Alex Flores serves as New Mexico local counsel for out-of-state and national law firms litigating wrongful death, serious injury, trucking, and federal tort cases in New Mexico’s state and federal courts. Based in Albuquerque at Singleton Schreiber, LLP, he practices statewide.
Key facts: Licensed in New Mexico and Arizona · Admitted in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico · Former Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney with 17 federal jury trials · Based in Albuquerque, appearing statewide · (505) 587-3473 · email a case summary
What I Handle as Local Counsel
Engagements are scoped to what your case needs — all the way to a full trial partner:
- Association with out-of-state counsel and registration compliance in New Mexico state courts
- Association under the District of New Mexico’s federal-bar rules
- Local procedure, venue, and judge familiarity across New Mexico’s districts
- Motion practice, discovery disputes, and standing in at hearings
- Full co-counsel through trial where the case calls for it
How Out-of-State Counsel Appear in New Mexico State Courts
New Mexico uses a registration model rather than a traditional motion-based pro hac vice process. Under Rule 24-106 NMRA (Practice by Nonadmitted Lawyers), an attorney not admitted in New Mexico may perform legal services here only in association with an active member in good standing of the State Bar of New Mexico. The nonadmitted lawyer files a registration certificate with the State Bar identifying New Mexico counsel, along with certificates of good standing from each jurisdiction of admission.
- Fees: $450 for the first registration in a calendar year and $275 for each additional registration, with waivers for government, indigent-services, and pro bono work.
- Limit: no more than five registrations per calendar year.
- Local counsel’s role: New Mexico counsel signs the first paper filed, remains counsel of record on every subsequent filing, and attends proceedings unless excused by the court (see Rule 1-089.1 NMRA for district-court procedure and Rule 12-302 NMRA on appeal).
Appearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
The District of New Mexico is a federal-bar district: attorneys either join the court’s bar (D.N.M.LR-Civ. 83.2) or appear in a specific case by associating with a Federal Bar member under D.N.M.LR-Civ. 83.3(a) and paying a $100 per-case fee. The associated Federal Bar member signs the first pleading, certifies that the out-of-district attorney is in good standing, accepts service, and continues in the action unless another member is substituted. Alex serves in that associated-counsel role for out-of-district firms.
Why New Mexico Is Different
A few features of New Mexico law regularly surprise out-of-state counsel:
- Pure comparative negligence. New Mexico adopted pure comparative fault in Scott v. Rizzo, 1981-NMSC-021, and abolished joint and several liability in most cases by statute (NMSA 1978, § 41-3A-1) — each defendant generally pays only its percentage of fault.
- No cap on compensatory damages in ordinary personal injury cases. The exceptions are medical malpractice, where the Medical Malpractice Act imposes tiered caps (as amended in 2021, with punitive-damages limits added by 2026 N.M. Laws, HB 99), and claims against governmental entities, which are capped under the Tort Claims Act (NMSA 1978, § 41-4-19).
- Deadlines. Most personal injury actions carry a three-year limitations period (NMSA 1978, § 37-1-8); wrongful death actions must be brought within three years of the date of death (NMSA 1978, § 41-2-2). Shorter notice and suit deadlines apply to Tort Claims Act matters, and the Medical Malpractice Act has its own limitations rules.
- Geography and jurisdiction. Substantial tribal and federal land means crash and injury cases can raise Indian Country jurisdiction and Federal Tort Claims Act questions that change the forum, the deadlines, and the available remedies.
Venue is the first thing out-of-state counsel get wrong. A truck crash in Rio Rancho is a Sandoval County case, not a Bernalillo County one; Farmington is San Juan County; Hobbs is Lea County; Santa Fe is Santa Fe County. I keep county-specific pages on Rio Rancho truck accident cases, Farmington truck accident cases, Hobbs truck accident cases and Santa Fe truck accident cases that cover the local courts, hospitals and carriers.
Federal-Court Depth
Before entering plaintiff’s practice, Alex was a Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney who co-led the Indian Country Crimes Section for the District of New Mexico — roughly 200 felony prosecutions and 17 federal jury trials, with appellate work before the Tenth Circuit. His current practice includes Federal Tort Claims Act litigation and work in the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire litigation. He clerked for New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Edward L. Chávez, served as a U.S. Marine Corps judge advocate, and serves today as State Staff Judge Advocate in the New Mexico Air National Guard. Full background →
How Engagements Are Structured
Conflicts are run promptly and roles are documented in a written division of responsibilities before any appearance. Where fees are divided between firms, the division complies with Rule 16-105(F) NMRA — in proportion to services performed or with joint responsibility, with the client’s written agreement. Your client relationship stays yours.
Referring the whole case instead? See Refer a Case or Co-Counsel With Alex Flores.
Local Counsel FAQ
Can an out-of-state lawyer handle a case in New Mexico?
Yes, but not alone. In state court, a nonadmitted lawyer must register with the State Bar under Rule 24-106 NMRA and associate a New Mexico-licensed attorney who signs the first filing and remains counsel of record. In the District of New Mexico, an out-of-district attorney must either join the court’s Federal Bar or associate with a member under D.N.M.LR-Civ. 83.3(a).
Does New Mexico require local counsel?
Effectively yes, in both systems: state-court registration under Rule 24-106 NMRA requires association with an active State Bar member, and D.N.M. requires association with a Federal Bar member unless the appearing attorney joins the court’s bar.
How quickly can local counsel be in place?
Once conflicts clear and the engagement is documented, New Mexico’s state-court process is registration-based rather than motion-based, and D.N.M. association takes effect with the first filing — there is ordinarily no waiting on a discretionary admission ruling.
Which courts is Alex admitted in?
New Mexico and Arizona state courts, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Ask about other admissions when you call — additional forums may be available by association or admission where a case requires it.
Start the conversation: call (505) 587-3473 and ask for Alex, or email a case summary to email a case summary.
Attorney advertising. Court rules and fees change; verify current requirements with the State Bar of New Mexico and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. A division of fees between lawyers in different firms is permitted only as provided in Rule 16-105(F) NMRA, including the client’s written agreement. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.