Christopher M. "Chris" Gatton

Maria Montoya Chavez is an attorney with Sutin, Thayer & Browne APC in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2018 for her work in Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, and Family Law Mediation. This recognition is based on peer review by attorneys practicing in the same geographic and practice areas. Maria Montoya Chavez has practiced law since 2000 and focuses exclusively on family law matters, including divorce, child custody...

Sarah M. Armstrong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Sarah M., who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sarah M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Randi McGinn is one of the best trial lawyers in the United States, having tried to verdict over 130 jury trials. Her specialty is representing David (or his spouse) against the Goliaths of this world -- insurance companies, product manufacturers, trucking companies and the government. She was the first woman president of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the 100 best plaintiffs' lawyers in the United States. In addition to being listed in Best Lawyers, she has been selected in the Lawdragon 500...

Brian K. Branch was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a partner at Davis Kelin LLC, where he represents individuals and families in complex civil litigation throughout New Mexico. His practice focuses on serious injury and wrongful death claims, including cases involving medical negligence, defective products, professional negligence, and insurance bad faith. Mr. Branch has served as lead or co-lead counsel in more than 40 jury trials and over 75 non-jury trials. His courtroom...

Bridget represents both English and Spanish-speaking clients in guardianship/conservatorship, probate and trust administration, estate planning, elder law, specialized family law, Medicaid planning, and special needs planning. Bridget has a strong trial background after spending many years prosecuting domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking cases for the District Attorney’s and Attorney General’s Offices. She has also worked on consumer protection issues and taught F...

Cliff Atkinson has practiced for more than 44 years in the areas of complex commercial and tort litigation in a broad spectrum of difficult cases. He, with his good friend and now retired colleague John Thal, founded the Firm in 1992 on the principle that a small, directed, hard hitting litigation firm can deliver the highest quality of personalized services to its clients. In his many years of practice, Cliff has litigated and tried cases to verdict, judgment, or other successful resolution ...

Since 2004, Bruce E. Thompson has been helping injured people and their families by holding wrongdoers accountable for violations of federal and state law and other safety standards. Practicing since 2004, Bruce handles cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, construction accidents, brain injury, trucking accidents and sexual abuse in courtrooms throughout New Mexico. Bruce's entire practice is devoted to litigation. A member of the State Bar of New Mexico, the A...

Art Melendres concentrates his practice primarily in administrative, education, commercial and municipal finance law. For more than thirty-five years, clients have sought Art’s expertise when faced with disputes involving education, administrative law, commercial law or public financing. For more than twenty-five years, Art has served as general counsel for the Albuquerque Public Schools, a school district of more than 90,000 students and 11,000 employees. He regularly advises the Schoo...

Earl DeBrine concentrates his practice in oil and gas, railroad, product liability and commercial litigation. For over 30 years, he has represented major energy companies, railroads and manufacturers in lawsuits and negotiations ranging from preferential purchase rights and other disputes under joint operating agreements, environmental and title disputes to oilfield wrongful death claims. He also regularly advises oil and gas producers concerning development transactions and appears before th...

Peter Schoenburg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Peter, who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.