Top Attorney – Vigo G. (Chip) Nielsen, Jr.
San Rafael, CA/Press/– Mr. Vigo G. (Chip) Nielsen, Jr (ret.), a founding Attorney and top government law strategist with the firm NIELSEN MERKSAMER, was selected for inclusion in the forthcoming Top Attorneys of North America 2024-2025 edition,
Chip Nielsen (retired) is a founder and former senior partner of the firm. With 45+ years of experience as a senior political law lawyer specializing in campaign finance, initiative, lobbying, conflict of interest and non-profit laws, he has played a very important role as one of the firm’s top government law strategists and has been actively involved in California state politics and government for over four decades. He has been referred to as the “dean of the California campaign finance Bar.”
Nielsen Merksamer is one of the preeminent political law, government law, and lobbying firms in the country, serving a national clientele that includes leading businesses, non-profits, trade associations, individuals, unions and public agencies.
Of the nearly 350 California statewide and local ballot measures represented by this firm, Chip was General Counsel to 55 statewide and 25 local early ones, and he has participated as a co-legal compliance counsel in most all of these recent ballot measure committees; he has also been the author of a half dozen statewide initiatives.
Chip is part of the firm’s team that represents new clients who have realized they have violated federal or state political laws and will be investigated. He has incorporated and represented over 40 non-profit charities, social welfare organizations and trade associations. He has Bar Admissions with the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Attorney Chip Nielsen is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with his J.D., as well as Yale University with a B.A., cum laude. Chip holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest (AV) rating, and his Chambers USA ranking is top-tier in political law nationwide.
The Top Attorneys of North America, a New York based publication, distinguishes and profiles leading attorneys who have reached a recognizable degree of success and leadership in their field. The directory is valued for promoting awareness of the accomplishments within the North American legal community.