Sutin, Thayer & Browne

What Sutin, Thayer & Browne does

Sutin, Thayer & Browne A Professional Corporation is a privately held, New Mexico-incorporated professional law corporation headquartered at 6100 Uptown Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Founded in 1946 by Lewis R. Sutin and Irwin S. Moise, the firm has operated continuously for nearly 80 years as a full-service regional law firm serving sophisticated business clients, government entities, healthcare providers, financial institutions, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and high-net-worth individuals across 18 practice areas. Its core service portfolio spans business and corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, public finance and tax incentives, commercial lending, commercial litigation, construction law, healthcare and hospital law, cannabis law, renewable energy, real estate, state and local government, tax law, estate planning and probate, divorce and family law, mediation, and professional malpractice defense.

The firm's underlying technology is essentially non-proprietary: it is a people-driven professional services organization without a disclosed product, API, app, or technology platform. Differentiation rests on attorney expertise, jurisdictional knowledge of New Mexico-specific law, and institutional relationships with state agencies and courts accumulated over decades, including more than $17.2 billion in tax-exempt securities counsel work. The firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Legal 500, and holds four U.S. registered trademarks, including "Your Legal Team in New Mexico."

Revenue is generated through traditional law firm billing: billable hours, fixed fees for defined matters, contingency arrangements where applicable, and retainer relationships for ongoing engagements. Go-to-market relies on professional reputation, legal directory rankings, client referrals, and community involvement rather than digital or productized channels. Current headcount is 20+ lawyers (down from a historical peak of 60+), with the firm led by President and CEO Maria Montoya Chavez (since 2023) and governed by a Board of Directors comprising shareholders, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. The firm is owned by its equity partners/shareholders, with no evidence of external private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

Sutin, Thayer & Browne

Legal name

Sutin, Thayer & Browne A Professional Corporation

Website

https://sutinfirm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sutin, Thayer & Browne is a privately held, full-service New Mexico law firm founded in 1946, headquartered in Albuquerque, serving business clients, government entities, healthcare providers, financial institutions, and individuals across 18 practice areas with 20+ lawyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Practice Management & Case Management (BPAEAPAC)

Keywords

• Corporate legal services
• Commercial litigation
• Public finance law
• Estate planning services
• Healthcare law

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Billing: Traditional law firm revenue through billable hours, fixed fees for specific services, contingency arrangements where applicable, and retainer arrangements for ongoing client relationships. Services span litigation, transactions, regulatory compliance, and advisory.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sutin, Thayer & Browne is a full-service New Mexico law firm delivering legal representation to sophisticated business clients, government entities, healthcare providers, financial institutions, and individuals. The firm practices across 18+ areas including corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, public finance and tax incentives, commercial litigation, real estate, healthcare law, family law, estate planning, renewable energy, cannabis law, and municipal law. Service delivery is provided by shareholder attorneys and paralegals operating from its Albuquerque office, with engagements handled on a billable-hour, fixed-fee, or retainer basis depending on matter type.

Product overview

Sutin, Thayer & Browne is a New Mexico law firm offering comprehensive legal services through 18 distinct practice areas. The firm's service portfolio encompasses business transactions (M&A, public finance, corporate law), litigation (commercial, construction, probate, malpractice), specialized sectors (healthcare, cannabis, renewable energy, liquor licensing), and personal legal matters (family law, estate planning). The practice areas operate as interconnected specialty groups, with attorneys frequently collaborating across disciplines—for example, tax specialists work with transactional attorneys on deal structuring, while real estate and public finance teams coordinate on development projects. The firm has served clients since 1946 and represents entities including financial institutions, corporations, nonprofits, and government entities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business and Corporate Law Legal services covering corporate governance, business formation, commercial transactions, and corporate law matters for public and private entities.
• Mergers and Acquisitions Transactional legal services for business purchases, sales, mergers, and corporate restructuring transactions.
• Public Finance and Tax Incentives Legal services for municipal bonds, industrial revenue bonds, tax-exempt financing, and economic development incentives for public and private clients.
• Commercial Litigation Civil litigation representation for businesses in contract disputes, commercial foreclosure actions, and business tort matters in state and federal courts.
• Commercial Lending Legal counsel for financial institutions on lending transactions, loan documentation, and creditor rights matters.
• Healthcare and Hospital Law Legal counsel for healthcare entities on regulatory compliance, HIPAA, medical staff credentialing, and healthcare litigation matters.
• Real Estate Law Commercial and residential real estate representation including transactions, development, financing, and land use matters.
• Construction Law Legal services for construction projects including contract negotiation, mechanic's liens, Miller Act claims, and construction disputes.
• Tax Law Tax planning, audit defense, and tax litigation services for corporate and individual clients on federal and New Mexico state tax matters.
• Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Estate planning services including will preparation, trust administration, probate proceedings, and charitable giving strategies.
• Probate Litigation Litigation representation for contested probate matters, trust disputes, and will contests.
• Divorce and Family Law Family law representation including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, adoption, and collaborative divorce proceedings.
• Mediation Alternative dispute resolution services through neutral third-party mediation for civil and commercial matters.
• Cannabis Law Legal representation for cannabis-related businesses including licensing, regulatory compliance, and commercial matters.
• Renewable Energy Legal counsel for solar and wind energy projects including development, financing, tax incentives, and regulatory compliance.
• Liquor Licensing and Regulation Representation for alcohol beverage licensees including licensing applications, transfers, and regulatory compliance with state liquor control authorities.
• State and Local Government Representation for government entities and businesses on procurement, administrative law, and public-private partnerships.
• Professional and Legal Malpractice Defense Defense representation for professionals against malpractice claims including legal malpractice defense.

Quantifiable outcome

• $17.2 billion+ in tax exempt securities counsel work completed
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New Mexico Finance AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirm serves as bond counsel to the New Mexico Finance Authority for its State Transportation bond program, and as loan counsel for the Public-Project Revolving Fund program. This is a longstanding relationship with one of New Mexico's primary financing authorities.
• Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirm serves as general counsel to RETA since 2011, working on projects requiring application and interpretation of New Mexico eminent domain statutes, RETA statute, and Public Regulation Commission jurisdiction.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Modrall Sperling: Albuquerque-based full-service law firm with comparable size and practice breadth in New Mexico, including public finance, corporate, healthcare, and litigation. Most direct comparable in the NM market.
• Keleher & McLeod: Long-established Albuquerque law firm serving similar business, government, and public finance clients in New Mexico with overlapping practice areas in real estate, corporate, and litigation.
• Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb: Albuquerque-based full-service firm with comparable New Mexico footprint, providing corporate, litigation, healthcare, and public finance services to similar business and government clients.
• Atkinson, Baker & Rodriguez: Albuquerque-based full-service law firm serving similar business and government clients in New Mexico with overlapping corporate, real estate, and litigation capabilities.

Regional players

• Hinkle Shanor LLP: Roswell, NM-based firm with strong public finance, natural resources, and corporate practices serving New Mexico clients, with a similar regional focus on public sector and energy matters.

Broad incumbents

• Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: Larger Southwest-based firm with significant New Mexico presence serving similar enterprise, government, energy, and public finance clients, and competing for marquee matters such as renewable energy projects.
• Snell & Wilmer: Phoenix-headquartered Southwest regional firm with offices in multiple states, providing full-service business representation to clients with NM operations and competing for the same sophisticated business clientele.
• Holland & Hart: Mountain West regional firm with NM presence serving energy, healthcare, and government clients with overlapping public finance, corporate, and natural resources practices.
• Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott: Multi-office East Coast-rooted firm with a presence in the Southwest providing full-service business law services to enterprise clients, competing for the same sophisticated-counsel mandates.
• DLA Piper: Global full-service law firm with an Albuquerque office competing for high-end corporate, finance, and government matters involving NM-based enterprises and institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sutin, Thayer & Browne