Nelson Schmidt

BA 1967, Political Science
JD 1971, Valparaiso University

Assistant General Counsel, 3M Corporation
Saint Paul, MN

Nelson Schmidt has practiced law for over 39 years.He began his career at 3M  Corporation in 1976 during which, Schmidt expanded regulatory practice to include matters with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Federal Food and Drug Administration. In addition, Schmidt managed major anti-trust and mass tort litigation involving asbestos and silica matters and coordinated the efforts of up to 85 outside law firms to develop appropriate and effective defenses.

Prior to joining 3M Corporation, Schmidt was an associate attorney at the law firm of Vedder, Price, Kaufman, and Kamholtz in Chicago. During his time at Vedder Price he gained extensive experience in the field of labor law that included such matters under the National Labor Relations Act such as union certification and desertification elections, and unfair labor practice charges. Schmidt also handled cases and regulatory issues that included the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Wage and Hour Board under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Schmidt has served as a member of business operating committees for over 33 years providing business counsel and helping implement plans for growth and expansion through internal means as well as through acquisitions. He has volunteered for the Minnesota Children’s Law Center, which handles custody related cases for children from broken homes.

Schmidt is a member of the Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota Bar Associations.