Marcus Rael, Jr.
Top rated State, Local & Municipal attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Robles, Rael & Anaya PC
Practice areas: State, Local & Municipal, Environmental Litigation, Business Litigation
Licensed in New Mexico since: 2001
Education: The University of New Mexico School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2014 - 2015 Robles, Rael & Anaya PC
500 Marquette Ave NWSuite 700
Albuquerque, NM 87102 Phone: 505-242-2228 Email: Marcus Rael, Jr. Visit website
Details 
Founding Partner, Marcus J. Rael, Jr. represents a wide variety of clients, including governmental entities, private corporations and private parties on a variety of complex legal affairs. Mr. Rael’s knowledge of government and administrative law, jail litigation, contracts, real estate, construction, land use, water law and environmental litigation and reclamation is among the best in the region. He currently represents the State of New Mexico in two U.S. Supreme Court cases as lead counsel in matters concerning environmental claims. He has successfully represented the State of New Mexico in major victories in many cases against large corporations such as Takata, Monsanto, and Wells Fargo. He has advocated on behalf of clients before the U.S. Supreme Court as well as numerous federal, state, and municipal administrative and legislative bodies having served as lead attorney on more than 100 major contracts awarded by governmental entities in the state of New Mexico.
First Admitted: 2001, New Mexico
Professional Webpage: https://roblesrael.com/attorney/marcus-j-rael-jr/
Bar / Professional Activity
- State Bar of New Mexico, 2001
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
- United States District Court of New Mexico
- United States Supreme Court, 2017
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Robles, Rael & Anaya, P.C. represented the New Mexico Attorney General in the litigation case against Monsanto Co. arising out of its production, marketing, distribution, and sale of carcinogenic industrial chemicals (polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs), resulting in statewide environmental contamination, including substantial impairment of major New Mexico waterbodies. New Mexico asserted common-law environmental claims and a statutory claim for unfair trade practices seeking monetary damages for injury to its natural resources and other relief. In 2020, a settlement for $23.6 million, plus other non-monetary relief, was reached., 2020
- New Mexico successfully secured a $13.5 million settlement against Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche in August 2019. The listed manufacturers sold vehicles marketed as “clean diesel”. These vehicles were advertised to be the environmentally friendly alternative to hybrid and electric cars. In fact, the vehicles contained “defeat device” software designed to conceal harmful emissions. The cars were fully compliant with EPA standards when in test mode. However, when they were driven normally, they could emit 40 times more nitrogen-oxide than the federal limit. Litigation against Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche was extensive. New Mexico chose to pursue fair compensation from the defendants rather than settling quickly with the auto manufacturers, unlike many other states. Then New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas selected Robles, Rael & Anaya, P.C. and DiCello Levitt to pursue this matter. The outcome of litigation proved to be successful for the State of New Mexico. The New Mexico settlement reached $4,700 per affected vehicle—400% more than the multistate Attorney General settlement and 33% higher than the per-vehicle settlement achieved by any other state., 2019
- In February 2019, Robles Rael & Anaya, P.C. and DiCello Levitt represented the State to successfully settle with Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo opened accounts for customers and enrolled them in services that its customers had not authorized, were not aware of, or both. Wells Fargo’s business model created an environment that encouraged the creation and opening of fake accounts, and fraudulent enrollments, about which Wells Fargo’s customers were unaware. They will pay more than $7 million in settlement to the State of New Mexico. This payment is to be used to resolve claims that the bank violated state consumer protection laws In addition to a multi-state settlement reached by all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the State of New Mexico has also settled its own lawsuit against the banking giant. With settlements, Wells Fargo will pay more than $7 million to New Mexico to further consumer protection and education efforts across the state. Wells Fargo will also implement a consumer redress review program through which consumers who have not been made whole through other restitution programs already in place can seek review of their inquiry or complaint by a bank escalation team for possible relief. To date, this settlement represents the most significant engagement involving a national bank by state attorneys general acting without a federal law enforcement partner., 2019
- In May 2018, Robles, Rael & Anaya, P.C. represented the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office in settlement against the airbag manufacturer Takata Corporation. New Mexico and Hawaii achieved a $7 million settlement, to be shared additionally with the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is a matter regarding airbags manufactured by Takata Corp. Investigations found these airbags contained volatile ammonium nitrate as a propellant. Ammonium nitrate causes the over pressurization of the canister or inflator that can rupture, spewing metal fragments into the occupant’s compartment., 2018
Pro bono / Community Service
- Board of Directors, Albuquerque Bar Association
- Hispanic Bar Association
- Employment Law Section, State Bar of New Mexico
- Board of Directors, Popejoy Hall
- Founding Director, Village of Questa Chamber of Commerce
- Board Member, Village of Questa Economic Development Fund
Honors
- This is a peer nominated and evaluated process combined with independent research and is judged on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. This distinction is only awarded to 5% of attorneys in the state., Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2022
- The 40 Under Forty publication recognizes New Mexico’s most accomplished young professionals under forty whose efforts are shaping the future of the state., New Mexico Forty Under 40 Power Broker, New Mexico Business Weekly, 2009
- The Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award is presented annually by the State Bar of New Mexico to an attorney who has, during the formative stage of his legal career, by his ethical and personal conduct, exemplified for hisfellow attorneys the epitome of professionalism. The State Bar of New Mexico presents this award to an attorney who has demonstrated commitment to clients’ causes and to public service and who enhances the image of the legal profession in the eyes of the public., Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, New Mexico State Bar, 2008
Office location for Marcus Rael, Jr.
500 Marquette Ave NW
Suite 700
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Selections
5 Years Super Lawyers
2 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2014 - 2015