Jose R. Blanton

Maria Montoya Chavez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Maria Montoya, who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Maria Montoya is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. MARIA MONTOYA CHAVEZ is Presi...

Chris Killion’s practice focuses on oil, gas, and mineral development, including issuing drilling, division order, and acquisition title opinions for oil and gas companies for properties in New Mexico and Texas, as well as representing those companies before regulatory bodies. Chris helps clients comply with state and federal regulations related to mineral development and represents clients in transactions involving purchase and sale of mineral rights. An Alabama native, Chris is licens...

Maria has practiced in the areas of Natural Resources, Environmental and Utility law for over twenty years. Her primary focus is on water resources, water quality, and related regulatory matters including National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) compliance. She represents clients from both the public and private sectors before the Office of the New Mexico State Engineer, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission federal agencies, ...

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 ...

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...

Karen Kahn concentrates her practice in ERISA and employee benefits law. For more than thirty years she has advised clients and drafted documents for defined contribution plans including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, ESOPs, traditional defined benefit pension plans, cash balance plans, Section 125-cafeteria plans, HSAs and HRAs, welfare plans including health insurance plans, wrapper plans, severance plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Karen provides legal counsel to more than 25...

Katherine McKinney focuses her practice in public finance and concentrates on representing issuers and underwriters in revenue bond issues, general obligation bond issues, and special assessment district bonds. In her municipal finance practice, she drafts all requisite bond documentation for issuers including municipalities, counties, universities, and school districts throughout the debt issuance process and advises clients regarding federal tax and securities law issues and state law requi...

Elizabeth Ashton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

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...