Donnelly Nelson & Depolo
Attorneys and Counselors at Law

James M. Nelson

JamesM.Nelson

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Location:
Walnut Creek, California
Phone:
925-287-8181, ext. 128
Direct:
925-357-2669
Fax:
925-287-8188
Email:
 

Mr. Nelson was born in Oakland, California and grew up in that city. He received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Puget Sound in 1972 and spent the better part of two years working as a legislative assistant in the Washington State Senate. He attended Armstrong College, receiving his law degree in 1979. After becoming a member of the California State Bar in 1980, Mr. Nelson served as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Alameda from 1980-1982. Since 1982, Mr. Nelson has specialized in the defense of physicians, hospitals and their employees in medical malpractice actions and before administrative hearings.

In 2001, he formed the law firm with Tom Donnelly and Dave Depolo. Mr. Nelson is admitted to practice before all of the Courts of the State of California, the Northern and Eastern District Courts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He authored and edited numerous articles on medical and legal subjects. He has been active in presenting and leading legal and medical seminars, as well as giving speeches to medical and legal audiences throughout Northern California. He has tried more than 80 cases to jury verdict. He has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates, where he holds the advanced rank of Advocate. He also has been elected to membership in the California Medical Legal Committee. He has received the highest rating (AV) for legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell. He is also a member of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, as well as the Bar Associations of Alameda County and Contra Costa County.

Mr. Nelson has been selected as the 2015 San Francisco Medical Malpractice Defense Lawyer of the Year. He has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Top Attorneys in Northern California, Northern California Super Lawyers, San Francisco Magazine Top Northern California Lawyers, San Francisco Chronicle's Top Attorneys and Oakland Magazine's Top Lawyers.

Areas of Practice

  • Medical malpractice
  • Administrative hearings

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1980
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Education

  • Armstrong College School of Law, Berkeley, California
    • Juris Doctor, 1979
  • University of Puget Sound
    • Bachelor of Arts, 1972

Published Works

  • Medical and legal subjects

Classes/Seminars

  • Active in presenting and leading legal and medical seminars, including:
  • o American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress
  • o National Institute of Trial Advocacy
  • o Emergency medicine provider groups
  • o Professional liability providers

Honors and Awards

  • Advanced rank of Advocate in American Board of Trial Advocates
  • The highest rating (AV) for legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell
  • San Francisco Medical Malpractice Defense Lawyer of 2015
  • The Best Lawyers in America
  • Top Attorneys in Northern California
  • Northern California Super Lawyers
  • San Francisco Magazine Top Northern California Lawyers
  • San Francisco Chronicle's Top Attorneys
  • Oakland Magazine's Top Lawyers

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • The California State Bar, Member
  • The American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate
  • California Medical Legal Committee, Member
  • The Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, Member
  • The Bar Associations of Alameda County and Contra Costa County, Member

Our Office

Donnelly Nelson & Depolo 
Attorneys and Counselors at Law

201 North Civic Drive
Suite 239
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: 925-287-8181
Fax: 925-287-8188
Map and directions