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.

Mr. Rael has been recognized as an Elite Lawyer in environmental law. Mr. Rael has represented clients in some of the largest environmental cases in the State of New Mexico’s history, including the litigation related to the Gold King Mine spill and clean up, clean-up of legacy waste at Los Alamos National Laboratories, and Chevron owned mine site in Questa, New Mexico for CERCLA clean-up. He also successfully litigated against Bayer/Monsanto for PCB contamination on behalf of the State of New Mexico and its citizens. 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.

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 was admitted to the State Bar of New Mexico in September 2001. He is also certified to practice in the United States Supreme Court, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court of New Mexico, and is certified in all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution. His education includes a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication Studies from New Mexico State University.