NEW MEXICO
NEW MEXICO
Local litigation firms Local litigation stars Stuart Shanor
Hinkle Hensley Shanor & Martin
Commercial Litigation, Employment Litigation,
Highly recommended Paul Bardacke Products Liability
Sutin Thayer & Browne
Keleher & McLeod Complex Commercial Litigation, Environmental Thomas Stahl
Litigation, Insurance, White Collar Crime Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk Employment Litigation, Entertainment Litigation
Arthur Beach
Peifer Hanson & Mullins Keleher & McLeod David Stout
Complex Commercial Litigation, Insurance, Products Carpenter & Stout
Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb Liability Insurance, Personal Injury, Products Liability
Sutin Thayer & Browne Eric Burris
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Antitrust, Commercial Litigation, Employment Future stars
Recommended Litigation, Energy
Lisa Ortega
William Carpenter Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Carpenter & Stout
Carpenter & Stout Personal Injury, Products Liability Todd Rinner
Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Freedman Boyd Daniels Hollander Goldberg & Nelson Franse
Cline Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb Seth Sparks
Health Law, Professional Liability Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Hinkle Hensley Shanor & Martin
David Freedman Gary Van Luchene
Madison Harbour & Mroz Freedman Boyd Daniels Hollander & Goldberg Keleher & McLeod
Appellate, Antitrust, Commercial Litigation, Products
Miller Stratvert Liability, Securities
Montgomery & Andrews Scott Gordon
Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Complex Commercial Litigation, Employment
Litigation
Gail Gottlieb
Sutin Thayer & Browne
Civil Rights, Commercial Litigation, Employment
Litigation
Bruce Hall
Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Complex Commercial Litigation, Products Liability
Thomas Keleher
Keleher & McLeod
Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation,
Insurance
Walter Melendres
Montgomery & Andrews
Antitrust, Commercial Litigation, Employment
Litigation, Products Liability
Charles Peifer
Peifer Hanson & Mullins
Class Actions, Commercial Litigation
Douglas Schneebeck
Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk
Antitrust, Class Actions, Commercial Litigation,
Health Law, Insurance, Products Liability
Andrew Schultz
Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb
Complex Commercial Litigation, Media
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NEW MEXICO
New Mexico focuses on class action and civil rights
litigation. In addition, he is highly familiar
with the state and federals courts; prior to
joining the firm Schultz worked as a law clerk
for the United States Court of Appeals for the
Fifth Circuit and an Associate Justice of the
A
leading producer of crude oil and gas, New Mexico is an important site for
energy and environmental litigation. Albuquerque is home to many of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Nelson Franse is noted for his focus on
state’s litigation firms. The city’s rapid population growth (with sources entertainment, medical malpractice defense,
calling it the 6th fastest growing city in the United States) and resulting competi- personal injury defense, products liability,
tion for jobs, has led to an increase in employment litigation. professional malpractice defense, and sports
law. He has extensive jury trial experience in
Highly recommended firms focused on prosecuting and defending clients both the state and federal courts. Thomas
in civil litigation suits. The firm has Stahl leads the firm’s labor and employment
Keleher & McLeod represented clients in business disputes, litigation groups and focuses on defending
Based in Albuquerque, Keleher & McLeod is employment litigation, First Amendment employers. His mediation and arbitration
comprised of 30 attorneys focusing on cases, and securities fraud claims. The firm’s work is also noteworthy. Scott Gordon
construction, employment, health care, team boasts 60 years of collective trial specializes in civil work, including
insurance defense and products liability experience. employment and labor issues. Since 1986,
matters. One attorney describes the firm as A competitor calls Charles Peifer “an Gordon has amassed first chair trial
“great, with a solid client roster.” The firm is outstanding lawyer.” Formerly of Rodey experience and has served as lead counsel in
well known for handling local litigation and Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb, Peifer is cases regarding discrimination, breach of
recently won an important victory in the known as an esteemed commercial litigator, contract, wrongful termination, and personal
New Mexico Supreme Court. The Court with a focus on medical malpractice, injury claims.
ruled in favor of the firm’s client, a major products liability, general tort, and
utility company, recognizing the utility’s right employment cases. He has been chairman of Sutin Thayer & Browne
to recover when a condemner has paid the Supreme Court of New Mexico’s With locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe,
contributions in aid of construction. This Committee on Uniform Jury Instructions for Sutin Thayer & Browne is a go-to firm for
decision helped resolve an important issue in Civil Cases since 2004. matters relating to contract disputes, lender
New Mexico utility condemnation law. liability, securities fraud, intellectual
Arthur Beach has been noted for his strong Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb property, and employment issues. A versatile
insurance defense work, with over 38 years Lauded for its insurance defense practice, firm, Sutin Thayer is well-equipped to handle
of experience litigating cases in state and Rodey Dickason Sloan Akin & Robb has a litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants.
federal courts. Beach handles suits relating to strong team of 54 attorneys. The firm The firm’s clients include Bank of America,
medical and legal malpractice, automobile recently shifted its focus to mass torts cases, Sun Healthcare Group and Wild Oats
accidents, and products liability claims in with an especial focus on medical device Market.
addition to antitrust and real estate matters. liability. The firm has enjoyed some major With over 30 years of litigation experience,
Named partner Thomas Keleher also excels employment litigation victories, including the Paul Bardacke maintains a strong practice
at insurance defense work. His practice recent defense of a client in a matter filed in comprised of complex commercial,
concentrates on construction-related matters federal court by a surgeon alleging national environmental, white-collar, and oil and
and he has experience representing engineers, origin and age discrimination as an improper natural gas royalty litigation. He is also
landowners and developers in real estate reason for his termination. He sought praised for his class action work and has
litigation. significant damages, claiming that his career previously represented the state of New
had been ruined due to the client’s claims that Mexico in litigation. Gail Gottlieb focuses on
Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk his performance was substandard. The firm cases in commercial, civil rights, and
Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk boasts obtained summary judgment on behalf of the employment litigation. She often defends
a strong complex commercial practice and is defendant and an award of costs against the claims of wrongful termination under
adept at handling unfair trade claims, surgeon. retaliatory discharge and breach of implied
warranty disputes, media disputes, and fraud In the commercial sphere, Rodey Dickason contract.
allegations. The firm also has a thriving represented a New Mexico municipality that
appellate practice. In recent years, the firm’s brought suit against a major vendor of Recommended firms
subspecialty in Native American law has seen computer software programs. The client
a lot of activity. Johnson & Johnson, claimed that the software implementation Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway failed to work properly due to the vendor’s With offices in 12 cities across California,
turn to Modrall Sperling for their products misrepresentations of the viability of the Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico and
liability matters. product. The case was settled favorably. The Washington, D.C., Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Douglas Schneebeck acts as chair of the firm has done appellate work for the City of Schreck commands a major presence in the
firm’s class action and mass torts group. He Las Cruces, Presbyterian Healthcare Services southwestern United States. The firm is best
stands out for his notable antitrust, securities and the University of New Mexico. known for its general commercial litigation
and medical device and pharmaceutical Bruce Hall has a well-regarded complex and products liability practices. The firm
work. Representative clients include 3M litigation and appellate practice in the areas represented Defiant Technologies in a lawsuit
Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & of environmental, products liability, and brought by Nanodetex in which Defiant was
Johnson, Medtronic, and Sears Roebuck & professional liability. He has served as lead sued for alleged conversion of intellectual
Company. appellate counsel in numerous cases that have property. The firm had argued that the
shaped medical malpractice and products improper basis of the claim was to drive a
Peifer Hanson & Mullins liability law in New Mexico. competitor out of business and successfully
Staffed with seven attorneys, Peifer Hanson Andrew Schultz serves as the head of the obtained an injunction against the plaintiff.
& Mullins is a top-notch boutique litigation firm’s complex and high risk litigation The case is currently on appeal to the Tenth
firm. Based out of Albuquerque, the firm is practice group. Schultz’s personal practice Circuit.
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NEW MEXICO
Eric Burris is the chair of the Albuquerque strong practice in southern New Mexico and expertise in pharmaceuticals; prior to
litigation group and has more than 20 years traces its roots to 1888. The firm excels in oil working as a litigator he was a pharmacist.
of complex civil litigation experience. He is and natural gas litigation. In addition to its
best known for his defense work, advising headquarters in Roswell, the firm also has Miller Stratvert
clients on economic torts, intellectual offices in Santa Fe and Midland, Texas. Peers Led by Gary Gordon and Scott Hatchet,
property claims, employment and labor say that “the firm’s energy litigation practice Miller Stratvert comprises over 50 attorneys
issues, mass torts, products liability and other is very accomplished.” The firm handles that handle class actions, multidistrict
personal injury disputes. Clients include commercial, employment, insurance, and litigation, and other civil litigation. The firm
Qwest Corporation, Philip Morris USA, environmental litigation as well. The Santa Fe has a high degree of success working in over
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sony Corporation, and office also maintains a focus on public utility 20 practice areas including antitrust,
the Public Service Company of New Mexico. representation. construction, products liability, propane and
Stuart Shanor receives praise for his strong natural gas, and professional liability law.
Carpenter & Stout managerial duties and his booming The team has achieved major victories for
Carpenter & Stout has a strong plaintiff commercial and financial services practice. ExxonMobil, Home Depot, State Farm
practice focusing on insurance and toxic torts He is admitted to practice before the United Mutual Automobile Insurance and Shell Oil.
matters. The firm also handles personal
injury, products liability and wrongful death
cases. One competitor states that “the firm’s
personal injury practice is one of the finest in
the state.” Founding partner William
“Onepractice is one of the finest in the state.’ Stout’s] personal
injury
competitor states that ‘[Carpenter and
Founding partner
Carpenter has been practicing since 1968 and
receives praise for his outstanding personal William Carpenter has been practicing since 1968 and receives
injury and products liability practice. He is a
past president and current member of the praise for his outstanding personal injury and products liability
New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association.
Fellow partner David Stout has sustained a
robust personal injury and products practice.
practice ”
He also handles bad faith insurance cases. States Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals The firm is also known for contributing to
for the Tenth Circuit, the Court of Claims, the community, with attorneys volunteering
Freedman Boyd Daniels Hollander Goldberg the District Court of New Mexico, and the their time to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters
& Cline New Mexico Supreme Court. program, the Presbyterian Ear Institute and
Established in 1974, Freedman Boyd Daniels the Center for Civic Values.
Hollander Goldberg & Cline handles a wide Madison Harbour & Mroz
variety of civil and criminal matters. The Formed in 1991, Madison Harbour & Mroz Montgomery & Andrews
firm’s team of nine lawyers has experience has a reputation as a leading civil litigation Located in Santa Fe, Montgomery &
practicing in both federal and state trial and firm. The firm’s 13 attorneys emphasize work Andrews is commended for its remarkable
appellate courts. The firm has taken cases in in insurance, malpractice, civil rights and civil and commercial practice. The firm’s 5-
the antitrust, class action, and personal injury employment law. Its roster of insurance attorney team deals with a range of civil
areas. Founding partner David Freedman has clients include Chubb Group of Insurance matters, namely with regards to antitrust,
tackled significant class action litigation for Companies, Underwriters at Lloyds London, natural resource law, and products liability.
clients across the country. In the personal and Bankers Standard Insurance Company. “There are some really solid people there,”
injury area, he has succeeded in obtaining The firm also represents financial services notes a peer.
multi-million dollar awards for injured companies like Bank of America, and Liberty Walter Melendres is the president of the
clients. He is an esteemed member of the Mutual, as well as major corporations and firm and handles cases relating to personal
National Association of Criminal Defense franchises like Pfizer and the Sacramento injury, medical malpractice, and products
Lawyers. Kings. Name partner William Madison is liability. With over 35 years of experience, he
also a member of the International Society of has successfully represented energy and
Hinkle Hensley Shanor & Martin Barristers and the American Society of mining companies in contract disputes,
Hinkle Hensley Shanor & Martin enjoys a Pharmacy Law. Madison possesses unique property cases, and environmental litigation.
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO AMERICA’S LEADING LITIGATION FIRMS & ATTORNEYS 263