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Chair: Melinda Branin
Past Chair: Louis Rose
Bidtah Becker
Melinda Branin
Kristen Burby
Steven Hernandez
Zachary Ogaz
Kari Olson
Thomas Paterson
Paula Vance
UNM NREEL Student Liaision: Vanessa Springer (non-voting)
UNM Faculty: Professor Joseph Schremmer (non-voting)
YLD Liaison: Chandler Farnworth (voting)
Email the NREEL Section Board
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.
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.
Term: 2023-2025
Where you work: Holland & Hart, LLP
Area of Practice: Oil & Gas; Administrative Law; Environmental; Water Law
Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? I thoroughly enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico because of the interesting and complex issues, and the respect and support among the NREEL attorney community. Most importantly, however, I enjoy practicing in this area because New Mexico is a state rich in natural resources but even more rich in its natural beauty and I love being able to participate in a meaningful way to help explore and preserve both.
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.
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.
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.
Term: 2021-2023
Where you work: Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources
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.
Where you work: University of New Mexico School of Law
Area of Practice: Oil and Gas; general civil practice
Why you enjoy practicing NREEL in New Mexico? The variety!
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.