Experience, Preparation and Personal Service
Every legal matter involves unique facts, personal concerns and important goals. At Tad Nelson & Associates, our attorneys take the time to understand each client and develop an approach suited to the case. Led by Tad Nelson and Amber Spurlock, the firm provides serious legal representation in an environment where clients feel comfortable asking questions. The Texas Judicial Branch explains how different Texas courts handle criminal, family and civil matters. Our experience across these systems helps us prepare clients for the legal process ahead.
Why Clients Choose Tad Nelson and Associates
Clients choose Tad Nelson & Associates for extensive courtroom experience, scientific training and personal service. The firm offers more than three decades of experience and a record that includes more than 400 jury trials. Its leadership includes a Board Certified criminal law specialist and two attorneys with advanced scientific training. Clients also receive support from a team that values clear communication, careful preparation and close attention to detail. Every case is approached according to its facts and the individual needs of the client.
A Firm Built in the Courtroom
Tad Nelson has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1991. From 1992 through 1995, he served as a felony prosecutor in the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Mike Guarino. He handled cases in the 10th Judicial District Court and tried 39 jury cases during those three years. That experience gave him direct knowledge of how prosecutors investigate allegations, develop arguments and present evidence. It also taught him how to identify weaknesses in the government’s case.
On June 1, 1995, Nelson moved to the defense side of the courtroom and founded Tad Nelson & Associates. Galveston County district judges soon began appointing him to demanding felony matters. These appointments included murder and sexual assault cases that required extensive preparation and confident courtroom advocacy. The trust placed in him by local judges helped establish the foundation of the firm’s criminal defense practice. Nelson has continued to build on that foundation throughout his career.
In 1996, Nelson became Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Between late 1998 and early 2000, he secured 18 consecutive not guilty verdicts. He has since tried more than 400 jury trials during a career spanning more than three decades. His experience has been developed through continuing education, careful preparation and direct work before judges and juries. Past results do not guarantee the outcome of any future case.
Scientific Training for Complex Evidence
Between 2010 and 2014, Nelson completed more than two and a half years of hands on scientific instruction through five intensive trips to Chicago. His training took place inside the operational laboratory of Dr. Edward Polite. In February 2014, he became the first person who was not an instructor in the course to earn the Lawyer Scientist designation through the American Chemical Society. He later earned a Master’s in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida in December 2016. This training helps him evaluate blood alcohol testing, forensic toxicology, drug analysis, DNA evidence and laboratory procedures.
Texas criminal cases are governed by requirements contained in the official Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Our attorneys examine how evidence was obtained, preserved, tested and presented. Scientific training allows the firm to question the methods and conclusions offered by government chemists, toxicologists and other experts. This knowledge is especially valuable in DWI, drug and other cases involving forensic evidence. The firm is prepared to answer scientific testimony with informed legal and scientific analysis.
Managing Partner Amber Spurlock
Managing Partner Amber Spurlock brings nearly two decades of experience across military, federal and civilian courts. Before entering private practice, she served as a Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force. Spurlock prosecuted court martial proceedings and served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in federal court. She also deployed to Baghdad and presented cases before Iraqi courts inside the Red Zone. Her early career included litigation across three legal systems on two continents.
Spurlock returned home to Galveston and brought her military discipline and courtroom experience into private practice. Her work includes criminal defense, family law, juvenile law, military law, criminal appeals and personal injury matters. She is particularly committed to representing veterans, juveniles and people experiencing mental health challenges. Spurlock earned the Lawyer Scientist designation from the American Chemical Society in 2015 and is an accredited Forensic Lawyer Scientist. She has also taught at numerous legal and professional seminars.
Together, Nelson and Spurlock give the firm two scientifically trained attorneys who can independently evaluate forensic evidence. Their combined knowledge allows them to examine the assumptions, procedures and conclusions presented by government experts. Spurlock’s leadership also reinforces a firm culture built around preparation, accountability and communication. These principles guide every case handled by the firm. Clients receive representation supported by both courtroom experience and advanced scientific knowledge.
Legal Representation Focused on the Client
Courtroom results and professional credentials are important, but clients also deserve guidance throughout the legal process. A person facing criminal charges may be concerned about freedom, employment, reputation and family. Someone involved in a divorce or custody dispute may be worried about finances, living arrangements and relationships with children. An injured person may be dealing with medical expenses, lost income and uncertainty about the future. Our attorneys and staff work to provide clear answers and respectful support during these difficult circumstances.
Every new employee at Tad Nelson & Associates is required to read Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. This requirement reinforces the belief that clients are not simply paying for a legal outcome. They are trusting the firm to guide them through a serious and often frightening period. The firm also uses artificial intelligence and modern case management technology to improve communication and organize information. These tools support personal legal representation without replacing professional judgment or direct attorney involvement.
Office Manager Shelly Darnell
Office Manager Shelly Darnell is a Galveston native with more than 40 years of legal experience. She began her career while attending Ball High School through its Vocational Office Education program. By her senior year, she was working part time at UTMB. Shortly before graduating in 1984, her instructor, Ms. Borsellino, recommended her for a position at Dibrell and Dibrell. That opportunity began a career dedicated to legal and court administration.
Darnell remained with Dibrell and Dibrell until 1995, when Trey Dibrell was elected judge of County Court at Law Number 2. She followed him to the court and served as Court Coordinator until 2006. Darnell then brought more than two decades of legal and court experience to Tad Nelson & Associates. She now manages the firm’s daily operations and helps ensure that every client, case and deadline receives proper attention. Her leadership allows the attorneys to remain focused on preparation, strategy and advocacy
Serving Galveston County and Greater Houston
Tad Nelson & Associates handles felonies, misdemeanors, drug offenses, sex crimes, federal charges and DWI defense. The firm also represents people accused of assault and violent crimes. Its civil practice includes family law, divorce and child custody as well as personal injury representation. Clients can find public court contacts and records information through the official Galveston County website. These public resources can be helpful, but they do not replace advice based on the specific facts of a case.
Deep Roots and Professional Leadership
Tad Nelson was born on Galveston Island and graduated from Ball High School in 1983 before attending the University of Texas at Austin. His professional affiliations have included the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association and National College for DUI Defense. They have also included the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, Harris County Bar Association, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, Galveston County Bar Association and State Bar College. Nelson has supported Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Galveston Rotary Club, the League City Lions Club and several local charitable events. His professional and community involvement reflects the same commitment to service that guides the firm’s legal practice.
Serious Representation With Personal Attention
Tad Nelson & Associates has spent more than three decades building its reputation through preparation, courtroom experience and personal service. The firm combines Tad Nelson’s background as a former felony prosecutor with the military, federal and scientific experience of Managing Partner Amber Spurlock. Office Manager Shelly Darnell supports that work through decades of experience with legal administration and court operations. Whether a matter involves criminal charges, family law or personal injury, every client receives serious and respectful attention. To arrange an initial consultation, call Tad Nelson & Associates at (281) 962 7626.