Experience

New Mexico Human Services Department

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief General Counsel

  • Aug 2019 - Present

  • Provides legal counsel and advice for a large governmental agency overseeing multiple social services programs and administrative functions (Medicaid, Food Stamps, Child Support Enforcement, Behavioral Health Services, Financial Assistance, Financial Management, Personnel and Human Resources) with a budget of $6 billion. • Manages the Office of General Counsel and supervised 50 plus attorneys located throughout the state. • Supervises and directly participates in civil and administrative litigation before state and federal courts and tribunals, including appeals before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. • Oversees public document disclosures, agency employment matters and financial investigations. • Conducts contract negotiations with the federal government, universities, health care organizations and IT contractors. Drafts and approves agency regulations, policies and contracts. • Drafts, analyzes, and testifies on legislation.



Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing - HCPF

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Director Of Legal Services

  • Apr 2016 - Jul 2019

  General Counsel duties on behalf of Colorado’s Medicaid agency. Provide legal advice and counsel on Medicaid/federal compliance, employment matters, government contract/finance/procurement, contract management, privacy and security of electronic information and systems, legislative matters, third-party recovery, regulation of providers/HMO’s, supervision of litigation, and management of legal staff. General Counsel duties on behalf of Colorado’s Medicaid agency. Provide legal advice and counsel on Medicaid/federal compliance, employment matters, government contract/finance/procurement, contract management, privacy and security of electronic information and systems, legislative matters, third-party recovery, regulation of providers/HMO’s, supervision of litigation, and management of legal staff.



Self

• Littleton, Colorado

• Attorney

  • Sep 2015 - Apr 2016



Social Security Administration

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Regional Counsel

  • May 2014 - Sep 2015

  • General legal work involving briefing and litigation of administrative appeals of disability cases; employment law; public disclosure; and general legal work related to agency business. • General legal work involving briefing and litigation of administrative appeals of disability cases; employment law; public disclosure; and general legal work related to agency business.



Self

• Los Alamos, New Mexico

• Private Attorney/Consultant

  • Dec 2011 - May 2014

  • While caring for the needs of elderly family members, part-time private legal work and consulting regarding health care services and policy. • While caring for the needs of elderly family members, part-time private legal work and consulting regarding health care services and policy.



Government of the U.S. Virgin Island - Department of Justice and Office of the Governor

• St. Thomas, USVI

• Executive Director and Special Counsel

  • Nov 2010 - Dec 2011

  • Managed and supervised the USVI’s multi-million dollar Medicaid program. • Provided legal/policy advice to the Governor on Health Care Reform implementation and Medicaid reforms. • Supervised Medicaid staff and offices territory-wide. • Negotiated health care services and health information technology contracts. • Managed and supervised the USVI’s multi-million dollar Medicaid program. • Provided legal/policy advice to the Governor on Health Care Reform implementation and Medicaid reforms. • Supervised Medicaid staff and offices territory-wide. • Negotiated health care services and health information technology contracts.



Office of Governor Bill Richardson

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Deputy Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor

  • Jun 2009 - Oct 2010

  • Provided policy and legal advice in the areas of environmental issues, water resources, border issues, international affairs, social services, crime, corrections, homeland security, health, health insurance, Medicaid, labor and union issues. • Supervised agency activities in the above policy areas and directed agency senior management in the implementation of Governor’s policy directives and formulation of agency budgets. • Supervised, organized and managed the 2011 Border Governor’s Conference. • Participated in litigation over statewide labor, employment, public records and public health care/service issues.



General

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• General Counsel

  • Dec 2003 - Jun 2009

  • Provided legal counsel and advice for a large governmental agency overseeing multiple social services programs and administrative functions (Medicaid, Food Stamps, Child Support Enforcement, Behavioral Health Services, Financial Assistance, Financial Management, Personnel and Human Resources) with a budget of $2.6 billion. • Managed the Office of General Counsel and supervised 50 plus attorneys located throughout the state. • Supervised and directly participated in civil and administrative litigation before state and federal courts and tribunals, including appeals before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. • Oversaw public document disclosures, agency employment matters and financial investigations. • Conducted contract negotiations with the federal government, universities, health care organizations and IT contractors. Drafted and approved agency regulations, policies and contracts. • Drafted, analyzed, and testified on legislation. • Additional Duties: Provided legal counsel and advice to the Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative on all areas of law. • Chief negotiator for the state on the statewide Collective Bargaining agreements with labor unions.



New Mexico Environment Department

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Deputy Secretary/General Counsel

  • Jun 1999 - Dec 2003

  • Provided legal counsel and advice for governmental environmental agency overseeing multiple state and federal programs. • Supervised and managed department divisions (hazardous waste, field operations, ground and surface water quality and air quality). • Managed the Office of General Counsel, supervised 10 attorneys and directly participated in civil and administrative litigation in state and federal courts and tribunals. • Oversaw public document disclosures, agency contract negotiations, contract review, and drafting of legislation, legislative activities and policy matters. • Supervised division directors, bureau chiefs, agency budget and was the chief departmental negotiator for regulatory compliance issues involving Department of Energy facilities (Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories), Department of Defense facilities (Kirkland and White Sands Air Force bases), oil and gas companies and other regulated corporations and companies. • Supervised agency policies and decision-making (including: regulations, statutes, committee reports, legislation, environmental justice programs, voluntary compliance programs, and environmental information systems). • Additional Duties: Chairman of the Water Quality Control Commission. • Administrative Hearing Officer/Judge adjudicating the State-wide Water Quality Control Standards, Intelv air quality permits, Department of Defense and Energy facility permits and other regulatory issues. • Special Assistant Attorney General litigating environmental permitting and enforcement matters for the Attorney General’s office. • Special Assistant U.S. Attorney assisting in the prosecution of environmental crimes.



Office of the State Engineer

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Special Assistant Attorney General

  • Apr 1998 - Jun 1999

  • Lead Attorney, Lower Rio Grande interstate water rights litigation involving approximately 60,000 claimants including the U.S. Government, State of Texas, State of Colorado, Mexico, Indian tribes, cities, counties, universities and large agricultural districts. • Supervised 3 attorneys. Conducted all litigation, contract negotiation, contract review, drafting of legislation, legislative and policy advice related to Lower Rio Grande adjudication. Additional Duties: • Coordinated the hydrographic survey for the Lower Rio Grande water right adjudication litigation and supervised the engineering firm hired to conduct the survey.



Legal Bureau - Risk Management Division, State of New Mexico

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Litigation Attorney

  • Oct 1994 - Sep 1998

  • Conducted litigation defense of state agencies, state universities, and municipal and county governments involving civil rights and tort liability claims in state and federal courts. • Appellate practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, N.M. Supreme Court, and N.M. Court of Appeals. • Published opinions from the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in involving constitutional land use issues, university admissions, Americans with Disabilities Act and 11th Amendment and sovereign immunity. • Provided legal advice and training to state agencies, state universities, municipal and county governments in the areas of land use, employment, civil rights, constitutional and tort law.