Jeff Nelson

Jeff Nelson received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Utah, and his J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, and also studied at Universität Konstanz, in Konstanz, Germany.  He practiced law, primarily in banking and finance, in New York City and Germany for 32 years. He was then Area Legal Counsel for the Europe Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, for four years, which assignment included issues of freedom of religion, the interplay between law and religion and interfaith dialogue and support. After finishing his Area Legal Counsel assignment, he acted as Senior Counsel for the Church for two years in Salt Lake City, Utah, overseeing the legal affairs of various departments of the Church. Upon his retirement, he was appointed Senior Fellow of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies in July 2022, together with his wife, Janet, after affiliating with the Center for more than 15 years.