Nelson Law Firm | Our Attorneys

Kenneth P. Nelson

Attorney (Managing Partner)
nelson@nlfiowa.com

Education
           The University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa
                      Juris Doctor, 1990
 
           The University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa
                      B.A. Political Science, 1987
 
Admissions
           Iowa Supreme Court, 1991 – Present
           U.S. District Court for Northern District of Iowa, 1991 – Present
           U.S. District Court for Southern District of Iowa, 1991 – Present
 
Experience
           Nelson Law Firm, PLLC, Member, Managing Partner, 2011-Present
           Randall & Nelson, PLC, Partner/Member, 1996-2011
           Randall, Anfinson & Luce, PLC, 1990-1996
 
Professional Affiliations/Memberships
           Fellow, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA)
           Iowa State Bar Association
           Black Hawk County Bar Association
           Grundy County Bar Association
           Iowa Association for Justice, formerly Iowa Trial Lawyers Association
           Iowa Creditors Bar Association, Founding Member
           National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA)
           Commercial Law League of America (CLLA)
 
Publications/Presentations
           Collections Law From Start to Finish, National Business Institute, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
                      Co-Author/Presenter, 2009
           American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
                      Presenter: Chapter: Collecting Healthcare Account Receivables, Ames, Iowa, 2005
           Minnesota Collection Network for Student Loans/Receivables, Mega Conference IX;
                      Presenter: Collection Costs Roundtable Panel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2001
           Successful Judgment Collections in Iowa, National Business Institute, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
                      Co-Author/Presenter, 1998
           Collecting Judgments in Iowa, National Business Institute, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
                      Co-Author/Presenter, 1992
 
Current/Prior Community Involvement
           Cedar Valley United Way, Board of Directors; Vice Chair, Chair
           The Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Board of Directors; Vice Chair, Chair
           Main Street Waterloo, Chair, Economic Restructuring; Volunteer of the Year Award
           Main Street Iowa, Volunteer of the Year Award
           Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa; Volunteer/Big Brother
           Variety Club of Iowa, Volunteer/Advisory Committee
           Black Hawk County Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer
           Waterloo Rotary Club
           Waterloo Lions Club
           Black Hawk County Magistrate Nominating Commission
           Black Hawk County Law Explorers Club, Coach
           Leadership Investment for Tomorrow (LIFT); Cedar Valley Leadership Institute
           Sunnyside Country Club, Board of Directors
           St. Edward Church, Parish School Board; Parish Council

Shannon D. Simms

Attorney and Mediator
simms@nlfiowa.com

Education
           Drake University Law School – Des Moines, Iowa
                      Juris Doctor, 2007
 
           Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa
                      Bachelor of Science in Business, 2005
                      Double Major in Finance and Marketing
                      Highest Honors
 
           Crilley Mediation Services – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
                      Mediation Certification, 2014
 
           Crilley Mediation Services – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
                      Collaborative Law Certification, 2016

Admissions
           Iowa Supreme Court, 2008-Present
           U.S. District Court for Northern District of Iowa, 2010-Present
           U.S. District Court for Southern District of Iowa, 2010-Present
           Certified Mediator for the State of Iowa, 2014-Present
           Certified Collaborative Law Attorney for the State of Iowa, 2016-Present

Experience
           Nelson Law Firm, PLLC, Waterloo, Iowa
                      Associate Attorney, 2010-Present
           Iowa Judicial Branch
                      Grundy County Magistrate Appointing Commission, Elected Member, 2015-Present
           Iowa State Bar AssociationBoard of Governors,
                      Elected Member, 2015-Present
                      Member, 2008-Present
                      Iowa State Fair Mock Jury Trial Committee, 2009-Present
                      Student Mock Trial Program, Mock Trial Judge, 2010-2013
           Black Hawk County Bar Association
                      Member, 2010-Present
                      Real Estate Committee, 2010-Present
           Grundy County Bar Association
                      Member, 2013-Present
           Black Hawk County Roster Mediator
                      Member, 2014-Present
           Iowa Association of Mediators
                      Member, 2014-Present
           International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
                      Member, 2016-Present
           Northeast Iowa Collaborative Law Group
                      Member, 2016-Present

Current/Prior Community Involvement
           Grundy County, Iowa
                      Board of Supervisors, Civil Service Commission, 2013-Present
                      Development Alliance Committee, 2014-Present
                      Extension & Outreach Expert Panel, 2014
           Main Street Iowa
                      Application Committee for Grundy Center, Iowa, 2014-Present
           Felix Grundy Day, Grundy Center, Iowa
                      Festival Committee Chair, 2013-Present
           Cedar Valley Jaycees
                      Member, 2014-Present
                      Director of Community Relations, 2014-Present
           Grin and Grow Child Care Board, Waterloo, Iowa
                      Board Member, 2011-Present
                      Human Resources Committee Chair; 2013-Present
           National Honor Society, Grundy Center, Iowa; Induction Speaker, 2012
           Junior Achievement, Waterloo, Iowa; Instructor, 2010-2012
           Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber of Commerce; Cedar Valley Leadership Institute, 2010-2011