Michelle Hernandez has tried cases to judgment in both state and federal court and is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation, Appellate, Insurance, Product Liability, and Healthcare practice groups. She has more than 25 years of extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation including: products liability, professional liability, asbestos litigation, construction defect, and insurance coverage. She also works on appellate and regulatory matters. Significantly, she was a member of a team that successfully overturned a $53 million nursing home verdict, which at the time had been New Mexico’s largest personal injury verdict.
- Southwest Virtual Regional Meeting Host, International Association of Defense Counsel, January 26, 2021
- Mentor providing one-on-one coaching sessions, Bizwomen Mentoring Monday, April 3, 2017
- Presentation on Diversity, Empower: A Symposium Presented by the Junior League of Albuquerque, March 18, 2017
- Developing Political Savvy: Hard Work and Talent Are Not Enough, New Mexico Women in Leadership Symposium “Secure Your Place at the Table,” October 27, 2016
- Panelist, #LawMom Luncheon, Committee on Women and the Legal Profession, October 19, 2016
Admissions
- New Mexico
- U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Memberships
- International Association of Defense Counsel Foundation, Board of Directors, 2023-2024
Community Involvement
- National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2019-present; Chair, 2024
- St. Felix Pantry, Board of Directors, 2019-2024
Education
- J.D., University of California at Los Angeles, 1997
- Awarded Pioneering Women in the Law Scholarship, 1995
- B.A., magna cum laude, Political Science, University of New Mexico, 1993
- Phi Beta Kappa
Honors
- University of New Mexico Alumni Association, Zia Award (2024)
- Best Lawyers® Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque (2024)
- Best Lawyers in America©, Health Care Law, Litigation – Health Care, Litigation – Insurance (2021-2024)
- Southwest Super Lawyers® (derived from a lawyer survey) (2014-2024); “Top 25 New Mexico Super Lawyers,” (2022)
- Albuquerque Journal 2020 Women in Business Winner
- Albuquerque Business First, Diverse Business Leader (2019)
- “100 Women Who Inspire Us” – American Bar Association’s 2019 Women in Litigation Joint CLE Conference
- Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2014)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Albuquerque Business First, Woman of Influence (2014)
- New Mexico Business Weekly, 40 Under Forty (2011)
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2010-2024)
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2007-2024)
- Who’s Who in American Law (2007)