Practice Area

• Commercial Real Estate Law

Professional Recognition and Awards

• American College of Real Estate Lawyers (Elected 2003) 
• Southwest Super Lawyers - New Mexico Real Estate (2007-present)
  • Top 25 Attorneys in New Mexico (regardless of practice area) (2022)
• Best Lawyers in America – New Mexico Real Estate Lawyers (2003-present)
  • Albuquerque Real Estate Lawyer of the Year (2016, 2021 and 2023)
• Chambers USA – America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2002-present): New Mexico Real Estate (Tier 1) 
• Board Recognized Real Estate Law Specialist, New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization (1996-2019) 
• Martindale-Hubbell – AV Rated 
• CCIM Designation – CCIM Institute, National Association of Realtors (1995-2021)
• State Bar of New Mexico: Outstanding Contribution Award (1999)
• Albuquerque Association of Legal Support Staff: Boss of the Year (1989)

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of New Mexico, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
  • Chair (1995)
  • Director (1990-1996)
  • Member, Opinion Letter Task Force (1995-2016)
  • Member (1982-present)
• Real Property Institute, Founder – annual New Mexico State Bar seminar on real estate law (1990)
• State Bar of New Mexico, Real Estate Specialization Committee (2007-2016); Chairman (2009-2016)
• Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico – Founding Committee Member (1995); Director (1995-1997); Forms Committee (1995-2004)
• New Mexico CCIM Chapter, Director and Budget Officer (1995-1998)

Professional Licenses

• New Mexico State Bar (1981-present)

Education

• Southern Methodist University Law School, JD (1981) 
  • Journal of Air Law and Commerce
  • Senior Notes and Comments Editor
  • Award for Outstanding Published Law Comment 
• Vanderbilt University, B.A. – double major: economics and political science (cum laude 1978)

Publications

• “Mortgages in New Mexico,” University of New Mexico Law Review (1990)

Seminars Presented

• 2021 Real Property Institute: Moderator; Presenter-Random Thoughts (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 2018 Legal Issues in Commercial Leases, LOIs and TIs (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
  • Funky Property Surveys (New Mexico Professional Surveyors Association)
  • Real Property Institute: Dirty deeds (New Mexico State Bar)
• 2015 Legal Issues In Commercial Leases, LOIs and TIs (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
  • Use, Assignment, Subletting and SDNA Provisions in Leases (Real Property Trust and Estate Section (New Mexico State Bar)
• 2014 Real Property Institute: Moderator; Panelist – 25 years later (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 2013 Title Insurance in New Mexico: Selected Survey Issues and Other Assorted Crud (Halfmoon Education)
• 2010 Real Property Institute: Loan Sales (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 2008 Real Property Institute: Opinion Letter Update/Recording Fees (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Advanced Commercial Leases (Sterling Education Services)
• 2006 Exceeding Expectations (Fidelity National Title Insurance Company)
• 2005 Anatomy of a Commercial Lease (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
• 2004 Lease Interpretation (Institute of Real Estate Management)
  • Bridge the Gap Seminar: Real Property (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Real Property Institute: Negotiating Points of Purchase Agreements (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Commercial Real Estate Finance (National Association of Industrial and Office Parks)
• 2002 Advanced Real Estate Law in New Mexico: Procuring and Insuring Free and Clear Title (National Business Institute) 
  • Anatomy of a Commercial Lease (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
  • Surveys and Weird Crud (First American Title Insurance Company)
  • Real Property Institute: Selected Issues Relating to Commercial Leasing and Stump the Panel (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 2001 Bridge the Gap Seminar: Real Estate (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Title Examination (Lorman Educational Services)
  • Anatomy of a Commercial Lease (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
• 2000 Anatomy of a Commercial Lease (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
  • Title Examination (Lorman Educational Service)
  • Emergency Management (Institute of Real Estate Management)
  • Real Property Institute (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 1999 Anatomy of a Commercial Lease (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
• 1998 Real Property Institute: Real Estate Loan Opinion Letters (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • The New Mexico Purchase Agreement for Commercial Real Estate (Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico)
• 1997 Commercial Lease Remedies (Institute of Real Estate Management)
• 1996 Real Property Institute: Filling in the Blanks (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Current Developments in Real Estate Contract Law (State Bar of New Mexico, New Mexico Land Title Association)
• 1994 Keys to Successful Commercial Real Estate Transactions In New Mexico: Financing the Transaction (National Business Institute)
  • Advanced Real Estate Law in New Mexico: Credit Issues and Liens from the Lender’s Perspective National Business Institute)
• 1993 Real Property Institute: Moderator (State Bar of New Mexico) 
  • Keys to Successful Commercial Real Estate Transactions in New Mexico: Financing the Transaction (National Business Institute)
• 1992 Real Property Institute: Lender’s and Seller’s Issues on Real Estate Contracts (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Advanced Real Estate Law in New Mexico: Credit Issues and Liens from the Lender’s Perspective (National Business Institute)
• 1991 Real Property Institute: Receiverships (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • Basic Real Estate Law in New Mexico: Sales Contracts and Real Estate Financing (National Business Institute)
• 1990 Basic Real Estate Law in New Mexico: Sales Contracts and Real Estate Financing (National Business Institute)
  • Bridge the Gap Seminar: Real Estate (State Bar of New Mexico) 
  • Real Property Institute: Founder & Moderator (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 1989 Bridge the Gap Seminar: Real Estate (State Bar of New Mexico)
• 1988 Basic Real Estate Law in New Mexico: Sales Contracts and Real Estate Financing (National Business Institute)

Other Affiliations

• Enchantment Land Certified Development Company, Director (2000 – 2002) 
• Southern Methodist University School of Law Alumni Council (council advising Dean of Law School), (1993 – 1998); Secretary (1997 – 1998) 
• Lizards Softball Team, catcher (1982 – present)

Legal Assistant

Diana Parlato, [email protected]