Mr. Montano is a senior associate in Holland & Hart’s Santa Fe office. His practice focuses primarily on natural resources litigation, personal injury and wrongful death cases, and commercial litigation. Mr. Montano and his colleagues represent energy companies throughout New Mexico and the Mountain West. Mr. Montano helps represent their interests in commercial disputes, personal injury/wrongful death cases, and related matters. He also has represented other companies and individuals, mostly litigating cases involving commercial disputes and professional liability claims.
Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Mr. Montano served as law clerk to The Honorable Bruce D. Black, Federal District Court Judge for the District of New Mexico and, before that, as a law clerk to The Honorable Lynn Pickard, then Chief Judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals. While in law school at the University of New Mexico, Mr. Montano focused on commercial law, receiving the Frederick M. Hart Award for Excellence in Commercial Law. As an undergraduate student, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and summa cum laude in both mathematics and general honors.
Mr. Montano has a “BV” peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
 Member of trial team in one-week arbitration proceeding on behalf of energy client involving multiple audit disputes with royalty trust
Member of trial team in breach of contract/bad faith claim that settled in second week of jury trial at close of plaintiff’s case for trial costs
Member of trial team in one-week jury trial on behalf of oilfield services client that went to a verdict in oilfield accident case
Associate lawyer on case settling brain injury case arising out of oilfield accident without payment from energy client after filing summary judgment motion
Associate lawyer settling wrongful death case arising out of industrial accident for less than $5,000 after filing summary judgment motion
Associate lawyer in case obtaining summary judgment on behalf of client-physician arising out of medical malpractice claim
Associate lawyer on successful appeal of city council’s denial of energy client’s applications to drill natural gas wells within city limits
Member of team which obtained monetary settlement for pro bono client in civil rights/employment discrimination dispute
Associate lawyer in case where New Mexico Court of Appeals affirmed decision permitting energy client to relocate road necessary to access natural gas wells on surface owner’s property. XTO Energy Inc. v. Armenta, 2008-NMCA-78, 185 P.3d 383.
Associate lawyer in case where New Mexico Supreme Court voided Oil Conservation Commission rule permitting it to directly cite, fine, and punish energy companies. Marbob Energy v. N.M. Oil Conservation Comm’n, 2009-NMSC-13, 206 P.3d 135.
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