Attorneys
Contact Debra
Debra S. Nelson is a shareholder at Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd., located in Maple Grove, Minnesota. As Chair of the firm's Business Law and Nonprofit Organizations Department and a member of the Real Estate Department, she brings more than 33 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, general business and corporate law, real estate law, contracts, employment law, nonprofit law, and business succession.
Read More
Debra represents business and nonprofit clients of all sizes-from start-up ventures to multimillion-dollar companies- across a wide range of industries. By building trusted and lasting relationships with her clients, she gains a thorough understanding of their strategic goals and plans
for the future, allowing her to provide practical guidance and i1movative solutions tailored to their specific needs.
She guides clients through every stage of the business lifecycle, from formation and day-to-day operations to complex mergers and acquisitions and succession plam1ing. Her work with nonprofit organizations encompasses governance, compliance, and strategic plamung matters.
Coming from a large farm family in Nebraska, Debra understands the desire to protect the legacy of real property and family businesses for future generations. She leverages her expertise in both business and real estate law to help families achieve these goals efficiently and effectively. Her
real estate experience includes the acquisition and sale of commercial, agricultural, and family recreational properties, as well as drafting and negotiating development agreements, leases, and easements.
In the employment law arena, Debra advises employers on general employee issues and drafts employee handbooks, company policies, employment agreements, non-solicitation agreements, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, and severance agreements. She advises clients regarding many different employment issues facing business owners in today's market.
Debra is a frequent speaker on business law, employment law, family cabin LLCs, and business succession planning. She is active in her community through her church and volunteer work and served as a Board Member of the Scleroderma Foundation-Minnesota Chapter for more than 10
years. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Primary Areas of Practice
Debra S. Nelson
Shareholder
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Education
- University Of Nebraska College of Law – Lincoln, Nebraska, Juris Doctorate
- University Of Nebraska College of Business – Lincoln, Nebraska, Bachelor Of Science In Business Administration With Emphasis In Finance
Publications and Presentations
- Game Changers for your Business or Nonprofit, H & S Seminar, 2018
- Free Informational Business Seminar, H & S Seminar, 2018
- Estate Planning for Business Owners, H & S Seminars & Webinar, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Keeping the Cabin in the Family – Cabin Trust or LLC, H & S Seminar, 2019
- Important Employment Law Pointers – Minimum Wage and Much More, H & S Seminar, 2019
- Small Business Owners: A Handshake Isn't Enough, H & S Webinar, 2020
- Strategize for Success: Estate & Succession Planning for Business Owners, H&S Webinar, 2020
- Protect the Family Cabin, H & S Webinar, 2021
- Small Business Succession and Estate Planning, H&S Webinar, 2021
- Protect the Family Cabin, H&S Webinar, 2021
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Member
- Minnesota Bar Association, Member
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Member
Serving Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Northwest Metro & Beyond
Serving Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Northwest Metro & Beyond
Interested in working with Henningson & Snoxell? Our office is centrally located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, with accessible parking and convenient travel from the Twin Cities and northwest metro.

