About Kurt
Kurt Nilson graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2003. He moved into practice the same year, beginning his legal career in a small firm setting. The early start gave him exposure to the day-to-day work of being a practicing attorney and to the practical demands of client representation.
He joined Mitchell H. Dugan & Associates, P.C. in 2003, where he worked as a lawyer before shifting to an in-house role in 2004 at University Park Plaza Corporation. That year in-house added a different rhythm to his practice. It brought him closer to the transactional and operational side of business and required a steadier, organizational perspective on legal problems.
By 2007 he returned to firm practice, taking a post with Spence, Custer, Saylor, Wolfe & Rose. He stayed until 2010, when he opened a private practice under the name Kurt R. Nilson, Lawyer at Law. Running his own practice has meant managing client intake, case strategy and the administrative tasks that come with a solo office. It also put him back into courtroom and client-facing work on a regular basis.
Outside the office, Nilson has held several board roles. He was on the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership board from 2007 to 2010. Since 2011 he has served on the board of Westmont Presbyterian Church. He joined the board of Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley in 2012 and remains on that board. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar.
Those experiences shape how he approaches cases. Time in a corporate legal department informed his approach to contract and operational issues. Years in firm practice reinforced litigation fundamentals and client counseling. Serving on nonprofit boards has given him a steady dose of organizational governance and community-oriented decision-making.
Colleagues describe Nilson as methodical and matter-of-fact in his work. He draws on both firm-side and corporate-side experience when advising clients. In private practice he handles matters for individuals and local businesses, balancing transactional work and representation where disputes arise.
Today he maintains his solo practice as Kurt R. Nilson, Lawyer at Law, serving clients in Pennsylvania and remaining active in community boards and the state bar. He continues to work on a range of legal matters for local clients.
