Debra Susan Nelson

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.

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.

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