Nicola Nelson focuses her practice primarily in environmental law and labor and employment.

She represents and advises municipalities and business enterprises concerning permitting and compliance issues, including assistance with environmental management systems and internal auditing, as well as enforcement actions, in a variety of environmental areas including CERCLA, NEPA, RCRA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Phase I and II reports, TACO program, Brownfields programs, NPDES permitting, environmental impact studies, underground storage tank issues and solid waste management.

In addition, Ms. Nelson practices in the area of labor and employment law, counseling and advising employers concerning the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII, as well as employment contracts, policies and procedures and employee discipline issues. She also provides assistance with labor relations and collective bargaining issues, including traditional union matters such as unfair labor practice claims. Ms. Nelson joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as an associate in March 2007. Previously she was a summer associate with the firm beginning in 2005.

Ms. Nelson graduated first in her law school class and was class valedictorian. In addition to her other law school achievements, she was the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, including the Marie Adornetto Monahan Scholarship, and as a law student, was initiated as a member of Lambda Alpha International, an honorary society for the advancement of land economics. She was a member of the Order of John Marshall. Ms. Nelson was a founding member and Vice President of the Public Interest Law Council, and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta.

During her undergraduate studies, Ms. Nelson was a member of the Franklin Honor Society, and also of Phi Theta Kappa.

Ms. Nelson clerked in 2006 as a judicial extern to the Honorable Anne M. Burke, of the Illinois Supreme Court, following her clerkship as a judicial extern for the Honorable Amy J. St. Eve, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

Ms. Nelson is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Ms. Nelson co-authored the chapter on "Environmental Compliance" in “Enterprise Risk Management for Healthcare Entities,” a detailed guide to planning, developing, and implementing a comprehensive risk management system for healthcare entities, published by the American Health Lawyers Association in 2009. Her other publications include “Petition for Leave to Appeal Denied in T&C II,” published in Illinois Solid Waste News, the newsletter of the Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association, May/June 2010.

Ms. Nelson also regularly contributes to Hinshaw’s Environmental Bulletin newsletter, including:

• “USEPA Hits Home Builder with $1 Million Penalty for Permitting and Storm Water Runoff Violations,” April 2010.
• “EPA Issues New Rule Mandating Stormwater Discharge Monitoring and Soil Stabilization by Construction Site Owners and Operators,” December 2009.
• “EPA to Intensify its Enforcement of the Clean Water Act,” November 2009.
• "New Law Regarding the Disposal of Pharmaceuticals Will Impact Illinois Healthcare Providers," October 2009.
• "Health Care Sector Targeted for 2009 EPA Study of Pharmaceutical Disposal Practices," December 2008.
• "EPA Cracks Down on Home Builders ― Heavy Fines Imposed for NPDES/Clean Water Act Violations," June 2008.

Ms. Nelson’s presentations include:

• "Avoiding Retaliation Claims," Pathways to Improvement: Directors Dialogue conference, Rockford, Illinois, October 2009.
• "The Practice of Environmental Law in the 21st Century," The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, September 2009.

Ms. Nelson is a member of the Rockford area Athena PowerLink Advisory Panel, a group of professionals who are "linked" with a local woman business owner, for whom they act as mentors and advisors to help increase business growth and profitability. She is also a member of the Organization Committee of Rockford’s River District Association, a community organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the vitality of Rockford’s historic downtown business district.