[NASHWAUK, MN] – Mesabi Metallics Company LLC (Mesabi Metallics) is proud to announce that its Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Jessica Nelson, has been named the 2025 recipient of the University of St. Thomas School of Law’s Alumna Achievement Award and a finalist for Solo General Counsel of the Year as part of The American Lawyer’s 2025 Industry Awards.
The St. Thomas Law Alumna Achievement Award honors graduates who demonstrate leadership, excellence and integrity in their professional and personal lives. In recognizing Nelson, the law school highlighted her “leadership, professionalism, hard work, excellence and respect for others”—qualities she exemplifies daily in her service to Mesabi Metallics and the broader legal community.
“Jessica Nelson represents everything we hope our graduates will become—professionally excellent, deeply ethical and committed to service,” said Daniel B. Kelly, Dean and Mengler Chair in Law of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Her leadership and impact within a complex, high-stakes industry reflect the kind of principled professionalism that defines the St. Thomas Law community. We are proud to celebrate her achievements.”
Additionally, Nelson has been named a finalist in the national Solo General Counsel of the Year category for The American Lawyer’s 2025 Best Legal Department Awards, which celebrate excellence across the legal profession nationwide. Winners will be announced at The American Lawyer Industry Awards ceremony on November 13, 2025, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
As General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for Mesabi Metallics, Nelson leads the company’s legal strategy for its multi-billion-dollar mining and pellet plant project—the first new mine and plant of its kind in Minnesota in nearly 50 years. Based in Nashwauk, Minnesota, the project is strengthening the region’s economy, creating jobs and positioning Minnesota at the forefront of sustainable steelmaking.
Nelson served as Mesabi Metallics’ lead outside counsel before being appointed to her current role in March 2025. A former Minnesota Lawyer “Attorney of the Year” and “Top Women in Law” honoree, she has built a reputation for legal excellence, strategic leadership and community service.
“Jessica embodies the integrity, perseverance and innovative spirit that define Mesabi Metallics,” said Joe Broking, President & CEO of Mesabi Metallics. “Her leadership and steady guidance have been instrumental in advancing one of the most significant industrial projects in Minnesota’s history.”
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my alma mater and peers, because these awards in particular reflect the values I strive to bring to my work every day,” said Nelson. “At Mesabi Metallics, we’re building something that will have lasting impact in Minnesota. I’m proud to contribute to a project that aligns innovation, sustainability and opportunity, and I’m grateful for the team that makes this work possible.”
Beyond her work at Mesabi Metallics, Nelson continues to mentor young attorneys, contribute thought leadership within her profession and volunteer in her community, including at her church in West Saint Paul and through pro bono legal service to nonprofits.
