PRACTICE AREAS
Water Rights
In her water rights practice, Ms. Torres represents a broad spectrum of clients with interests including agricultural, industrial, institutional, developmental and residential. She regularly works with the Office of the State Engineer on behalf of clients on issues pertaining to water rights and water use.
Ms. Torres has extensive experience in various aspects of water rights law including the following:
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Conducting research in order to analyze the validity of water rights
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Applications and proceedings before the New Mexico State Engineer
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Negotiation of shared well agreements
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Water rights sales, purchases and transfers
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Administrative issues with the Office of the State Engineer
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Court proceedings related to water rights, including adjudications
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Representing and advising small utility companies
Real Estate & Land Use
Ms. Torres represents buyers, sellers and developers of commercial and residential properties. Her real estate practice includes a wide range of projects involving the acquisition, sale, refinancing, and management of real property, and she has a broad range of experience in real estate matters including the following:
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In her real estate practice, Ms. Torres also works closely with other real estate professionals such as brokers, engineers, surveyors, appraisers, lenders and title examiners, and also with city governments, to assist her clients in all aspects of project execution.
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Purchase and sale of real property
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Survey reviews
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Title examination
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Easements and rights of way
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Lease Agreements
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Land development
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Zoning
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Utility extensions
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Covenants and restrictions
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Environmental considerations
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Quiet Title actions
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Condemnation or eminent domain
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Real Estate Mortgages
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Mechanic’s Liens
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1031 Exchange
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Commercial, ground and residential leasing
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Water and mineral rights
Business Formation & Transactions
She regularly assists clients navigate through the business formation process, prepares and files corporate formation documents with the New Mexico Secretary of State, and provides the following essential services for business clients of various sizes and in diverse industries:
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Entity formation and organization
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Contract review and negotiation
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Risk management and allocation
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Nonprofit formation
Condemnation &
Eminent Domain
Ms. Torres has represented land owners against various governmental entities pursuing condemnation actions for commercial, agricultural and residential properties. She has assisted clients with the following:
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Negotiating with condemning entities in order to obtain the highest condemnation award possible
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Challenging the Government’s right to condemn property
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Assisting clients to preserve as much property as possible
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Working closely with appraisers to maximize value
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Recovery of extra damages
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Land use issues
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Navigating through the condemnation court proceeding
Estate Planning
& Probate
Ms. Torres counsels clients regarding various estate planning matters and prepares routine but necessary estate planning documents including wills, revocable and irrevocable trust agreements, powers of attorney and advance health care directives. She also works closely with certified public accountants on behalf of her clients in order to minimize the impact of estate taxes and represents clients through the process of probate administration of estates.
In connection with her real estate law practice, Ms. Torres also assists clients with ancillary probate proceedings when out-of-state probate actions require a New Mexico probate proceeding for transferring real property located within New Mexico​.