Amy Nelson

Founder and CEO

2023 - Current

Co-CEO and Founder

2017 - 2024

The Riveter is an award winning membership network built to advance and amplify women's work. We offer courses, a work marketplace, community and tools. We've welcomed thousands of members, hosted speakers from Robin Roberts to Abby Wambach and Howard Schultz, learned about everything from social media to starting a business to goal-setting from experts, and raised $30 million in venture capital to fuel our growth. You can see more at www.theriveter.co or find me on twitter at @amy_k_nelson

Investment Partner

2019 - 2021

XFactor Ventures is looking for tenacious female founders and mixed-gender founding teams attacking billion-dollar market opportunities. We invest $150k into pre-seed or seed stage rounds and provide advice, mentorship, and connections to help our companies succeed. The XFactor investing partners are current successful operators, collectively raising over $500M in capital, hiring thousands of employees, but who are still in the trenches every day. If you're a female founder working on a big idea, let's connect!”

Contributor

2018 - 2021

Senior Corporate Counsel, Business and Consumer Litigation

2015 - 2017

Managed a large commercial litigation caseload, including class actions, marketing/advertising, vendor and dealer matters, regulatory agency complaints and a variety of other commercial and consumer-oriented litigation. Responsible for all aspects of case management, including oversight of outside counsel, setting case strategy, setting and managing case budgets, as well as managing the litigation proceedings and filings (including conducting internal fact investigation, preparing and filling pleadings, handling discovery, reviewing legal briefs, and preparing cases for trial and/or settlement). Advised supervisors and internal clients on legal and business risks.

Attorney

2011 - 2015

Practice covered a broad spectrum, including class action litigation, securities litigation, federal and state investigations, and healthcare litigation. Clients included leading financial institutions, healthcare providers, managed care organizations, and industrial companies. Completed a six-month secondment with a leading global medical device company and managed a portfolio of securities class action litigations and regulatory investigations related to the manufacture and sale of a highly regulated bone-growth product. Selected as a Rising Star by Washington Super Lawyers in 2014 and 2015. Served as a member of the firm’s Banking Industry Group and completed one term as the elected Chair of the firmwide Associates’ Council. Presented a CLE entitled, “Recent FCPA Developments and Conducting Internal Investigations" to the WSBA International Law Section. Through extensive experience dealing with discovery issues in complex litigation and investigations, developed substantial knowledge and proficiency in the area of electronic discovery. Served as a member of the firm’s global E-Discovery Practice Group and managed both offensive and defensive electronic discovery in complex litigation. Experience counseling clients on the establishment of records management policies, litigation hold procedures, the form of document production, and the role of metadata. Managed document preservation, identification, review and production from the inception of various private litigations involving multi-million page document productions to multiple parties. Negotiated extensive protocols for document review and production. Prepared fact witnesses for depositions, taken and defended numerous depositions, and engaged in extensive discovery motions practice.

Attorney

2006 - 2011

Represented one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies in connection with all matters arising out of its rating of securities backed by subprime mortgages, including SEC examinations, lawsuits, investigations by several state attorneys general and federal agencies, and congressional inquiries. Conducted internal investigation for client concerning issues related to potential lawsuits and investigations. Assisted in preparation of Petition of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court concerning application of the Noerr-Pennington antitrust doctrine to lobbyists. Advised clients on the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and proposed and final rules issued by the SEC under the Act. Drafted motions, briefs and pleadings; conducted interviews; prepared fact witnesses for depositions and testimony. Researched and analyzed case law to develop litigation strategy for clients. Assisted with due diligence on multinational merger and acquisition deals to assess risk. Managed discovery process and oversaw work of junior associates. Coordinated firmwide pro bono legal program assisting U.S. veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with disability benefits and discharge processes. Selected by firm partnership to serve on firm Recruiting Committee and to mentor junior associates.

Policy Director and Legal Advisor

2006 - 2006

Key member of post-election legal team for top-tier congressional campaign. Worked with outside counsel to develop strategy for ballot recount. Researched proper treatment of provisional ballots under state and federal law. Developed policy, crafted message, and implemented debate preparation plan. Organized campaign events with visiting elected officials and campaign surrogates including President Bill Clinton and Senator Barack Obama. Managed candidate’s daily schedule and served as candidate’s aide. Conducted self and opposition research.

Post-Electoral Process Consultant (Ethiopia)

2005 - 2005

In Ethiopia, observed post-election complaint panels investigating electoral fraud in conflict areas. Worked with national electoral authority to draft terms of reference and rules of procedure for panels. Interviewed witnesses and worked to develop best practices in observation. Prepared comprehensive analysis of the process.

Jamaica Project Coordinator

2001 - 2002

In Atlanta and Jamaica, wrote reports for projects on freedom of information legislation and implementation, anti-corruption legal mechanisms, and electoral observation. Assisted with coordination of 60-person international election observation delegation for 2002 Jamaican Parliamentary elections. Completed assessment of political situation, potential for violence, and past electoral performance to help determine placement for election observers in Jamaica. Assisted in formation and development of working group in Atlanta with international corporations and law firms, to promote ethical business practices under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Liaised with political and civil society leaders. Compiled weekly reports for President Carter and senior staff summarizing and assessing political conditions in various Latin American and Caribbean nations.