About Nelson
The Best In The WestNelson A. Waneka, the founder and principal attorney of Western Slope Law, is widely recognized as one of the top insurance, personal injury, and appellate lawyers in all of Colorado.He's secured dozens of seven-figure recoveries for his clients—including several approaching or exceeding $20,000,000. He started Western Slope Law on the idea that you shouldn't have to go to Denver to hire one of the very best lawyers in the state.A Recognized Leader In His FieldWhile many lawyers claim to be insurance experts, Nelson actually is. You won't find anyone else on the Western Slope with more industry recognition litigating insurance claims. Following a rigorous peer-selection process, Nelson has twice been selected by The Best Lawyers in America to be Colorado "Lawyer of the Year" in insurance law. 5280 Magazine has named him a Top Lawyer in insurance law for five years in a row.For the last 10 years, Nelson has been selected by his peers to be a Colorado Super Lawyer in insurance coverage. And Chambers USA, one of the oldest and most prestigious attorney ranking companies in the world, has selected and ranked Nelson in its 2024 guide of top lawyers.A Wealth Of ExperienceNelson is a tenth-generation Coloradan. He received his undergraduate degree with honors from The University of Northern Colorado with a major in journalism. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law—where he served as Articles Editor of the law review and graduated among the top 10 students in his class.Before moving to the Western Slope in 2020, Nelson held every job in a major Denver law firm that would eventually bear his name: Levin Sitcoff Waneka PC. Prior to law school, he started as the firm's receptionist before being promoted to a file clerk and then a paralegal.Following law school, Nelson clerked for Judge Diana Terry of the Colorado Court of Appeals, where he assisted in the preparation of approximately 25 appellate opinions. After his judicial clerkship, Nelson returned as an associate attorney to the law firm where he started his legal career. Eventually, Nelson became a named shareholder at the same firm where he started as a receptionist many years earlier.Over the course of 19 years, Nelson gained experience in running every aspect of an industry-leading law firm. Nelson has personally handled hundreds of insurance and injury cases—resulting in well over $100,000,000 in recoveries for his clients. He's successfully tried many cases to verdict. And he's handled approximately 100 appeals in Colorado state and federal courts—resulting in a large number of landmark decisions that changed Colorado law for the better.Committed To The CommunityNelson has dedicated his life to helping people, being the best lawyer he can be, and strengthening his community. Having lost the eldest of their three daughters to pediatric brain cancer in 2018, Nelson and his wife Carrina started the Colorado chapter of The Cure Starts Now—the largest private funder of pediatric brain cancer in the world. Over the last six years, Nelson and Carrina have personally raised more than $150,000 in critically-needed research funds. Nelson is likewise President of the School Board for Two Rivers Community School, an exemplary K-8 public school serving 392 students in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.Nelson is frequently asked to speak and educate other lawyers on personal injury and insurance issues, and he was Co-Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Torts Law Update CLE for approximately 5 years. He's published a large number of articles and presentations on legal issues surrounding insurance and personal injury law. He's an active member of The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, where he served as Co-Chair of the Insurance Bad Faith Committee from 2016-2019 and authored more than 15 amicus briefs on insurance issues in Colorado appellate courts.
The Best In The WestNelson A. Waneka, the founder and principal attorney of Western Slope Law, is widely recognized as one of the top insurance, personal injury, and appellate lawyers in all of Colorado.He's secured dozens of seven-figure recoveries for his clients—including several approaching or exceeding $20,000,000. He started Western Slope Law on the idea that you shouldn't have to go to Denver to hire one of the very best lawyers in the state.A Recognized Leader In His FieldWhile many lawyers claim to be insurance experts, Nelson actually is. You won't find anyone else on the Western Slope with more industry recognition litigating insurance claims. Following a rigorous peer-selection process, Nelson has twice been selected by The Best Lawyers in America to be Colorado "Lawyer of the Year" in insurance law. 5280 Magazine has named him a Top Lawyer in insurance law for five years in a row.For the last 10 years, Nelson has been selected by his peers to be a Colorado Super Lawyer in insurance coverage. And Chambers USA, one of the oldest and most prestigious attorney ranking companies in the world, has selected and ranked Nelson in its 2024 guide of top lawyers.A Wealth Of ExperienceNelson is a tenth-generation Coloradan. He received his undergraduate degree with honors from The University of Northern Colorado with a major in journalism. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law—where he served as Articles Editor of the law review and graduated among the top 10 students in his class.Before moving to the Western Slope in 2020, Nelson held every job in a major Denver law firm that would eventually bear his name: Levin Sitcoff Waneka PC. Prior to law school, he started as the firm's receptionist before being promoted to a file clerk and then a paralegal.Following law school, Nelson clerked for Judge Diana Terry of the Colorado Court of Appeals, where he assisted in the preparation of approximately 25 appellate opinions. After his judicial clerkship, Nelson returned as an associate attorney to the law firm where he started his legal career. Eventually, Nelson became a named shareholder at the same firm where he started as a receptionist many years earlier.Over the course of 19 years, Nelson gained experience in running every aspect of an industry-leading law firm. Nelson has personally handled hundreds of insurance and injury cases—resulting in well over $100,000,000 in recoveries for his clients. He's successfully tried many cases to verdict. And he's handled approximately 100 appeals in Colorado state and federal courts—resulting in a large number of landmark decisions that changed Colorado law for the better.Committed To The CommunityNelson has dedicated his life to helping people, being the best lawyer he can be, and strengthening his community. Having lost the eldest of their three daughters to pediatric brain cancer in 2018, Nelson and his wife Carrina started the Colorado chapter of The Cure Starts Now—the largest private funder of pediatric brain cancer in the world. Over the last six years, Nelson and Carrina have personally raised more than $150,000 in critically-needed research funds. Nelson is likewise President of the School Board for Two Rivers Community School, an exemplary K-8 public school serving 392 students in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.Nelson is frequently asked to speak and educate other lawyers on personal injury and insurance issues, and he was Co-Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Torts Law Update CLE for approximately 5 years. He's published a large number of articles and presentations on legal issues surrounding insurance and personal injury law. He's an active member of The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, where he served as Co-Chair of the Insurance Bad Faith Committee from 2016-2019 and authored more than 15 amicus briefs on insurance issues in Colorado appellate courts.
Nelson A. Waneka, the founder and principal attorney of Western Slope Law, is widely recognized as one of the top insurance, personal injury, and appellate lawyers in all of Colorado.
He's secured dozens of seven-figure recoveries for his clients—including several approaching or exceeding $20,000,000. He started Western Slope Law on the idea that you shouldn't have to go to Denver to hire one of the very best lawyers in the state.
While many lawyers claim to be insurance experts, Nelson actually is. You won't find anyone else on the Western Slope with more industry recognition litigating insurance claims. Following a rigorous peer-selection process, Nelson has twice been selected by The Best Lawyers in America to be Colorado "Lawyer of the Year" in insurance law. 5280 Magazine has named him a Top Lawyer in insurance law for five years in a row.
For the last 10 years, Nelson has been selected by his peers to be a Colorado Super Lawyer in insurance coverage. And Chambers USA, one of the oldest and most prestigious attorney ranking companies in the world, has selected and ranked Nelson in its 2024 guide of top lawyers.
Nelson is a tenth-generation Coloradan. He received his undergraduate degree with honors from The University of Northern Colorado with a major in journalism. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law—where he served as Articles Editor of the law review and graduated among the top 10 students in his class.
Before moving to the Western Slope in 2020, Nelson held every job in a major Denver law firm that would eventually bear his name: Levin Sitcoff Waneka PC. Prior to law school, he started as the firm's receptionist before being promoted to a file clerk and then a paralegal.
Following law school, Nelson clerked for Judge Diana Terry of the Colorado Court of Appeals, where he assisted in the preparation of approximately 25 appellate opinions. After his judicial clerkship, Nelson returned as an associate attorney to the law firm where he started his legal career. Eventually, Nelson became a named shareholder at the same firm where he started as a receptionist many years earlier.
Over the course of 19 years, Nelson gained experience in running every aspect of an industry-leading law firm. Nelson has personally handled hundreds of insurance and injury cases—resulting in well over $100,000,000 in recoveries for his clients. He's successfully tried many cases to verdict. And he's handled approximately 100 appeals in Colorado state and federal courts—resulting in a large number of landmark decisions that changed Colorado law for the better.
Nelson has dedicated his life to helping people, being the best lawyer he can be, and strengthening his community. Having lost the eldest of their three daughters to pediatric brain cancer in 2018, Nelson and his wife Carrina started the Colorado chapter of The Cure Starts Now—the largest private funder of pediatric brain cancer in the world. Over the last six years, Nelson and Carrina have personally raised more than $150,000 in critically-needed research funds. Nelson is likewise President of the School Board for Two Rivers Community School, an exemplary K-8 public school serving 392 students in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Nelson is frequently asked to speak and educate other lawyers on personal injury and insurance issues, and he was Co-Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Torts Law Update CLE for approximately 5 years. He's published a large number of articles and presentations on legal issues surrounding insurance and personal injury law. He's an active member of The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, where he served as Co-Chair of the Insurance Bad Faith Committee from 2016-2019 and authored more than 15 amicus briefs on insurance issues in Colorado appellate courts.
