Attorney Nate Boulton is a partner with Hedberg & Boulton, P.C. Nate practiced for two years as an associate attorney before being named a partner with the firm in 2007. He earned his law degree with Honors, as well as a Certificate of Legislative Practice, from Drake Law School in May of 2005 and was admitted to the Iowa bar that year. He also has a Master of Public Administration degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in history and political science from Simpson College. He is a 1998 graduate of Columbus Community High School in Columbus Junction, Iowa.
Nate Boulton practices in workers compensation, personal injury, and labor law. He is a former vice president of the Iowa Association for Justice (formerly the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association). Nate also previously served as president of the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee. He has also regularly served as a grader for the Iowa Bar Examination.
Aside from his law practice, Nate has been an adjunct professor at Simpson College, where he has taught courses related to law and leadership. As a past instructor at William Penn University, Nate received the 2011 Faculty Achievement Award and served as Chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee from 2010-2012. In addition to his undergraduate teaching responsibilities, Nate has also served as an adjunct professor of labor law at Drake Law School.
Since his first election in 2016, Nate also serves as an Iowa State Senator. He represents areas of Des Moines, Ankeny, Pleasant Hill, and Altoona. Nate was re-elected to a second term in the Iowa Senate in 2020 and currently serves as an Assistant Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee.
Education
Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
J.D., Certificate in Legislative Practice – 2005
Honors: With Honors
Law Journal, Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, Board of Editors, 2003, 2005
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
Master of Public Administration – 05/2005
Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa
B.A. – 05/2002
Honors: cum laude
Major: History and Political Science
Bar Admission
Iowa, 2005
U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa, 2005
U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa, 2009
Published Works
The Farmer’s Retort to Tort Reform: How Legislation to Limit or Eliminate Punitive Damages Hurts the Agricultural Sector, 9 Drake J. of Agric. L. 415, 2004
Establishing Causation in Iowa Workers’ Compensation Law: An Analysis of Common Disputes over the Compensability of Certain Injuries, 59 Drake L. Rev. 463, 2011
Representative Cases
Homan v. Branstad, 812 N.W.2d 623, 2012, Iowa
Dell v. Hy-Vee, Inc. and Quality 1 Enterprises, Inc., 2009 WL 2528095, 2009, Iowa Ct. App.
The Dexter Company and EMC Insurance Companies v. Steven Connelly, 2008 WL 2200107, 2008, Iowa Court of Appeals
Local 447 of the Intern. Union of Painters and Allied Trades v. Five Seasons Paint and Drywall, Inc., 426 F.Supp.2d 982, 2006, S.D. Iowa
Big Tomato Pizza v. Cloud, 2013 WL 750423 , 2013, Iowa Ct. App.
Iowa Newspapers, Inc. v. Watson, 2013 WL 4769526, 2013, Iowa Ct. App.
Honors
Drake Journal of Agricultural Law Outstanding Note Award, 2005
CALI Excellent for the Future Award in Trial Advocacy, 2005
American Bar Association/BNA Award for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law, 2004
Simpson College Recent Alumni Achievement Award, 2007
Simpson College Recent Alumni Loyalty Award, 2011
Iowa Association for Justice Key Person Award, 2011
William Penn University Faculty Achievement Award, 2011
Iowa Association for Justice Outstanding Member Award
Asian and Latino Coalition Legislator of the Year
Friend of AFSCME Award
Iowa Professional Firefighters Legislator of the Year
United Faculty (AAUP) Legislator of the Year
Business Record Forty Under Forty
Drake Law School Recent Alumnus of the Year
Columbus Community High School Distinguished Alumnus Award
Classes & Seminars
Iowa Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update, Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, 02/16/2006 to 02/17/2006
Workers’ Compensation Discovery: Drafting/Answering Written Discovery and Handling Disputes (Claimant Attorney’s Perspective), Iowa State Bar Association, 04/28/2006 to 04/28/2006
Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update, Iowa Trial Lawyers Association (Eastern Iowa Seminar), 09/07/2006 to 09/07/2006
Panel Discussion for New Attorneys, Iowa State Bar Association, 10/04/2006 to 10/04/2006
Workers’ Compensation 101, Iowa Trial Lawyers Association (Western Iowa Seminar), 09/13/2007 to 09/13/2007
Agency Case Law Update, Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Annual Seminar, 10/16/2008 to 10/16/2008
Workers’ Compensation Update, Iowa Association for Justice Annual Convention, 11/05/2009 to 11/05/2009
Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update, Iowa Association for Justice Workers’ Compensation Seminar, 02/12/2010 to 02/12/2010
Penalties in Workers’ Compensation: The Practical Implications of the New Penalty Statute, Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee Annual Symposium, 06/03/2010 to 06/03/2010
Workers’ Compensation, Iowa State Bar Association, 06/09/2010 to 06/09/2010
Agency Case Law Update, Iowa Association of Workers Compensation Lawyers, Inc. Annual Seminar, 10/21/2010 to 10/22/2010
Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update, Iowa Association for Justice Annual Convention, 11/04/2010 to 11/05/2010
Causation Concepts Simplified: “Substantial,” “Sequelae,” “Aggravation,” and “Increased Risk”, Iowa Association for Justice Workers’ Compensation Seminar, 02/10/2011 to 02/11/2011
Calculating Credits in Workers’ Compensation, Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Annual Seminar, 10/21/2011 to 10/21/2011
Civil Procedure, Iowa Association for Justice Annual Convention – Basic Skills for New Attorneys Program, 11/10/2011 to 11/10/2011
Industrial Disability and the Aging Workforce, Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee Annual Symposium, 05/30/2012 to 05/30/2012
Issues involving Labor Unions in Workers’ Compensation, Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee Annual Symposium, 06/14/2014 to 06/14/2014
Ethics Panel, Iowa State Bar Association, Federal Practice Seminar, 2015
Expedited Case Proceedings Panel, Polk County Bar Association, Bench and Bar Spring Seminar, 2016
Workers’ Compensation Law, Polk County Bar Association, Fall General Practice CLE, 2016
