Melissa W. Nelson

Melissa is the Chief Talent Officer at Levenfeld Pearlstein. She manages all aspects of the firm’s human resources systems and initiatives, leads recruiting and retention of the firm’s talent, oversees practice operations and learning and professional development programs, and develops programs designed to nurture the firm’s culture.

As a member of the firm’s Professional Development Committee, Melissa leads attorney growth, development, and promotions. She also works with the firm’s Compensation Committee to assess compensation. She designs and implements strategies that leverage LP’s values to develop talent, support wellbeing, and drive behavior and change. Taking a strategic and cohesive approach, Melissa works with firm leadership to align talent with the firm’s vision and business succession planning.

Melissa is passionate about coaching and helping others build relationships at every career stage. She listens to each person’s professional and personal objectives to understand and achieve their goals. In her previous role as LP’s Chief Learning and Development Officer, Melissa often instructed attorneys and staff on how to have challenging conversations and effectively solve problems or conflicts. She continues to prioritize conflict resolution and effective feedback in her role as Chief Talent Officer.

Melissa frequently presents on a variety of professional development topics. She presented at the 2022 Professional Development Consortium Conference about building a culture of Courageous Civility, a solution that drives innovation and results. Melissa has also presented on Managing Fairness for Better Health at the Employee Wellness Summit for Law Firms & Professional Services. She earned a master’s degree in leadership and organizational development from Saint Louis University and previously worked at two of the largest law firms in the nation.

.