Directory

Allen W. Nelson has spent the last 20 years working as an in-house lawyer with two international/global companies. He most recently spent 11 years as the General Counsel of Crawford & Company, a NYSE-listed, global claims administration firm. In that role, Mr. Nelson was responsible for the company's legal function on a global basis as well as working closely with the company's CEOs, CFOs and Board on a comprehensive range of strategic issues. Mr. Nelson also was responsible the company's ethics and compliance, internal audit, corporate communications, human resources, and real estate functions at various times over the course of his years with the company. Prior to joining Crawford, Mr. Nelson spent eight years at BellSouth, the Fortune 100 telecommunications company. While at BellSouth, Mr. Nelson handled international commercial arbitration, litigation, employment and labor law, mergers & acquisitions, IP matters, risk management issues, “crazy people” cases, and many other matters. His last position at BellSouth was Chief Compliance counsel. Prior to BellSouth, Mr. Nelson practiced at two Atlanta law firms for eight years. Mr. Nelson has been a frequent speaker over the years on a wide variety of topics, including in-house practice, alternative fee arrangements, a variety of insurance law issues, the Americans with Disabilities Act, diversity in the law, among other topics.

Mr. Nelson is a partner in the law firm Taylor English Duma LLC, and a Senior Lecturing Fellow at the Duke University School of Law. He graduated cum laude from Duke's Trinity College with an A.B. in history (with honors) and religion. He was a J.R. Parkinson Memorial Scholar at the Duke University School of Law. While a law student, Mr. Nelson taught freshman English to Duke undergraduates. Mr. Nelson has been involved in a wide range of alumni-related activities, including serving on the Duke Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, serving as Co-Chair of Duke Atlanta, as well as being involved in the Duke ESQ program and teaching at Wintersession. He received a 2017 “Forever Duke” award by the Duke University Alumni Association. Among many not-for-profit activities, Mr. Nelson also has served as Chair of the Board of Atlanta Ballet since 2009 as well as serving on the Board of the Woodruff Arts Center, the country's third largest arts center.