About Marisa Catherine
Marisa Catherine Nelson built her path to the law through two different kinds of studies. She graduated from California State University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2001 with a B.A. that combined modern languages and literatures with geography and anthropology. She then earned a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2008, where her coursework included technology contracting, tax law, and legal research.
Her early legal work mixed public service and academic support. In 2011 she volunteered as a legal research lawyer in the San Mateo County Superior Court’s probate department. The following year she served as a volunteer tax preparer for Tax-Aid and worked as a research assistant to Professor Julie Nice. She also qualified as a notary public through the California Secretary of State from 2012 until 2020.
Nelson launched her own practice in 2012, forming the Law Office of Marisa Nelson, PC and serving as its founding lawyer and chief executive. That same period included membership in several professional organizations. She joined the State Bar of California and the San Mateo County Bar Association in 2011 and maintained an American Bar Association membership from 2008 through 2012. She was also a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco from 2011 to 2014.
Her subsequent engagements broadened her experience at established firms. In 2016 she worked of counsel at Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley PC. She later took on an associate role at Watson & Machado LLP in 2018. Those positions followed her earlier volunteer and research roles and preceded her continued leadership of her own firm.
Those formative roles sharpened practical skills in legal research and tax matters and provided exposure to contracting issues that arise in technology and business settings. The record shows a mix of client work and pro bono or volunteer efforts that connect estate and probate research with tax preparation and contractual matters.
Colleagues and clients describe Nelson as methodical and detail-oriented in handling documents and analysis. She practices in California and has maintained her State Bar membership since 2011. She now leads the Law Office of Marisa Nelson, PC, where her practice concentrates on matters arising from technology contracting, tax issues, and related legal research work.
