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2023 Board

Officers:

Chair: Melinda Branin

Past Chair: Louis Rose

Directors:

Bidtah Becker

Melinda Branin

Kristen Burby

Steven Hernandez

Zachary Ogaz

Kari Olson

Thomas Paterson

Additional Representatives:

UNM NREEL Student Liaision: Vanessa Springer (non-voting)

YLD Liaison: Chandler Farnworth (voting)

Email the NREEL Section Board

Melinda Branin (Chair)

Term: 2022-2024

Where you work: Hinkle Shanor LLP

Area of Practice: Oil and Gas, Mineral Title Examination

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? I enjoy practicing in oil and gas law and mineral title examination because of the variety of skills required daily. Examining records from patent to the present day showcases the rich history of law over the centuries in New Mexico, even before statehood.

 

 

Louis Rose (Past Chair)

Term: 2023-2023

Where you work: Montgomery & Andrews, Santa Fe

Area of Practice: Environmental and Administrative Law

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? Interesting issues and good people representing the agencies, businesses, and NGOs.

 

 

 

 

Kristen Burby (Director)

Term: 2023-2025

Where you work: Sandia National Laboratories

Area of Practice: Intellectual Property (Environmental Technologies), Environmental Law

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? New Mexico has a diverse set of environmental and natural resources challenges and I enjoy being able to work with cutting edge technologies to solve these problems.

Steve Landeros Hernandez (Director)

Term: 2023-2025

Where you work: Solo Practitioner in Mesilla, NM

Area of Practice:

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? The Water Law Bar is relatively small and close knit. I think that leads to more collaboration in trying to find solutions to the many water issues that face the state.

Zachary "Zach" Ogaz (Director)

Term: 2023-2025

Where you work: New Mexico Attorney General’s Office

Area of Practice: Water and Environmental Law

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? New Mexico’s big skies, untouched high desert, picturesque bosque and river valleys, and our long heritage of farming are all part of the New Mexico culture and identity that I love and appreciate. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a good steward of New Mexico’s natural resources.

Bidtah Becker (Director)

Term: 2021-2023

Where you work: Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources

Thomas Paterson (Director)

Term: 2023-2024

Where you work: Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP

Area of Practice: Trial lawyer, oil and gas

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? Fascinating issues and wonderful lawyers and judges.

Kari Olson (Director)

Term: 2022-2024

Where you work: Montgomery & Andrews, Santa Fe

Chandler R. Farnworth

Term: 2023-2023

Where you work: Modrall Sperling

Area of Practice: Natural Resources

Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? I enjoy practicing in New Mexico because I enjoy the diversity of issues that may come into play. As an NREEL focused attorney, I have the opportunity to engage with a range of areas of the law, including water, tribal, and utility law.