Our Attorneys

Founding partner Marcus J. Rael, Jr. represents a wide variety of clients, including governmental entities, private corporations and private parties on a variety of complex legal affairs. Mr. Rael’s knowledge of government and administrative law, jail litigation, contracts, real estate, construction, land use, water law and environmental litigation and reclamation is among the best in the region.

Mr. Rael has worked extensively on water rights issues for several governmental and private clients and has experience litigating before the United States Supreme Court, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Office of the State Engineer Administrative Hearings Unit as well as state district courts, and the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Mr. Rael has experience in interstate water matters in pursuing claims against other states and sovereign entities.  Furthermore, Mr. Rael represents clients in matters related to the remediation and litigation for mine Superfund sites.  Through his representation our client helped secure 790 million dollars for clean-up efforts, and is experienced in working with state and federal regulatory agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers, the New Mexico Environment Department, the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department Mining and Minerals Division, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr. Rael also has considerable experience defending clients in cases regarding general tort liability and constitutional rights, including claims of professional liability, general negligence, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death. Furthermore, he has experience in all phases of employment related litigation and personnel matters.  He has defended employers in state and federal courts and in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New Mexico Human Rights Division.  Mr. Rael also has extensive experience in gaming law, representing several racetracks and casinos, as well as having been elected Chairman of the New Mexico Lottery Board on two occasions.

As well as being Managing Partner of the firm for the past fifteen years, he also heads the firm’s Environmental Litigation and Governmental General Counsel and Litigation divisions. He currently represents the State of New Mexico in two U.S. Supreme Court cases as lead counsel having to do with environmental claims. He also represents the State of New Mexico against Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche as well as in numerous pharmaceutical cases and other consumer protection matters.  He has advocated on behalf of clients before the U.S. Supreme Court as well as numerous federal, state, and municipal administrative and legislative bodies, the State Gaming Control Board, the State Racing Commission, the State Licensing and Regulation Division, the State Environment Department, the Air Quality Control Board, the State Taxation and Revenue Department, having served as lead attorney on more than 100 major contracts awarded by governmental entities in the state of New Mexico.

Mr. Rael is a devoted father and husband. He takes pride in serving his community, including representing his hometown of Questa, N.M., and serving on various public boards.  Mr. Rael also spends his free time attending and coaching his children’s sporting events.