Nelson L. Peralta

Photos by Uptown Photography.

Education

• University of Michigan, B.A. 1991
• University of Michigan Law School, J.D. 1993

Admitted to Practice

• State of Minnesota, 1998
• State of Florida, 1995
• United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 1998
• State of Michigan, 1998 (inactive member)
• United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
• United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Community Activities

• Centro Legal, board of directors
• Basilica of St. Mary, parishioner, nursery supervisor
• University of Michigan Alumni Assn., Twin Cities Chapter

Bio

Nelson was born in Rochester, Michigan and graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 1987, where he was co-salutatorian of his graduating class. He attended college at the University of Michigan, graduating with a dual major in mathematics and economics in 1991. Nelson attended the University of Michigan Law School and graduated in 1993.

Nelson, who is fluent in Spanish, began his legal career at Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project in Grand Rapids, Michigan, representing migrant farmworkers. He then moved to Miami, Florida in 1995, where he worked at Shutts & Bowen, LLP, one of Miami's oldest and largest law firms. At Shutts & Bowen, Nelson focused his practice on disability insurance defense. Nelson moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in late 1997, and in May, 1998, he joined Peterson, Fishman, Livgard & Capistrant, P.L.L.P. After practicing with Peterson, Fishman for over two years, the firm reorganized and Nelson became a litigation associate at Livgard & Rabuse, P.L.L.P. At Livgard & Rabuse, Nelson practiced primarily commercial litigation, although he began to develop a practice area serving Hispanic clients in immigration and other matters. In May, 2002, Nelson joined Capistrant & Associates, P.A., where he practiced in civil litigation, personal injury, immigration law and collections.

After four productive years with Capistrant & Associates, P.A., Nelson and his wife, Lisa Lodin Peralta, decided to open their own law firm, Peralta & Peralta, Ltd. It opened for business in September 2006. One of the main focal points of Nelson's practice is the representation of Latino clients who prefer to speak in Spanish, although the firm is dedicated to helping Minnesotans of all backgrounds with their unique legal needs.

Nelson was named a "Rising Star" in 2000 and 2003 by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine. After serving on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association for several years, in 2005, Nelson was elected President of MHBA. While he was President of MHBA, Nelson joined the Steering Committee for the Linea Legal Latina, a telephone hotline for low-income Latinos seeking legal representation. Also in 2005-06, Nelson served as the MHBA representative to the Minnesota State Bar Association Assembly, and in 2006, he Co-Chaired the Individual Survey Subcommittee of the MSBA Diversity Task Force. In 2006-07, he agreed to serve as Co-Chair of the 12th Annual HNBA Moot Court Competition. In 2007, Nelson was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association.

Through the years, Nelson has spoken at numerous CLEs for the Minnesota Association for Justice, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association, and more recently, at a panel examining the state of legal education hosted by Hamline University School of Law. He also has been an active volunteer with the University of Michigan Twin Cities Club, serving as the Club's president in 2005-06.