My general practice involves the representation of a number of individuals, partnerships, and other business entities with respect to a wide variety of legal issues. What follows is a general description of the types of cases that I have handled, presently work on and anticipate continuing to be involved with in the future:

Litigation Agriculture Oil and Gas General Commercial Environmental

Litigation: I have acted as primary counsel in suits before the state courts of New Mexico and Texas, the New Mexico Federal District Court, and the New Mexico and Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Courts, involving a wide variety of commercial disputes. For example, I have represented or am representing major independent oil companies in lawsuits against production purchasers for breach of contract; other oil companies in disputes relating to the validity and effect of operating and other agreements between them and other working interest owners; major financial institutions in the collection of significant indebtedness with associated repossession actions, and the defense of lender-liability counterclaims; management of foreign-owned corporations regarding wrongful termination and dishonor of asset purchase options; and out-of-state corporations as to the management of their properties in New Mexico. I also handle a number of smaller lawsuits for my established clients, as the need arises.

Agriculture: I serve as general counsel for various dairy interests in the Pecos Valley region of New Mexico. I have prepared a variety of contracts and other documents relating to their internal organization, feed purchases, land acquisitions, and occasional business dissolutions. Additionally, I am general counsel for a milk marketing association which I was responsible for forming. I assist my agricultural clients in all aspects of business, financial, and estate planning and provide advice with respect to their continuing relationships with financial institutions. I also represent a number of farmers and ranchers in connection with their day-to-day business transactions and the acquisition and/or disposition of their real property holdings.

Oil and Gas: Throughout my career, and as a continuation of my upbringing, I have been intensely involved in the legal representation of the oil and gas industry. I have been general counsel of various local New Mexico producers and have acted as New Mexico counsel for a variety of out-of-state companies. I have been in charge of extremely large and complex title examination projects resulting in the rendition of hundreds of title opinions covering various mineral properties in West Texas, Southeastern and Northwestern New Mexico, the Bravo Dome Unit area of Northeastern New Mexico, and other areas of the state. I draft a wide range of documents for use by my oil and gas clients.

General Commercial: I provide general business representation to a variety of businesses in the Roswell area and elsewhere, such as automobile dealerships, financial institutions, real estate developers, dairy service providers and contractors. This involves the preparation of contracts, leases, and other legal documents, and the review of loan documents and the like which my clients utilize in their operations. I provide general advice with respect to labor and employment matters. As regards the financial institutions that I represent, I prepare and oversee execution of complex loan documents and consult with these clients with respect to regulatory compliance.

Environmental: On a transactional basis, I have assisted clients in obtaining discharge permits under the New Mexico Ground Water Protection Act and the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, and have dealt with the New Mexico Environment Department on numerous occasions in connection with such permits. I also assist my clients in remediating the effects of underground storage tanks and asbestos affecting their properties. I deal with the Environmental Protection Agency on a regular basis regarding regulatory compliance by my dairy clients.