Christopher M. Moody

Meredith A. Johnstone is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Meredith A., 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 Meredith A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Carey Bhalla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law and Criminal Defense: General Practice. Carey, 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 Carey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Deana Bennett’s practice is focused on natural resource development on public and tribal lands. Deana’s experience includes permitting and environmental compliance efforts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), and other related federal statutes. She has worked on a number of utility matters, and her experience includes working with renewable resource developers with siting issues on public, tribal, state, and...

Tina Muscarella Gooch, a shareholder, serves as one of the firm’s office group leaders. She has more than a decade of experience in New Mexico representing a variety of clients in civil and commercial litigation, including but not limited to, lawsuits involving employment law, wills and trust law, surety law, construction law, cannabis law, and constitutional law. Ms. Gooch has significant experience in complex commercial litigation. She has litigated cases in New Mexico state and feder...

Marjorie Rogers represents businesses, tax-exempt organizations and individuals in the areas of federal taxation, estate planning and administration, including probate litigation, employee benefits and ERISA. She has more than thirty years' experience advising clients on their complex tax issues, wills, trusts, family succession plans, retirement plans, and business entity planning. Marjorie listens to her clients to determine their individual goals and helps clients achieve them with a plan ...

Betsy focuses her practice on appeals and complex briefing. She has handled appeals and dispositive briefing in state and federal courts in a wide range of areas, including torts, contracts, employment, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation. She enjoys analyzing complex issues on nearly any topic and translating them into simple, persuasive language. Betsy also serves as local counsel on appellate matters and frequently advises clients on appellate trends in New Mexico. She has...

Alicia M. LaPado is a Senior Litigation Associate of the firm, with a practice that includes business litigation, general civil litigation, and criminal defense. Prior to becoming an associate, Ms. LaPado was employed by the firm as a law clerk where she provided support for complex civil and criminal matters, primarily in federal court. She also researched, drafted, and prepared briefs for submission in both state and federal court, as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. LaPado o...

Jennifer Noya practices primarily in insurance coverage defense, employment law, professional liability, civil rights, class action and complex litigation. She has defended a wide variety of cases, including defense of insurers in class action litigation involving both life insurance and auto coverage. She has represented defendants in professional liability cases, civil rights class litigation and represents employers in employment-related disputes arising under state and federal law, as wel...

Suzanne Wood Bruckner is Head of the firm’s tax law division, a licensed New Mexico CPA, and a firm shareholder. Her practice concentrates on New Mexico tax law, including corporate income tax, gross receipts and compensating tax, property tax, and public finance. In her tax practice, she advises businesses with all aspects of New Mexico taxes, including tax planning, audit defense, administrative protests and litigation, refunds, tax credits and tax incentives. She consults on a variet...

JAY D. ROSENBLUM is a senior lawyer with Sutin, Thayer & Browne, one of New Mexico’s leading law firms. Jay served as President and CEO of the firm for eighteen years, from 2000 through 2017. Jay’s practice includes mergers and acquisitions, business design, estate planning, corporate work, succession planning and philanthropic legal matters. In 2017 the State Bar of New Mexico’s Business Law Section honored Jay as Business Lawyer of the Year, and in 2023 & 2024 Best...