Brett A. Nelson
Founding Partner
Brett A. Nelson is the founding partner of Nelson Law Group, PC, and brings clients a rare combination of seasoned litigation judgment, financial sophistication, and firsthand business experience. Named to the Texas Super Lawyers List since 2023, he is a highly regarded Texas attorney respected among clients, peers, judges, and opposing counsel alike. Drawing on more than 30 years of legal, business, and financial experience, including strategic negotiations, courtroom advocacy, and practical problem-solving, Brett represents individuals, families, and businesses across a broad range of matters, including family law, business law, personal injury, estate planning, and complex litigation. His experience includes divorce and child custody matters, wrongful death and product liability claims, bad-faith insurance litigation, and business disputes; matters in which legal strategy often depends on understanding the financial and operational realities behind the conflict.
Brett’s legal judgment is reinforced by substantial training and experience in business and finance. He earned his Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctorate, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drake University, and his background includes banking, finance, investment banking, and work in both small-business and international-business environments. This uncommon combination allows him to look beyond the surface of a legal dispute and understand the numbers, business operations, incentives, and risks driving it. In high-net-worth divorces and business litigation, Brett can analyze sophisticated financial issues, evaluate complex assets and business interests, identify risks and opportunities, and translate that analysis into practical legal strategy.
Clients benefit from more than Brett’s command of the law. Because he has built and led law firms and worked in finance and investment banking, he understands that legal decisions have real-world consequences for businesses, families, assets, and long-term goals. He combines rigorous advocacy with practical business judgment, clear communication, and personalized attention to help clients evaluate options, make informed decisions, and pursue outcomes aligned with both their legal and financial interests.
More About Brett’s Legal Background
An Iowa native, Brett attended Drake University, where he lettered for three years on the football team. After passing the Bar, he served as a judicial law clerk in Iowa’s 7th Judicial District Court in Davenport. Working closely with trial judges gave him an early, practical understanding of how courts evaluate legal arguments, witness credibility, evidence, and attorney performance. That foundation continues to impact his litigation strategy, preparation, and courtroom advocacy.
Brett practiced law in the Illinois/Quad Cities area for 16 years and opened his own firm in 1997, developing it into one of the area’s preeminent practices. After moving with his family to Texas in 2009, he expanded his real-world business perspective through work in finance and investment banking before returning to private practice. He became a partner at a local firm in 2013 and led its family law practice until founding Nelson Law Group in 2014. His experience as a trial lawyer, business owner, law-firm founder and leader, and finance professional gives clients an unusual advantage: counsel who can assess a dispute not only as a legal problem, but also through the practical lens of ownership, operations, valuation, risk, and financial consequence.
Bar Membership & Courts
- State Bar of Texas
- State of Iowa, 1993, inactive
- State of Illinois, 1994, retired
- U.S. Virgin Islands, 2004
- State of Texas, 2009
Degrees
- Drake Univ.
B.S.B.A., 1990
Des Moines, Iowa - Drake Univ.
J.D., 1993
Des Moines, Iowa - Drake Univ.
M.B.A., 1993
Education and Experience
Brett’s father, a wise and thoughtful man, never cared much for lawyers after his own divorce. It is no wonder that Brett prides himself on being a different kind of lawyer — one focused on providing value to his clients.
Brett’s journey to becoming a lawyer was neither traditional nor boring, allowing him to gain diverse experiences and a wise and informed perspective. An Iowa native, Brett attended Drake University, where he lettered three years on the Drake University Football Team. He was Special Teams Captain in 1986 and 1987 and graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After graduating, Brett stayed at his alma mater to attend the Drake University School of Law and College of Business. Never one to limit himself to a single pursuit, he graduated in 1993 with a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Business Administration.
After passing the Bar, Brett worked as a judicial law clerk in the 7th Judicial District Court in Davenport, Iowa. During his term as a law clerk, Brett had the unique opportunity to work closely with the trial court judges. He learned how they viewed the judicial process and gained unique insight into effective witness testimony and lawyer best practices. Brett went on to practice law in the Illinois/Quad Cities area for 16 years. In 1997, he opened his own law firm. With the benefit of experience, intellect, and dogged commitment, Brett’s firm quickly became one of the area’s preeminent firms.
Brett’s life experiences taught him that a happy wife yields a happy life. So, in 2009, he and his family returned to his wife’s home state of Texas. He became a partner at Christman, Kelley, & Clarke, P.C., in 2013 and was the head of their family law practice until he departed in June 2014.
In addition to his experience practicing law, Brett brings an extensive and impressive business resume to his law practice. He has worked in both small and international business settings and has gained valuable insight into business operations that have proven vital to providing business owners with meaningful legal advice. Brett’s legal and business experience has given him a unique skill set and experience-backed wisdom that consistently benefits his clients. Brett is prepared to tackle the unique challenges entrepreneurs face and never loses sight of the needs of business owners when working on business matters or when representing a party who owns a business in a divorce. He also has served as general counsel for a variety of companies.
Philosophy and Personal Life
Brett believes in setting his priorities: God, family, and then work. He knows the key to success in these areas is strong relationships and that communication is the foundation of every relationship. Brett prides himself on being responsive to his clients’ needs and devoting individual attention to his clients by limiting the number and type of cases he takes.
Brett also believes that while a divorce begins a new family structure, it does not end the important role each parent should play in their children’s lives. A child of divorce and a subsequent contested custody battle himself, Brett has made it his life’s mission to shield children from the pain of divorce and to help his clients embark on new, healthy beginnings. He helps his clients focus on the future rather than the past. He represents both mothers and fathers in all aspects of family law and prides himself on his dedication, honesty, passion, and willingness to fight for the rights of his clients.
Brett and his beloved wife, Karma, have three children: Lucy, Pierce, and Peyton. Brett is, first and foremost, a husband and father, and his love for his own family guides his family law practice philosophy. The Nelson family is service-oriented and fun-loving. They are actively involved in their church and several community service projects. The family loves spending time outside and pursuing activities that promote health and fitness.