Michelle A. Hernandez, Partner

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Practice Areas

• Healthcare
• Appellate
• Product Liability
• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance

With Sommer Sutin Law Firm Since

• 2026

Overview

Michelle Hernandez has tried cases to judgment in both state and federal court. She has more than 29 years in practice 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.

Michelle has also represented clients in a broad range of commercial matters, including real estate and contract disputes and will contests. She has also represented public entities such as law enforcement agencies and public schools in a variety of matters including employment matters and personal injury claims. She has represented healthcare providers including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, nurses and physicians in litigation, regulatory compliance, licensing, and Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement matters. She has also provided advice on administrative matters.

Michelle also has experience in government relations, lobbying for economic development legislation at both the State and County level. She also has experience in state and local procurement and in drafting and reviewing procurement contracts. In addition, Michelle has provided advice to individual clients on business formation and contract liability issues. Her vast experience and counsel has helped clients strategically navigate difficult litigation and complex commercial matters by providing them with early strategic thinking and efficient litigation and risk management advice.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she has family throughout Northern New Mexico. Prior to private practice, Michelle served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joseph F. Baca, Senior Justice for the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Presentations

• 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

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

• Zia Award, University of New Mexico Alumni Association, 2024
• Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” distinction in Health Care Law, 2024, 2026
• Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Appellate Practice, 2024-2026, Health Care Law, 2021-2026, Litigation – Health Care, 2021-2026, Litigation – Insurance, 2021-2026
• Super Lawyers® distinction in Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Health Care, 2014-2026
• Super Lawyers®, “Top 25 New Mexico Super Lawyers”, 2022
• Women in Business Winner, Albuquerque Journal, 2020
• Diverse Business Leader, Albuquerque Business First, 2019
• “100 Women Who Inspire Us”, American Bar Association, 2019
• Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2014
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
• Woman of Influence, Albuquerque Business First, 2014
• 40 Under Forty, New Mexico Business Weekly, 2011
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2010-2024
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2007-2024
• Who’s Who in American Law, 2007

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of NM – 1999 to present
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico – 1997 to present
• Tenth United States Court of Appeals

Practicing Law Since

• 1997

Professional Associations and Memberships

• International Association of Defense Counsel Foundation, Board of Directors, 2023-2024

Community Involvement

• National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2019-2026; Chair, 2024
• St. Felix Pantry, Board of Directors, 2019-2024
• Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 2013-2020; Chair 2019