James H. Johansen

Brian Nichols’ practice is primarily in federal Indian law and litigation, including tribal courts, with focuses on energy, natural resources, transportation and employment. His experience includes: Lead counsel in trials in federal, state, and tribal courts. Lead negotiator in labor negotiations. Advising and negotiating for clients with tribal nations. Consulting with clients doing or considering business on or with tribal nations. Brian has advised clients including BHP Billiton, Uni...

Stuart Butzier has assisted mining, energy, high-tech, industrial and ranching clients throughout his thirty-plus year legal career with Modrall Sperling. His counsel has included helping clients strategically navigate the maze of environmental and mining regulatory and permitting regimes, the morass of litigation, and the unique challenges of complex deals and real property transactions involving private, Federal, State, Indian and split-estate lands. Recognized in the area of Natural Resour...

Stan Harris is a shareholder with Modrall Sperling and has twenty years of litigation experience. Stan practices in the areas of public lands, natural resources, and commercial litigation. He has advised clients at the judicial, administrative, and legislative levels on federal, state, and local issues. Stan has extensive experience in the representation of parties in their disputes involving cultural property, public lands, Indian lands, oil and gas industry, environmental infrastructure mat...

Walter brings more than thirty-five years of experience providing representation, advice and counsel to businesses and individuals in their dealings with Indian tribes and public land management agencies, like the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and New Mexico State Land Office. Walter’s practice is focused on natural resources, energy and environmental law. Clients throughout the west and across the country seek Walter’s advice in matters involving transac...

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...

Chris Muirhead concentrates his practice in the area of public finance. For more than twenty years, numerous New Mexico municipalities and counties have relied on Chris for advice on their public financing matters such as general obligation bonds, gross receipts tax revenue bonds, utility system revenue bonds, special district financings, and economic development projects. He serves as general counsel and issuer’s counsel for the New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council, a state-wide ...

Lisa K. Curtis is the founding partner of Curtis & Co. Law Firm. She was named the Best Lawyers 2024 Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year in New Mexico, was inducted into the Roehl Circle of Honor as the Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer for New Mexico in 2021, and has received numerous honors over the years, but her $40 Million Jury Verdict in an Albuquerque courtroom for a child in the summer of 2025 is the reason Lisa went to law school over 30 years ago. There is a la...

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...

Doug Vadnais has more than 30 years of transaction and litigation experience in diverse business matters, real estate, and the protection and exercise of creditors’ rights. He has represented the entire spectrum of clients from individuals to Fortune 500 companies, and brings to each a pragmatic, practical approach to problem solving, with the aim of effecting an efficient and advantageous resolution for the client. Clients include both buyers and sellers of commercial and residential r...

Laura Horton is committed to providing thoughtful and compassionate legal services. Laura strives to deliver excellence and client satisfaction. Laura began her career in accounting and finance and later, fueled by her passion for advocacy and the desire to make a difference, she attended law school in Oregon followed by a post-graduate fellowship with the government in Kosovo. Laura's current practice at her firm focuses on the intersection of adult guardianship, family law, and probate. She...