Bio
Don Nielsen’s practice focuses on environmental and land use law. He assists clients seeking flexibility in dealing with both comprehensive regulatory regimes and concerned communities. He has substantial experience assisting businesses, local governments and citizens in addressing environmental and land use challenges, negotiating agreements, including brownfields agreements, and handling permit applications and appeals. He has represented many different interests in state, federal and administrative courts, and before local legislative and quasi-judicial bodies including city and county elected bodies, planning boards, boards of adjustment and historic commissions. Don also works in the related areas of local government and administrative law, including restaurant regulation.
Education
Hamilton College (A.B., cum laude, 1979)
University of Virginia (M.A., 1981)
Northeastern University (M.A., 1983)
Duke University (J.D., with honors, 1990); Technical Editor, Law and Contemporary Problems
Bar / Court Admittance
1990, North Carolina
United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Practice(s)
Administrative Law, Administrative Litigation, Environmental Investigations, Environmental Law, Environmental Law Compliance, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Permitting, Historic Resources, Local Government Law, Zoning, Planning and Land Use
Membership(s)
Forsyth County Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association (Administrative Law Section Council; Environment, Energy & Natural Resources; Zoning, Planning & Land Use)
Civic Activities
Twin City Kiwanis Club, President (2012-2013)
Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Board
Liberty Community Development Corporation Board
Wachovia Historical Society Board of Directors
Chamber of Commerce Environmental and Energy Issues, Fiscal and Regulatory Issues Committees
Citizens Efficiency Review Committee
Forsyth County Genealogical Society (Past President)
Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission (Past Chairman)
Sykes Administrative Review Committee (Chairman)
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Census 2000 Complete Count Committee (Co-Chairman)
First Presbyterian Church
Awards / Honors
Business North Carolina magazine Legal Elite in Environmental Law (2004 - )
The Best Lawyers in America® in Land Use and Zoning Litigation (2012 - )
The Best Lawyers in America® in Environmental Law and Environmental Litigation (2013)
Matindale-Hubbell AV Rating
