Biography

David Hyland Nelson was born in 1955 in Lake Providence, Louisiana. He completed his undergraduate studies at Louisiana Tech University in 1977, and in 1981, he obtained his Juris Doctorate Degree from the Louisiana State University, Paul M. Herbert Law Center.

Following his graduation, David relocated to Monroe, Louisiana, where he embarked on his legal career by joining an established defense firm, specializing in various forms of insurance defense litigation. In August 2001, David and his three partners decided to establish their own firm, Nelson, Zentner, Sartor & Snellings, LLC, where he currently practices law.

For the past two decades, David has concentrated his legal practice primarily on medical malpractice defense, product liability defense, and premises liability defense. He continues to be involved in automobile liability defense cases.

David is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, The Louisiana Association for Defense Counsel. Additionally, he held the position of Chairman of the Young Lawyers section for the Louisiana State Bar Association from 1989 to 1990.  On January 1, 2025, David's position with the firm was changed to 'Of Counsel' status in anticipation of retirement.  

Notably, David H. Nelson was a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers from 2016 to 2024.