Dan came to Santa Fe in 1980 to monitor the federal court order that was placed over the Penitentiary of New Mexico following the prison riot. He gained national prominence for his work in exposing the deficiencies of the New Mexico prison system and then working with the Corrections Department to correct the problems. He entered private practice in Santa Fe in 1982. After working a general practice for several years, Dan began concentrating more fully on criminal law in 1987. Dan represented the first two individuals in New Mexico who were charged with crimes in which forensic DNA was utilized in 1989. One of those cases was litigated through the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Dan’s practice consists of representing citizens charged with federal, state, and local crimes,people with national security clearances who have issues relating to their clearances, and professionals with licenses who have issues with their licensing boards. Dan successfully has represented numerous clients in high-profile cases during his 40 years of practice. Most recently, Dan tried one of the January 6 cases in federal court in Washington D.C. He secured the only full acquittal of all charges at trial for any of the 900 individuals charged in the January 6 prosecutions. Dan is known for zealous representation, respectful demeanor, innovative andingenious defenses, knowledge of the law, attention to detail, compassion for his clients, high ethics, and relentless hard work. Dan’s peers have continuously recognized his legal excellence since 1993 with a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV, the highest rating possible for a lawyer to achieve. His peers have also recognized his pre-eminence in criminal law by voting his inclusion in Best Lawyers in America every year since 1995. Dan is also listed in Southwest Super Lawyers. In 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019, Dan was honored by Best Lawyers in America with their White Collar Lawyer of the Year award. Dan is receiving the Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year award from Best Lawyers for 2023. On September 27, 2018, Dan was honored by the ACLU as the 2018 New Mexico Lawyer of the Year for his career work in protecting civil liberties and individual freedoms for New Mexicans.

Larissa is a native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque. She is a graduate from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Larissa has a decade of experience in criminal law and has litigated from arrest to verdict some of the most complex, high-profile cases New Mexico has seen over the past decade. Larissa has managed and successfully tried cases of every kind, from misdemeanor DWI to First-Degree Homicide. She practices in both state and federal court and is well-versed in administrative law. Larissa is a Certified Lecturer with the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy where she has taught as an expert in the areas of trial practice, best practices for evidence collection and admissibility, constitutional law (including search and seizure law), DWI/traffic safety law, and Implied Consent.

Larissa brings years of criminal law experience, in and out of court, as well as a tremendous passion for finding solutions and the hope of a better future for those she represents. Larissa takes pride in holding the legal system to its promises of justice and fairness for all and believes in powerful yet compassionate advocacy for her clients.

Justine has lived in New Mexico since 1996 and has worked in the legal field for over 9 years. She is the firm’s paralegal. With an Associate Degrees in both Psychology and Paralegal Studies, her knowledge, experience and passion to learn is a great asset to the firm. Justine has assisted in multiple felony jury trials over the years. She has managed and participated at each step of every type of criminal case imaginable, including homicide cases.

Justine enjoys being the first face clients see and providing comfort to our clients during a stressful time in their life. Her understanding and caring personality makes our office a warm and inviting environment.

Karen has lived in New Mexico since 1974 and has worked side by side as a paralegal with Dan for 30 years. She works closely with Dan, Larissa and Justine. Karen attended the University of Texas. Her sunny demeanor and understanding manner are of great comfort to clients, many of whom are experiencing events that are among the most traumatic that they will encounter in their lifetime.  Karen is a consummate team player who one time volunteered to be “strangled” during a demonstration that proved to be instrumental in the dismissal of charges against a client in a first-degree murder death penalty case.  Karen’s genuine concern for the plight of our clients has been appreciated and acknowledged by countless clients over the years.