Albuquerque, NM 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.

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.

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.

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.