Dana Hardy

At the intersection of New Mexico's rich natural resource heritage and its evolving regulatory landscape stands Dana Hardy, a founding and senior managing partner at Hardy McLean LLC in Santa Fe. With more than two decades of distinguished legal practice, she has established herself as one of the Southwest's foremost authorities in energy, natural resources and administrative law.

Ms. Hardy's practice commands a broad and sophisticated client roster – spanning energy companies, oil and gas operators, investor-owned utilities, private equity firms and multinational corporations. Before the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division and Commission, she navigates complex proceedings involving compulsory pooling, unitization, regulatory compliance and well approvals spanning vertical, horizontal, saltwater disposal and acid gas injection operations. Her counsel extends seamlessly into public utility commission proceedings, encompassing rate cases, certificates of public convenience and necessity, and location approvals, as well as district court litigation and multilevel appellate advocacy through the New Mexico Supreme Court.

A second-generation Santa Fean, Ms. Hardy's roots run as deep as her professional legacy. She earned her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from The University of New Mexico School of Law, where she served as editor in chief of the New Mexico Law Review. Her academic leadership foreshadowed a career defined by precision, intellectual rigor and meaningful contribution to the profession.

That commitment to the legal community is equally evident beyond the courtroom. Ms. Hardy chaired the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of New Mexico in 2018, served as president of the First Judicial District Bar Association and mentored emerging attorneys through the State Bar's mentoring program.

Recognized as AV Preeminent* peer-review rated through Martindale-Hubbell and honored in 2023 as a Business Today "Top 10 Influential New Mexico Attorney Transforming Natural Resources and Environmental Law," Ms. Hardy exemplifies principled advocacy rooted in place, purpose and unmatched competence.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.