Joseph L. Nelson

Joe joined Dean & Gibson, PLLC, in 2011. He focuses his practice on insurance and aviation defense, personal injury, auto & trucking accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death matters.

Originally from Chicago, Joe earned his bachelor's degree in economics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. While at St. Olaf, he played the bassoon and contrabassoon in the St. Olaf orchestras and interned in the Minnesota State Senate. He later attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he earned his law degree with a focus in trial advocacy. During law school, Joe worked as a paralegal, preparing cases for and assisting attorneys at trial. He also studied in London as a part of Loyola's comparative advocacy program, and was a member of the Annals of Health Law. After graduating, Joe defended hospitals and healthcare providers in medical negligence actions, nursing homes in long-term care cases, and other entities in general tort and FELA cases for several years in Chicago before relocating to the Charlotte area. He is admitted to practice before the North Carolina and Illinois state courts, and before the United States District Courts for the Western, Central and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, and for the Northern District of Illinois.

Outside of the office, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and two children exploring the Carolinas. He holds a private pilot's license and is a classically trained chef.