James E. Nelson, Jr.

CORPORATE AND PARTNERSHIP TRANSACTIONS

Representing corporate clients in transactional and operational matters. Counselling large and small business clients on mergers, assets sales & acquisitions and day-to-day corporate governance.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Assisting clients through disputes regarding corporate dissolutions, commercial and residential construction, real estate contracts, easements and other real estate issues.

VETERANS BENEFITS APPEALS

Representing Veterans and their families at all stages of appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. James’ seven years of experience working within the Department of Veterans Affairs gives him a singular understanding of all forms of Veterans benefits appeals, including appeals related to service connection, increased disability ratings, total disability ratings (TDIU), herbicide and Agent Orange exposure, burn pit exposure, Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water (CLCW), PACT Act, and special monthly compensation (SMC) claims.

FAVORABLE OUTCOMES

Matter of Curtis, 130 A.D.3d 722 (2d Dept, 2015) - successfully defended a multi-million-dollar estate against objections to the decedent’s last will and testament based upon undue influence and testamentary capacity.

MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

Education:
Albany Law School 2012, Juris Doctor; Concentration in Estate Planning; Member, Albany Law Review
Franklin and Marshall College 2009; Bachelor of Arts; History and German Language and Literature

Memberships:
New York State Bar Association
Dutchess County Bar Association

Bar Admissions:
New York State Bar, 2013
Washington, D.C., 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 2020

Personal:
James was born and raised in Poughkeepsie and is grateful to call the Hudson Valley home.

Immediately after law school, James practiced in Poughkeepsie for four years focusing primarily on estate planning, probate and administration proceedings, and Surrogate’s Court litigation. From 2016 to 2023 James worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., where he further developed his appellate and litigation practice skills through the practice of Veterans Law. He has since returned to represent local clients and assist them with their corporate, commercial litigation, and Veterans Law needs.

Outside the office, James has a great appreciation for the outdoors and the arts, spending much of his free time pursuing ultra trail running, photography, skiing, and golf.