Lucas M. Williams

Mr. Williams is a partner in the Roswell, New Mexico office of Hinkle Shanor LLP. Prior to attending the University of New Mexico where he received a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1997, Mr. Williams worked in the oilfields of Southeastern New Mexico building power line, constructing and repairing electrical systems for oil and gas locations, and designing and implementing automated control systems that, among other things, promoted efficiency and environmental safety. After graduating from UNM, Mr. Williams spent approximately three years designing and implementing a custom SCADA system for the energy industry.

In 2003, Mr. Williams graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California, where he served as the Technical Editor of the Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judges. Mr. Williams' practice focuses on the courtroom in matters involving the defense of New Mexico's job creators in tort and civil rights litigation, commercial litigation, energy, environmental, and natural resources litigation, employment litigation, civil rights litigation, and copyright defense. He is a member of the Chaves County Bar and State Bar of New Mexico and has been admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the New Mexico Supreme Court. Mr. Williams is a member of the New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute.

Tort and Civil Rights Litigation. Mr. Williams has defended a number of personal injury, wrongful death, mass tort, and civil rights claims in state and federal courts. Mr. Williams' "boots on the ground" experience in New Mexico's oil fields has provided a rare perspective on these claims that has assisted in the evaluation and defense of claims arising from oil field and refining operations. Additionally, Mr. Williams has defended a variety of clients involving § 1983 and Human Rights Act claims in New Mexico's state and federal courts.

Copyright Litigation. Mr. Williams obtained a defense verdict after a week-long trial defending an oil and gas service company from a copyright infringement claim. The claimant in that action retained a nationally-recognized plaintiff's firm to bring the action. The plaintiff sought more than $40,000,000 in damages as result of the alleged infringement. The plaintiff did not prevail on appeal.

Commercial Litigation. Mr. Williams has prosecuted and defended a variety of commercial disputes in state and federal court involving, among other things, "creative" billing practices on the part of adverse parties, failures to perform oil and gas services in an appropriate manner, and banking disputes.

Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources Litigation. Mr. Williams has defended energy companies in individual and class-action royalty disputes, environmental disputes, and various operating and leasehold disputes.

Employment Litigation. Mr. Williams has represented a number of New Mexico and out-of-state business in disputes involving, among other things, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, procedural due process claims, wrongful termination claims, covenants not to compete, and breach of express or alleged employment contracts.

Areas of Practice

Tort and Civil Rights Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Energy
Environmental
Natural Resources Litigation
Employment Litigation
Civil Rights Litigation
Copyright Defense

Bar Admissions

U.S. District Court District of New Mexico
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit

Education

Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California - 2003
     Law Journal: Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judges, Technical Editor
University of New Mexico
     B.A. - 1997
     Major: English

Professional Associations and Memberships

Chaves County Bar, Member
State Bar of New Mexico, Member