Nikki Mitchell

Nikki Mitchell heads Mitchell, Brown & Associates, LLC, an elder law and special needs planning practice in St. Louis. She has led the firm since 2021, following the retirement of founder Martha Brown, one of the first elder law attorneys in St. Louis and an early member of the Special Needs Alliance.

Nikki earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she concentrated in health law. During law school, she interned with the medical-legal partnership at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, an innovative program that brought pediatricians, lawyers, and other service providers together to serve families in underserved Baltimore neighborhoods. After graduation, she worked with Legal Aid, representing clients in disability and SSI appeals, special education, and elder law matters. She later advised schools and universities on Title IX compliance before settling in Missouri and building her practice.

Today, Nikki focuses on Medicaid planning, special needs trusts, and estate planning for families with special needs. She is known for breaking down complex legal processes into clear steps and guiding families with a steady hand. “When clients have clarity and know what steps come next, it makes them feel better right away,” she explains.

As a member of the Special Needs Alliance Board of Directors, Nikki looks forward to helping the organization respond to changes in the public benefits landscape and strengthening the partnerships that support families nationwide. “At the end of the day, it’s about putting structures in place that truly support our clients,” she says.

A Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) and VA Accredited Attorney, Nikki is active in the Missouri bar, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Missouri NAELA Public Policy Committee, and the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee. She served on the Missouri NAELA Board of Directors from 2021 to 2023.

Nikki currently lives in Kirkwood, Missouri, with her husband, three daughters, and four dogs. Away from the office, she enjoys reading, traveling, listening to live music, and cooking.