About the Firm

When trusted relationships go bad it can be difficult to know what to do next. The Law Office of Mark D. Nelson in Gig Harbor, WA specializes in handling high-conflict family and business litigation locally and across Washington state. Our dedicated staff understands that your case is about more than winning or losing, it’s about identifying priorities, regaining control, and seeking meaningful results. The combination of our big-firm experience and small-firm efficiency allows us to be accessible, responsive, and effective when managing cases of all sizes and complexity.

 

Mark D. Nelson | Principal Attorney

Mark’s diverse background lends itself to all aspects of family and business law He began his legal career in 2005 as a deputy prosecutor in King County, Washington. Prior to founding his own firm, he was an associate criminal defense and family law attorney in Tacoma, WA. He has served as a Pro Tempore Commissioner for Pierce County Superior Court since 2014 and earned a certificate in civil mediation from the National Judicial College in 2017.

Mark has extensive litigation experience, representing businesses in complex contractual and administrative disputes, as well as individuals in high-conflict domestic matters, at all levels of the state and federal courts in Washington. His broad experience has provided him with a keen intuition for prioritizing issues and developing results-yielding strategies. He is passionate about what he does and believes in providing honest, straight-forward and compassionate legal counsel.
Mark is President of the Harbor History Museum Board of Trustees, Vice President of the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association Family Law Section, an active member of the Fox Island Historical Society Board of Directors, and a Barrister with The Honorable Robert J. Bryan American Inns of Court in Tacoma. He is a Northwest native and when he’s not at the office he can be found fishing for salmon, playing guitar, or cheering on the Huskies.

Education

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 2006
CALI Excellence for the Future Award

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
B.A. Psychology, 1990

Certifications & Training
  • Admitted in Washington State and U.S. District Court for Western District of Washington
  • National College of District Attorney’s Conference on Domestic Violence, Oct. 2007
  • Persuasive Appellate Writing, June 2009
  • Collaborative Law Mediation Training, Oct. 2011
  • Complex Parenting Issues in Divorce, March 2013
  • Civil Mediation Certificate, Oct. 2017