Washington, DC—Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, announces today that Melissa Nelson has joined the Firm’s top-ranked Hotels and Leisure practice as partner, resident in the Washington, DC, office. Nelson has most recently focused on advising clients on all stages and facets of commercial real estate. 

Nelson, who joins from private practice, currently focuses on real estate, serving as a first-chair lawyer on her clients’ matters. In addition to extensive client work for two well-known retailers, she represents developers, lenders, landlords, tenants, equity investors, real estate investment trusts (REITS) and pension fund advisers, working on acquisitions and dispositions around the country that involve complex structures, including those involving Shari’ah financing, as well as membership interest acquisitions and sales. Her experience representing both regional and national landlords and tenants allows her to follow market trends not just inside the Beltway and in surrounding states, but also across the country. Nearly half of her experience involves advising clients in the hotel industry as well, and she will expand her client service at Dentons to incorporate both areas.

“The synergy between Melissa’s hospitality and real estate experience directly translates to value-added service for our clients,” said Dentons US CEO Mike McNamara. “Her presence on the East Coast will be a tremendous support to our highly regarded REITs capabilities and our best-in-class hospitality practice. Melissa adds to our team’s creative and practical solutions regarding acquisitions and dispositions, financing, management agreements and more.”

Previously, Nelson spent eight years advising developers, hotel owners and operators, builders and resort owners and operators in the areas of planning, development, restructuring and operating of resorts, master-planned communities and various types of condominium developments, including office, condo-hotels and condominium conversions. She has skills in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of complex agreements for clients, including management agreements, licensing agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, covenants, declarations and development agreements. Nelson’s client base in Florida includes developers of high-end resorts throughout Florida and the Caribbean, which contain extensive amenities, including golf courses, beach clubs, marinas, shopping, restaurants and conference centers.

In addition to her practice, Nelson is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) DC, the Real Estate Group, the Urban Land Institute and Lombardi Women. She earned her JD from Emory Law School and her BA from the University of Virginia.

About Dentons

Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com