New Mexico Lawyers

Personal Injury Law

PO BOX 70483, Albuquerque, NM 87197-0483

Albuquerque trial lawyer Adam Oakey founded the Law Office of Adam Oakey in 2018. His work in criminal defense has included first-degree murder charges and violent-crime allegations, as well as misdemeanors and DWI cases. He has represented people both in Albuquerque and elsewhere in New Mexico, the state where he grew up and received his education. A fellowship preceded the opening of his practice. In 2015, while studying law, Oakey received the Seth D. Montgomery Fellowship Award from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. His subsequent trial training has included Trial Skills Foundation and Courage to Ask; the firm identifies him as a 2025 Trial Lawyers College graduate. On the college’s podcast, he has spoken about courtroom techniques, connecting with clients and his experience in serious criminal cases. The practice he established now includes other attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants and support staff. Criminal defense is one part of the firm’s work, which also covers family matters and personal injury. Its family-law services address divorce, parenting plans, custody and support, including modifications. In injury matters, the firm represents people harmed by another person’s or an organization’s negligence or wrongful conduct. The firm also works on expungements and pardon applications in New Mexico. For eligible clients seeking expungement, that includes assessing whether particular criminal records qualify to be cleared. Its pardon services include application preparation and help presenting an applicant’s history, rehabilitation and accomplishments.

General Practice Law

216 West High Street, Suite A, Grants, NM 87020

Health Care Law

PO Box 1942, Elephant Butte, NM 87935

Civil Litigation

105 N Orchard Ave, Farmington, NM 87401, USA

Jennifer attended Indiana University and earned her BA in English and Liberal Arts Management. Directly after, she attended Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, MO and received a Scholars in Law award. Jennifer has been practicing law since 1997. Jennifer has practiced litigation since 1997 after interning at US District of Northern District of Indiana and in litigation firms in Indiana Illinois and California. Her litigation practice has included insurance defense, appellate practice, civil and mass tort litigation and prosecution as a Senior Trial Prosecutor in San Juan County, New Mexico. She has been practicing law for over 22 years and in New Mexico has focused on civil litigation, domestic practice and injury law. Jennifer is licensed in both state and federal court in New Mexico, California and Indiana. She belongs to the American Bar Association, Indiana Bar Association, California Bar Association, Bar Association of San Francisco, New Mexico Bar Association and the San Juan County Bar Association.

Civil Litigation

1018 W Amador Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005, USA

Jessica Kane is a dedicated personal injury attorney who practices law alongside her husband, Samuel I. Kane. A mother of five and a marathon runner, Jessica brings discipline, empathy, and strength to her work. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Master's Degree from New Mexico State University, and a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Jessica is passionate about helping children, families, and veterans, and her practice is built on transparency, communication, and honest legal analysis. Known for her compassionate advocacy, Jessica listens carefully, sets realistic expectations, and works tirelessly to guide clients through life’s most difficult moments. Her work has earned her recognition as a Member of Lawyers of Distinction, where she is celebrated for her excellence in legal practice and commitment to justice.

Family and Divorce Law

1412 Lomas Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USA

Jessica M. López-Hess is licensed in the United States District Court District of New Mexico, State of New Mexico Courts and various Native American Communities in New Mexico where her main areas of practice include domestic relations law, children’s law and criminal defense law. Said areas of law include Divorce, Child Support, Paternity, Post Decree proceedings, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, Kinship Guardianships, Child Custody and Visitation including the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, Uniform Interstate Child Support Act, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Guardian ad Litem, Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements, Legal Separations, Wills, Guardianships, Conservatorships, Adoptions, Family Centered Meetings per the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Domestic Violence pursuant to the Family Violence Protection Act and New Mexico Criminal Law, to include Driving While Intoxicated and Driving Under the Influence, as well as other related matters. Ms. López-Hess was born and raised in Northern New Mexico. Ms. López-Hess is a University of New Mexico alumni. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Business Administration in 1996. Afterward, Ms. López-Hess earned her Master of Business of Administration with a concentration in finance and accounting in 1999. Thereafter, in 1999, Ms. López-Hess commenced her legal journey at the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor Degree in 2002 and served as an active member of the Mexican American Law School Association (MALSA). Ms. López-Hess was the recipient of the Super Lawyers Rising Star Award for the Top-Rated Family Law Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2012. Ms. López-Hess was also a three time recipient of the prestigious Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys (NAFLA) in 2014 and 2020. In 2015, Ms. López-Hess was recognized nationally as one of the 10 Best Client Satisfaction Attorneys by the American Institute of Family Attorneys. Ms. López-Hess was also presented with America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Ms. López-Hess has been court appointed to serve as a Settlement Facilitator, Arbitrator, and Guardian ad Litem throughout the State of New Mexico by several Judges and her colleagues. She has served as a volunteer as a mentor for the Children’s Court Adult/Youth Mentor Program. Ms. López-Hess’ practice includes travel and participation in all counties throughout the State of New Mexico. She is a recent activist for the Missing Murdered and Indigenous Women (MMIW). Ms. López-Hess’ proudest achievements are her two beautiful children and marriage to her husband of more than two decades.

Criminal Defense Law

505 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA

John W. Day is a Santa Fe attorney who practices in criminal defense, civil litigation and government misconduct/civil rights litigation. Prior to John Day Law, John had a successful tenure as a partner in one of Santa Fe's oldest and largest law firms where he practiced in the same areas of criminal defense, civil litigation and government misconduct/civil rights litigation. John has represented clients in courts throughout New Mexico. He has successfully defended cases involving national security clearance matters, white-collar offenses, homicide, violent crime, and drug offenses, among others. He has provided personalized legal representation to families and institutions with special legal problems and crisis situations, both here and abroad. John’s prior careers as Deputy District Attorney in northern New Mexico and as an award-winning investigative reporter covering political corruption in the Southern U.S. have served him well in the field of law. John’s family began cattle ranching in New Mexico in the 19th century, and founded the (now-ghost) town of Dayton, New Mexico, in Eddy County. He graduated from Harvard University in 1985 with a degree in history, focusing on New Mexico’s past, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 1995

Family and Divorce Law

9201 Montgomery Blvd. NE Bldg. 1, Suite 8, Albuquerque, NM 87111

Merrie L. Chappell is a family law attorney with Merrie Chappell Law P.C. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She worked as a paralegal before attending law school, and her professional background includes trial work and experience as a judicial hearing officer. Her family law litigation experience includes proceedings in New Mexico’s First, Second, Fourth and Eighth Judicial District Courts, with her firm biography listing work from 1994 to 2006 and again from 2010 onward. It lists domestic violence representation during those same periods. Earlier in her career, Chappell handled insurance defense for a self-insured debtor through the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Mexico from 1994 to 1999. Her experience also includes medical malpractice work in Los Angeles from 1997 to 1999 and construction litigation from 1994 to 2004. Before these practice roles, her legal education included service as managing editor of the Idaho Law Review. Chappell completed both basic mediation and family law mediation courses through the University of New Mexico School of Law. Her firm biography also identifies participation in the Volunteer Attorney Program. Merrie Chappell Law P.C. describes its practice as focused on family law, including divorce, custody and support, and says it serves clients throughout New Mexico. The firm specifically identifies the preparation of parenting plans and custody orders governing children’s time with each parent as a focus of its work.

Estate Planning Law

PO Box 15274, Rio Rancho, NM 87174

After passing the New Mexico State Bar Exam Michael worked with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office for about eight years and eventually at his current law base in Rio Rancho for the past twenty six years where he concentrates in Entertainment Law. His clients range from artists, musical groups, personal managers, and recording studios.

Criminal Defense Law

924 Park Ave. SW, Suite E, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Nicholas Hart practices law at Harrison & Hart, LLC in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Criminal defense is part of a practice that also includes appeals, post-conviction proceedings, civil cases and personal injury matters. One defense assignment described by the firm involved Hart handling motions practice and working with expert witnesses. The client faced murder, child abuse resulting in death and other charges; Hart served on the trial team. The firm reports that several counts were dismissed before trial, government experts withdrew, and the client entered a plea during jury selection. Trial preparation also figures in Hart’s account of his day-to-day work. His firm biography describes using a trial strategy to decide how to conduct discovery, which motions to file and which experts to hire. It places conversations with the client early in that process, before the task of presenting the client’s account to a judge or jury. Clients’ experiences and knowledge inform litigation decisions, according to the biography. Hart previously clerked for Judge James E. Graves of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. There, he examined criminal appeals submitted by people without lawyers to determine whether they presented a case for court review. Away from legal work, his biography describes hikes with his wife and son in the Sandia Mountain foothills and chamber music sessions with other criminal defense lawyers.