ATKINSON & KELSEY, P.A. - Key Persons
In September 2009, I found my home when I became employed with Atkinson & Kelsey. I am the proud paralegal for Thomas C. Montoya and Latisha K. Frederick. We all work as a TEAM and I take great pride in pitching in, at any time, for any of the other attorneys needing assistance.
Prior to my employment at A&K I came out of high school and immediately spent 27 years at the Second Judicial District Court. I am very proud of this tenure. From 1984 until my retirement I assisted in establishing the designated Family Court. From 1986 to my retirement in 2001 I served as the Trial Court Administrative Assistant to the Family Court's Presiding Judge Anne Kass.
In between retirement and finding my home, I was a paralegal at two other family law firms so I guess you could say that is my specialty, my comfort zone and it became my life. Of course, growing up in Albuquerque and at the old Speedway Park, my first passion is spent watching ALL Nascar /Indy Car races, without interruption, and of course, enjoying time with my four lovely grandchildren and my furry children.
Sandra has currently been working for Atkinson & Kelsey as a paralegal since 2014. Sandra has 20+ years of experience as a paralegal and has worked for various law firms in New Mexico.
Sandra graduated from Grants High School and has a BA in management through the University of Phoenix.
Prior to working as a paralegal, Sandra's background was in accounting at some of New Mexico's Uranium & Coal mines and Refineries. Sandra's hobbies include camping and fishing. She loves spending time with family including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Intake Specialist / Office Operations
In July 2012 Stallion joined the Atkinson & Kelsey team and has worn many hats in the firm. He has been the Office Runner, Filing Clerk, Reception, and Legal Assistant. Currently, he is A&K's Intake Specialist where he assists potential clients, new and old, schedules consultation appointments with the firm's attorneys, and is always willing to lend a hand wherever needed to keep the office operational.
Prior to Atkinson & Kelsey, Stallion lived and grew up in Las Vegas, NM, where, for 8 years, he worked in Hotel Operations & Customer Service. In his free time Stallion is an avid Board Game player, collector & enthusiast, he enjoys cooking and playing sand volleyball on occasion.
Tom Montoya is a shareholder with Atkinson & Kelsey, practicing primarily in matrimonial law and marital property distribution. He attended Stanford University, obtained his J.D. Degree from the University of Southern California, and is a member of the American Law Institute.
Mr. Montoya has practiced family law for over 28 years and is a frequent lecturer before various groups on subjects relating to family law. He has written numerous articles on family law issues for various professional groups, including The American Journal of Family Law, the American Bar Association, the New Mexico Law Review, and the State Bar of New Mexico. He is the principal author and editor of New Mexico Domestic Relations Law and Forms (Michie-Butterworth, 1995). Mr. Montoya also has taught more than 45 Continuing Education Programs on family law. He has lobbied for more than 30 legislative enactments in family law, and testified before the New Mexico State Legislature over 60 times.
In 2009, Governor Bill Richardson appointed Mr. Montoya to a second, four-year term on the board of the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission. Mr. Montoya is also the past co-chair of the state Child Support Guidelines Committee, which promulgated statutory child support guidelines, and the past chair of the Supreme Court Civil Procedure Domestic Relations Rules Subcommittee, which created statewide rules of procedure for domestic relations and domestic violence cases.
He is a member of the State Bar of New Mexico, where he chaired the Family Law Section and Legislation Committee. He has lobbied for the following legislative actions: Joint Custody Legislation, Child Support Guidelines, Public Retirement Community Property Division, Child Custody Jurisdiction, Child Support Enforcement, Paternity Code, Quasi-Community Property Act, Grandparent Visitation Act, Spousal Support Amendments, Life Insurance as Insurance for Support, Death During Pending Divorce Statute, Mediation of Child Custody Disputes, Family Violence Protection Act Amendments, Child and Spousal Support Liens, Pre-Nuptial Agreement Act, Joinder of Spouses in Real Estate Transactions, and Post-Minority Child Support Amendments.