Overview
Mark T. Nelson, Counsel and former Vice President and Secretary of Butzel's Board of Directors, practices in the firm's Ann Arbor office. He is an honors graduate of Detroit College of Law (J.D. 1976) and The University of Michigan (B.A. 1973). He has been listed in Best Lawyers, Michigan Super Lawyers and DBusiness Top Lawyers.
Mr. Nelson is a seasoned litigator specializing in employment litigation, particularly ERISA litigation as well as trust and estate litigation. Since joining Butzel in 1979, Mr. Nelson has represented a multitude of clients in both the public and private sector. He has extensive trial experience in both Federal and State of Michigan courts.
In the employment area, Mr. Nelson has successfully tried contract and discrimination claims to jury verdict; he has also defended employers in cases involving ADA, FMLA, COBRA, ERISA (retiree healthcare class actions) and severance pay plans.
Mr. Nelson also has extensive trial experience in several Michigan Probate Courts. He has successfully tried will contests in bench and jury trials. He has defended as well as challenged the validity of trust and estate documents, the mental capacity of the settlor and/or testator and the accounts of fiduciaries. His probate litigation experience also includes actions to remove and surcharge trustees and personal representatives for their malfeasance and breaches of fiduciary duty.
Mr. Nelson is also active in community organizations and has served on several boards: Holy Family (formerly Boysville of Michigan), the Livonia Hockey Association, the Michigan Cougars AAU Girls' Basketball Club and Walnut Creek Country Club (President 2007). He served as a law clerk to the Honorable James Harvey, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, 1977-1979. He is a member of the Litigation and Probate Sections of the American Bar Association and State Bar of Michigan.
Primary Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
Detroit College of Law 1976, J.D.
University of Michigan 1973, B.A.
Admissions
- Michigan
Memberships
- American Bar Association - Litigation and Probate Sections
- State Bar of Michigan - Litigation and Probate Sections
- Holy Family (formerly Boysville of Michigan) - Board Member
- Livonia Hockey Association - Board Member
- Michigan Cougars AAU Girls' Basketball Club - Board Member
- Walnut Creek Country Club - Board Member (President 2007)
Awards & Recognitions
Awards & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Labor and Employment; Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2018-2021, 2023, 2024
Michigan Super Lawyers, Estate & Trust Litigation, Employment Litigation, 2007, 2014-2018
DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits, 2019, 2021 & 2023