Vanessa L. Ray-Hodge

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...

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...

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...

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...

Lucy Sinkular is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Lucy, who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lucy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

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...

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...

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...

Donald F. Kochersberger is a Member of the firm and has been with BLSW since 2005. His practice emphasizes complex litigation matters, including shareholder, member and partner disputes, contracts, business tort, unfair practices, restrictive covenant and non-compete agreements, employee theft and misconduct cases, and customer and vendor disputes. Mr. Kochersberger has served as counsel for a number of local, regional and national companies, as well as individuals engaged in business dispute...