Samuel P. Nielson is the Founder and Lead Attorney of Elite Employment Law APC, where he champions employee rights. He represents clients from all walks of life—ranging from top executives to minimum wage workers—in pre-litigation negotiations, administrative hearings, litigation, and trials.
Sam’s deep employment law expertise includes specializing in cases involving unpaid wages and overtime, retaliation, disability discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and sexual harassment. He honed these skills on both sides of the bar, starting at a large firm defending employers before switching to advocate only for employees. He also gained valuable experience externing for Judge Andrew J. Guilford of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Sam’s advocacy earns him frequent honors. Super Lawyers Magazine, for instance, has named Sam as either a “Super Lawyer” or a “Rising Star” in Employment Law every year since 2013. The online legal referral service Avvo rates Sam as 10/10, he has a “Distinguished” peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbel, The National Advocates recognized Sam as one of California’s “Top 40 Under 40” attorneys, and his legal work received national recognition in Employment Law360.
Sam currently serves as Vice Chair for the Orange County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section. He is also a past co-Chair of the Bar Association’s Education Committee, where he oversaw continuing legal education for the association’s approximately 9,000 members. Sam earned his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and holds degrees from the University of South Carolina and Brigham Young University.
Outside of work, Sam enjoys running, reading, martial arts, and competitive ballroom dancing. He actively participates in his church and community, contributing to various service and outreach programs. Above all, Sam treasures spending time with his wife and young children.
Honors/Awards
- Southern California Super Lawyer, Labor and Employment Law, Super Lawyers Magazine (2024)
- Up-and-Coming 100: Southern California Rising Stars, Super Lawyers Magazine (2019 to 2023)
- Up-and-Coming 25: Orange County Rising Stars, Super Lawyers Magazine (2019-2020, 2022-2023)
- Southern California Rising Star, Labor and Employment Law, Super Lawyers Magazine (2013 to 2023) (honor limited to 2.5% of attorneys in the state)
- Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services from the California State Bar (2013)
- Secretary/Treasurer – Orange County Bar Association Labor & Employment Section (2023)
- Chair, International Employment and Labor Law Section – J. Rueben Clark Law Society (2016 to present)
- Board of Directors – J. Rueben Clark Law Society (Orange County Chapter) (2015 to 2016)
- Education Committee Co-Chair – Orange County Bar Association (2015 to 2016)
- Executive Committee Member – Orange County Bar Association Labor & Employment Section (2012-2016; 2019 to present)
- Education Committee Member – Orange County Bar Association (2013-2016; 2020 to present)
- Writer – Iowa Law Review
- Volunteer, Supervisor, and Trainer for an international non-governmental organization in Belgium and France
- BV-Distinguished peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers by The National Advocates (2015)