Martin R. Esquivel

Nationally recognized and respected by his peers and judges across New Mexico, Martin Esquivel has over 28 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing individuals, school districts, businesses, media, and numerous governmental entities.  Mr. Esquivel was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, graduated from the University of New Mexico (UNM) in 1986 and subsequently received his juris doctorate from UNM in 1989. Mr. Esquivel has an unusually long and respected record as lead counsel in jury and bench trials in the United States District Court and state district court. He has also successfully represented clients in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals for the United States, the New Mexico Supreme Court and the New Mexico Court of Appeals.    Since 2007, he has been continually recognized by his peers in Best Lawyers® as one of the “Best Attorneys in New Mexico” in the area of First Amendment Law. 

In addition to his legal career, Mr. Esquivel was a two-term elected member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education from 2007 to 2014, where he served as President of the APS Board for three years.  His community work has also included leadership and board positions on the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, the City of Albuquerque Human Rights Board, Bench-Bar Media Committee and various State Bar of New Mexico committees.

While attending college and law school, Mr. Esquivel worked as a professional journalist for newspapers, including interning for the Los Angeles Times and freelancing for national news outlets such as the Associated Press, Reuters and United Press International.  His experience also allowed him to work as an adjunct professor in the UNM Journalism Department where he taught First Amendment Law.  He has also authored Media Guidelines for reporting on court matters to assist the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque.

Mr. Esquivel has three children, Graciela, an incoming first year student at the University of New Mexico School of Law; Marisa, a student attending Mesa Community College; and, Jay, a sophomore at Albuquerque High School.