LAW OFFICES OF H. NICOLE WERKMEISTER
MY MISSION: COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE
As a dedicated freelance litigator, my mission is to provide unparalleled legal services grounded in integrity, diligence, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. I am committed to understanding the unique needs of each client and delivering personalized and strategic legal solutions with meticulous attention to detail. My goal is to empower my clients with comprehensive and effective legal support, ensuring that every client receives a superior level of service that exceeds their expectations, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in every aspect of my practice.
WHAT CAN I OFFER
I support lawyers in all phases of civil litigation in state and federal courts at the administrative, trial, and appellate stages. My practice emphasizes civil defense litigation particularly in the areas of professional negligence, employment disputes, civil rights, and tort litigation. I have assisted on a freelance basis with preparing a U.S. Supreme Court and state amicus curiae briefs, drafting state and federal dispositive motions and appellate briefs, discovery needs, the development of litigation strategies for complex disputes, trial preparation, and post-trial briefing.
EDUCATION
I graduated from Colby College, Phi Beta Kappa, and Boston College Law School, where I was an editor of the Uniform Commercial Code Reporter-Digest. I received my J.D. in 1992.
EXPERIENCE
I am licensed to practice in New Mexico, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Before starting my freelance career, I worked for national and local law firms, acted as a hearing officer for the City of Albuquerque, presided as an arbitrator over labor disputes between the City of Albuquerque and unions, and served as a special prosecutor. I have spoken at and moderated numerous CLEs and seminars for both legal and non-legal professionals and have written extensively on substantive legal topics for various bar related organizations and groups. ​
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Many of my cases resulted in published decisions, including Lowther v. Children, Youth, and Family Dept., 101 F.4th 742 (10th Cir. 2024); Vigil v. South Valley Academy, 247 Fed. Appx. 982 (10th Cir. 2007); Brookner v. SSC Corp., 2011 WL 13289646 (D.N.M. Aug. 29, 2011); Lovelace v. County of Lincoln, 2011 WL 2731179 (D.N.M. June 30, 2011); Jackson v. MDC, 2010 WL 11623674 (D.N.M. Feb. 16, 2010); Herrera v. Bernalillo County Board of County Comm'rs, 2009 WL 10681495 (D.N.M. Feb. 17, 2009); Pulte Home Corp. v. Galindo, 2008 WL 6045498 (D.N.M. Oct. 30, 2008); Van Deelen v. Alamogordo Public Schools, 2008 WL 11417173 (D.N.M. Sept. 29, 2008); Van Deelen v. Alamogordo Public Schools, 2008 WL 11417175 (D.N.M. Mar. 14, 2008); Vigil v. South Valley Academy, 2006 WL 8443901 (D.N.M. Oct. 4, 2006); Romero v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., 2005 WL 8163874 (D.N.M. Mar. 17, 2005); Yruegas v. Vestal, 356 F. Supp. 2d 1238 (D.N.M. 2004); Rosales v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2003 WL 27384970 (D.N.M. Aug. 22, 2003); Limacher v. Hurd, 2003 WL 27385126 (D.N.M. June 27, 2003); Caldwell v. Otero County Sheriff's Dept., 2003 WL 27385332 (D.N.M. May 7, 2003); Limacher v. Hurd, 2002 WL 35649841 (D.N.M. July 31, 2002); McCartney v. Fernandez, 2002 WL 35649835 (D.N.M. June 14, 2002); Seibert v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., 2002 WL 35650154 (D.N.M. Feb. 11, 2002); Denio v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., 2002 WL 35650130 (D.N.M. Jan. 24, 2002); Howard v. Dona Ana County Detention Center, 2001 WL 37124897 (D.N.M. Aug. 14, 2001); Cearley v. County of Lincoln, 2001 WL 37125369 (D.N.M. Jan. 3, 2001); Craig v. Torrance County, 2000 WL 36739644 (D.N.M. Aug. 23, 2000); Doe v. City of Belen School District, 2000 WL 36739615 (D.N.M. Aug. 10, 2000); Garcia v. DeVries, 2000 WL 36739830 (D.N.M. June 2, 2000); Tellez v. County of Dona Ana, 2000 WL 36739877 (D.N.M. Jan. 6, 2000); Gosnell Development Corp. of Arizona v. American Nat'l Fire Ins. Co., 1999 WL 35808988 (D.N.M. Aug. 3, 1999); Gonzales v. Dulce Independent School Dist., 1999 WL 35809453 (D.N.M. July 19, 1999); Western PCS II Corp. v. Extraterritorial Zoning Authority of the City and County of Santa Fe, 957 F. Supp. 1230 (D.N.M. 1997); Nez v. Gallup-McKinley Public Schools, 2014 WL 1314937 (N.M. App. Feb. 17, 2014); Fernandez v. Espanola Public School District, 2005-NMSC-026, 138 N.M. 283, 119 P.3d 163; Gutierrez v. West Las Vegas School District, 2002-NMCA-068, 132 N.M. 372, 48 P.3d 761; Campos de Suenos, Ltd. v. Bernalillo County, 2001-NMCA-043, 130 N.M. 563, 28 P.3d 1104.
MY COMMUNITY
I am deeply committed to public service and to my community. I have served as the president of numerous local nonprofits and legal service organizations, including the Albuquerque Jewish Community Center, the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, the Center for Civic Values, the New Mexico Young Lawyer's Division, and the New Mexico Defense Lawyer's Association. I also serve on the board of the Anti-Defamation League, Mountain States Region, the New Mexico Holocaust Museum, the New Mexico Jewish Community Foundation, and serve or have served as an officer, director, and/or member of the New Mexico BioPark Society, Colby College Athletics Board (Rugby), the American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm, and General Practice Division, the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division, the American Bar Association's Presidential Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, various New Mexico Judicial Selection Commissions, the Defense Research Institute, the New Mexico Board of Bar Commissioners, the New Mexico Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, the Albuquerque Mayoral Commission on the Status of Women, and the Homeless Legal Clinic.
SOME HONORS AND AWARDS
Fellow, American Bar Foundation, New Mexico State Bar Outstanding Program Award for the Today's Law School Program, New Mexico State Bar's Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, New Mexico State Bar Outstanding Service Award, Albuquerque Jewish Community Center Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Center for Civic Values Outstanding Lawyer Award, New Mexico Defense Lawyer's Association Recognition for serving as the first female President.
MY HELPER
