson

1 "Other Real Estate Owned"-commercial real estate that the bunk had acquired via foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure.

2 My impression of Jack was affirmed by the fact that the third lawyer in this sharing arrangement was none other than another lawyer who had been actively involved in the aforementioned case in which Jack and I had been principal adversaries.