Attorneys

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (1997)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2002)
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2006)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2007)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2014)
• U.S. Supreme Court (2016)

Education

• B.A., University of Washington (1993)
• J.D., University of New Mexico (1997)

Background & Practice Experience

Blaine is a Managing Director of Mynatt Springer P.C. He was born in Albuquerque and was raised in the South Valley. He attended the University of Washington on a swimming scholarship after graduating from Rio Grande High School. He graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Law. He then returned to Albuquerque and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1997.

Blaine has been recognized by a number of trade publications and institutions including A.M. Best, the American Society of Legal Advocates. Blaine also earned the prestigious AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell. He is a Fellow of the distinguished Litigation Counsel of America and earned the distinction of being elevated to the Order of Juris in recognition of having tried over fifty cases before a jury.

Blaine has successfully resolved employment law claims under the ADA, and Title VII, in federal court. He has handled and favorably resolved multiple excessive force cases and wrongful death claims against New Mexico Counties, Cities, and quasi-government entities. Among his many accomplishments, Blaine obtained total defense verdicts in the cases of Minton v. Doña Ana County and Landau v. Las Cruces Public Schools. He also successfully argued two civil rights cases in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, one which resulted in a published opinion. Gutierrez v. Cobos, 841 F.3d 895 (10th Cir. 2016).

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights
• State and Local Government
• Insurance Defense
• Torts
• Employment
• Commercial
• Property

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2007)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2010)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2010)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2014)
• State of Texas (2014)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2017)

New Mexico Supreme Court Appointments

• Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts Committee (2017)
• Rules of Civil Procedure for the State Courts Committee (2018)

Education

• B.S. Indiana University, Kelley School of Business (2003)
• J.D. Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law (2007)

Background & Practice Experience

Brad has 18 years of trial and appellate experience in both the state and federal courts. He began his career as an attorney in 2007, representing the State of New Mexico as an Assistant District Attorney in the Third Judicial District. In 2010, Brad joined the firm as an associate attorney and in 2017 became a shareholder and director.

In his practice Brad has built on the firm’s core practice areas including representation of individuals, private companies, and government entities across New Mexico, both as general counsel and in litigation. Brad’s current practice focuses on defending public and privately insured individuals and entities in tort, civil rights, and employment litigation. In the past five years, Brad and his team successfully resolved 82 lawsuits for their clients; 54 through negotiated settlements, 24 through dispositive motion practice, one arbitration, and three on appeal.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Litigation
• Governmental Representation & Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Municipal Liability
• Labor & Employment Law
• Commercial Litigation

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2012)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2012)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2015)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2016)
• U.S. Supreme Court (2018)

Education

• B.A., New Mexico State University (2008)
• J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (2012)

Background & Practice Experience

Ben has been with the Firm since graduating from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2012. He became a Partner in 2018. His practice is primarily focused in local government and insurance defense, both as general counsel and litigator. As general counsel, Ben advises local governing bodies in a variety of areas including employment matters, civil rights, contracts, statutory compliance, among others. Ben has had success at every stage of litigation including motion practice, mediation, bench and jury trials, and appeals.

When he is not in the office, Ben loves to spend time with his wife and daughters, enjoys watching his favorite baseball and football teams play, and tries to keep up his dwindling skills on the soccer field.

Areas of Practice

• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law

Bar Admissions

• State of Texas (2004)
• State of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2017)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2017)

Education

• B.S., Texas A&M University (2001)
• J.D., South Texas College of Law (2004)

Background & Practice Experience

The primary area of Sara’s practice involves representing insurance companies, government entities, and commercial clients in employment matters concerning claims of discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. The remainder of her practice is defending government entities and their employees against claims of statutory and constitutional violations. During her tenure with Mynatt Springer P.C., Sara has successfully argued multiple dispositive motions on behalf of the firm’s clients. In September 2021, Sara served as co-counsel in a commercial arbitration, resulting in a favorable defense decision for the firm’s client and an award of $642,893.69. In January 2024, Sara served as co-counsel in a Chaves County case in which the jury returned a complete defense verdict, defeating the plaintiff’s claim for over $20 million in damages.

Dispositive Motions

• Michael Cadena v. Silver Consolidated School District, Beth Lougee, and Lon Streib
• Anthony Nodine v. Carlsbad Municipal Schools et al.
• Angel Martinez and Jessica Cazares v. Adrian Agustin Munoz and R. Perea Trucking

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Litigation
• Governmental Representation & Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Municipal Liability
• Labor & Employment Law
• Commercial Litigation

Bar Admissions

• New Mexico (2015)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2015)

Education

• B.A., Summa cum laude, University of New Mexico (2012)
• J.D., Magna cum laude, J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (2015)

Background and Practice Experience

Alan Dahl is a partner at Mynatt Springer whose practice focuses on the defense of governmental entities. He also has extensive experience as general counsel to both local public bodies and local businesses, assisting them with issues ranging from employee concerns to, contract review, to planning and zoning.

Alan is deeply involved all aspects of litigation practice in both state and federal court. His skills in research, writing, and presentation have allowed to him repeatedly obtain dispositive relief for his clients. Alan is comfortable in the court room and was lead counsel in obtaining a complete defense verdict for his client in a state-level jury trial concerning alleged construction defects. Alan has also handled multiple appeals before the New Mexico Court of Appeals and New Mexico Supreme Court. Recently, he obtained a favorable opinion from the New Mexico Court of Appeals reversing the district court and compelling the plaintiff employee to arbitrate his claims against his state agency employer.

Prior to joining Mynatt Springer, Alan studied law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University where graduated magna cum laude in 2015. Before that, he studied at University of New Mexico where he graduated summa cum laude in 2012 with a B.A. in history.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Litigation
• Governmental Representation & Litigation
• Cannabis Law
• Insurance Defense
• Commercial Litigation
• Municipal Liability
• Labor & Employment Law

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2017)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2018)

Education

• B.A., Summa cum laude New Mexico State University (2013)
• J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (2016)

Background & Practice Experience

Since her practice began in 2016, Haley has obtained favorable results in motion practice in approximately 18 federal cases and about 30 cases in state court. Haley regularly practices in New Mexico state district court and the United States District Court for the Districts of New Mexico and handles appeals before the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Haley currently represents insurance companies, businesses, counties, cities, school districts in southern New Mexico. Haley handles litigation matters including civil rights defense; tort claims and immunity waiver claims against governmental entities; employment practices liability; contract litigation; and construction litigation. Haley is also involved in transactional matters including business and contract formation as well as cannabis regulatory compliance.

Haley attended New Mexico State University and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Government and a minor in International Relations in 2013. Haley went on to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law (“UNMSOL”) and served as a Manuscript Editor on UNMSOL’s Law’s Natural Resources Journal. During law school, Haley worked in multiple capacities including interning with the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Appellate Division of the New Mexico Public Defender Department, and an administrative law judge at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as working as a contract criminal defense clerk under the federal Criminal Justice Act.

Areas of Practice

• Governmental Representation & Defense
• Civil Rights Litigation
• General Insurance Defense
• Municipal Liability
• Labor & Employment
• Commercial Litigation

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2023)
• State of Texas (2022)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2022)

Education

• B.A., Texas Tech University (2018)
• J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law (2022)

Background & Practice Experience

Shelton is originally from Longview, TX. He attended Texas Tech University (“TTU”) in Lubbock, TX and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2018. He then stayed in Lubbock to attend TTU School of Law. During that time, he served on the board with the Black Law Student Association, competed in various advocacy competitions, and interned with a private law firm specializing in real property, commercial, and landlord/tenant law.

Shelton now represents insurance companies, commercial entities, government entities, and counties. Although early in his practice, he has quickly gained legal experience by handling issues involving employment discrimination; tort and civil rights defense of employers and municipalities; municipal ordinance design; contract formation; and real property disputes. In addition, he has participated in favorable depositions, mediations, hearings, and city council meetings. Finally, he has been involved in aspects of discovery, motion practice, and appellate litigation.

Looking forward, Shelton aspires to continue expanding his understanding of the legal landscape in his primary areas of practice and beyond. Past that, he works to become a better golfer, more creative musician, and further assimilated individual — on a personal and business level — within his New Mexican community.

Areas of Practice

• General Tort
• Ethics
• Law Enforcement & Corrections Liability
• Employment
• Civil Rights
• Insurance Defense
• Property
• Class Action

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2007)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2008)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2013)

Education

• B.A., University of Texas of Austin (2000)
• J.D., University of Colorado (2003)

Background & Practice Experience

Rob joined Mynatt Springer P.C. as an associate in May 2023. His primary practice of law is civil rights, personal injury, and employment law. He has represented clients in the New Mexico state district courts, the New Mexico Court of Appeals, and the New Mexico Supreme Court. He has also represented clients in the U.S. District Court in the District of New Mexico and the Tenth Circuit.

Rob earned his J.D. at the University of Colorado in Boulder in 2003 and a Master of Public Administration at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2008.

Prior to joining Mynatt Springer P.C., Rob worked as a prosecutor for the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor he specialized in domestic violence and related crimes. In 2011, the New Mexico State Bar awarded him the accolade of Domestic Violence Prosecutor of the Year. In 2013, he became an attorney for the City of Las Cruces. As an attorney for the City he worked as general counsel, drafted municipal legislation, and litigated various torts, civil rights suits, employment cases, and administrative matters for his client. Eventually he was promoted to Deputy City Attorney in 2021.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Litigation
• Governmental Representation & Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Municipal Liability
• Labor & Employment Law
• Commercial Litigation

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2024)
• State of Utah (2024)

Education

• B.A., Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business (2020)
• J.D., Creighton University School of Law (2023)

Background & Practice Experience

Kaitlyn is originally from Avondale, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ and graduated with a degree in business in 2020. She then moved to Nebraska to study law at Creighton University. During her time there, she was President of the International Law Student Association and the International and Comparative Law Journal, competed in various advocacy competitions, and interned with a company as part of their general counsel division.

Outside of work, Kaitlyn actively participates in coaching and playing volleyball. She loves reading novels of all varieties, solving puzzles of all kinds and trying new foods.

Areas of Practice

• Governmental Representation & Defense
• Civil Rights Litigation
• General Insurance Defense
• Municipal Liability
• Labor & Employment Law
• Commercial Litigation

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2024)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2024)

Education

• B.A., Brigham Young University (2020)
• J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (2024)

Background & Practice Experience

Hunter Thomas is from Albuquerque, NM. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in political science in 2020. In 2021, he moved back to New Mexico to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law. During his time at UNM Law, he served as a staff member on the Natural Resources Journal, worked at the New Mexico State Legislature, interned at the Second Judicial District Court, represented a land grant in litigation in the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Clinic, and clerked for Mynatt Springer his last two years of law school. Hunter was recognized by the Dean for his significant contributions to the law school community and received a certificate in natural resources and environmental law.

Hunter now represents insurance companies, commercial entities, governmental entities, and counties. As a law clerk, he gained legal experience in civil rights defense, municipal liability, tort, real property disputes, and contract formation.

Hunter spent two years in Oaxaca Mexico and is fluent in Spanish and hopes to use it frequently in his legal practice. He loves the proximity to Mexico and traveling with his family, running, reading, listening to podcasts, and cheering on BYU. He looks forward to enjoying everything Southern New Mexico has to offer from the community to the delicious food and green chile.