David C. Nelson

David C. Nelson, a partner at the firm of Nelson & Nelson, Attorneys at Law, P.C., is a 1991 graduate of Duke University and a 1994 graduate of the Duke University School of Law where he was an editor of the Duke Law Journal. His practice at the firm focuses on civil litigation in Illinois and Missouri.

He has tried jury cases in the four metro-east Illinois counties and in St. Louis City and St. Louis County as well as in federal court. David's practice focuses on personal injury cases for injured victims and consumer class action cases.

He also handles workers’ compensation matters in select circumstances — typically catastrophic injuries or cases that accompany a third-party personal injury claim.

Bar Association Leadership

David is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). In 2001, Illinois lawyers elected him to the ISBA's governing body, the Board of Governors. His second, three-year term on the Board of Governors concluded in June 2007.

He has also served on several committees of the ISBA, including the Tort Law Section Council.

Published Legal Work

His written work for the bar has been published in The Illinois Bar Journal, Trial Briefs, Tort Trends and other periodicals.

While a member of the ISBA's Tort Law Section Council, David authored friend-of-the-court briefs for the Illinois Supreme Court and the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, advocating in support of injured victims facing disputes with their own insurance companies (Scholtens v. Schneider, 173 Ill. 2d 375, 671 N.E.2d 657, 219 Ill.

Dec. 490 (1996); Blackburn v. Sundstrand Corp., 115 F.3d 493 (7th Cir. 1997)). Following the successful outcome of both cases, the Illinois State Bar awarded him the prestigious Board of Governors Award.

Professional Memberships

David is also a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA), the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers (MATA), the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) and the American Association of Justice (AAJ).

David has been selected as an "Illinois Super Lawyer" from 2010 to 2021.

Community & Personal Life

David also serves as a board member for non-profit organizations in the greater Metropolitan area. David and his wife Becky, also an attorney, live in St. Louis with their children Zoë, Jack, Hannah, Caroline Courtney ("Coco"), and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Molly.

David is an active cyclist and triathlete who competes locally and regionally. He is the president of the Big Shark Racing team.