B.A. University of Delaware 
J.D. Yale Law School

Nelson R. Sheingold currently serves as Counsel to the New York State Comptroller, where he directs the legal affairs of a constitutional statewide office. As such, Nelson provides legal guidance and oversees a staff of attorneys providing legal guidance on every aspect of the office’s operations including administration of the over $200 billion, million member New York State retirement system, audit of billions of dollars annually in state contracts and millions in state payments, and audits of state and local governments. Nelson also heads the Comptroller’s Division of Investigations, composed of a staff of attorneys, investigators and forensic auditors, which investigates fraud and corruption at every level of government. The Division’s work has led to hundreds of arrests and over $80 million in recovered stolen funds. Nelson joined the Comptroller’s office in 2011.

Nelson started his legal career serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Morgenthau, where he investigated and prosecuted a wide variety of crimes. In his last year, Nelson was appointed to the Special Investigations Unit, where he worked with federal and state authorities to investigate and prosecute multi-national narcotics and money laundering operations. After the District Attorney’s office, Nelson was employed with the New York Prosecutors Training Institute, where he provided legal support and guidance to prosecutors statewide.

From 2001 to 2007, Nelson served as an Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Litigation Bureau, where he defended New York State and its officers and employees in civil litigation in federal and state court. Nelson litigated numerous matters concerning constitutional issues and cases of first impression. In 2006, he was awarded the Louis J. Lefkowitz Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance on Behalf of the Attorney General. Nelson also served on multiple occasions as faculty on the Attorney General’s trial advocacy program.

In 2007, Nelson was appointed Chief Counsel to the New York State Inspector General, where he served as the chief legal officer of a statewide agency charged with investigating public corruption and fraud in state government and by government contractors. Nelson supervised a staff of attorneys, investigators and auditors, supervised innumerable investigations, and himself conducted numerous high profile fraud investigations.  

Nelson has been a frequent lecturer in topics related to investigations, public corruption, litigation, trial advocacy and other areas. He has extensive litigation experience and tried cases in federal and state court as well as conducted appellate practice.