James T. Reist
About James T. Reist
James T. Reist is a lawyer based in Albuquerque, NM and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2011. James T. Reist is recognized in the following practice areas:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Education Law
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Current Firm: Smidt, Reist & Keleher PC
Education: The Ohio State University, J.D., graduated 1991
Location: Albuquerque, NM
It takes just a few minutes to optimize your profile for clients looking to engage and lawyers who are ready to refer.
Activate your profile and highlight why your peers recognized in Best Lawyers today.
Nearby Lawyers
Thirty years of experience in high stakes litigation. Proven track record of successes in and out of the courtroom. Crafts litigation strategies to support business goals. When the stakes are high and the litigation is complex, companies turn to Eric. He is respected for both his willingness to address issues aggressively and his success in the courtroom. For more than three decades, Eric has represented high-profile clients in the healthcare, financial services, real estate and other highly ...
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...
Todd A. Schwarz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Todd A., who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Todd A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Alex Walker has an active civil litigation practice representing business clients in all types of complex cases in both state and federal courts. He has substantial experience in defending personal injury and products liability cases, and regularly defends companies in litigation over medical device failures, prescription drug injuries, and other products-related litigation, as well as various other types of bodily injury and death claims. In addition, Alex frequently represents businesses in...
Sonya Burke is a shareholder in the firm’s Litigation group, where she practices primarily in insurance coverage defense. She represents insurance companies and their insureds in a variety of contexts. Sonya represents professionals in professional liability matters, and has represented realtors, attorneys, and contractors. She also assists with construction and design cases, employment matters including EEOC investigations, and breach of contract litigation. Sonya has been recognized a...
Joan Drake has assisted clients for over twenty years as a lawyer on utility regulation and environmental permitting matters. In utility matters, Joan represents clients on matters involving state and federal regulation of electric and gas utility rates and service, facility siting, wholesale and retail sales, utility acquisition, renewable energy and Qualifying Facilities ("QF"), electric transmission and interconnection, gas pipelines, power purchase and service agreements, and energy effic...
Timothy R. Briggs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Timothy R., who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Meg Meister has served clients for over twenty-five years in the areas of real estate, business, commercial transactions and lending. She guides businesses through siting and re-locating facilities, completes sales and tax free exchanges, represents buyers and sellers in stock and asset transactions, assists with liquor license transfers, and negotiates and drafts leases and other real estate and business documents. Meg advises companies doing business on Indian lands and negotiates and struc...
Emma L. Whitley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Emma L., 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 Emma L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Registered Patent Attorney, Registered Professional Engineer Executive Summary As President/CEO and Managing Partner at Peacock Law P.C., I provide legal and business/technology advice to an international clientele. I am a Registered Patent Attorney (U.S.) and also a Registered Professional Engineer in New Mexico and Colorado. My particular expertise is complex transactions, commercialization of leading-edge and disruptive technologies, and global branding. Some of my technology and practice ...
Explore and Learn
Recognizing Legal Leaders: The 2027 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan and Singapore
by Jamilla Tabbara
Market drivers, diversity trends and the elite practitioners shaping the legal landscape.
Musk v. Altman: The Lawyers Behind the Case
by Jamilla Tabbara
Meet the Trial Lawyers Shaping One of AI's Biggest Legal Disputes.
The Best Lawyers in France 2027: Peer-Reviewed Excellence
by Jamilla Tabbara
Seventeen editions of peer trust, a growing profession and a dynamic legal market.
Announcing the 2027 Best Lawyers Awards: Austria, Germany and Switzerland
by Jamilla Tabbara
Celebrating the legal professionals throughout Central Europe.
The Legal Teams Behind the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Settlement
by Grace Greer
A closer look at the legal teams and attorneys involved in the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni litigation and its resolution.
Can You Go to Jail at an Arraignment?
by Bryan Driscoll
Understanding What Happens at Your First Court Appearance.
When Is It Too Late to Stop Foreclosure?
by Bryan Driscoll
Understanding the foreclosure timeline, critical deadlines and the legal options that may still protect your home.
How AI Is Changing the Way Clients Find Lawyers
by Jamilla Tabbara
Best Lawyers CEO Phil Greer explains how AI-driven search tools are reshaping legal marketing and why credibility markers matter.
When to Get a Lawyer for Work Injury
by Bryan Driscoll
Understanding your rights and navigating the complexity of workers’ compensation claims.