Stuart R. Butzier
Stuart Butzier has assisted mining, energy and ranching clients throughout his twenty-five-plus year legal career with Modrall Sperling. His advice and counsel has included helping clients strategically navigate the maze of environmental and mining regulatory and permitting regimes, the morass of litigation, and the unique challenges of complex deals and real property transactions.
Stuart is considered a "tenacious litigator who gains excellent results," recently reported Chambers USA, where he has been recognized in Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries. Stuart has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as "Lawyer of the Year" four times – 2015 Mining Law in Santa Fe, 2013 Litigation-Environmental in Albuquerque, 2012 Mining Law in Albuquerque and 2011 Environmental Law in Albuquerque. He has achieved the AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected among those included in Southwest Super Lawyers®. In addition, the New Mexico Business Weekly chose Stuart as Best of the Bar in Natural Resources in 2011. He is also listed in the International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers, 2003 to present.
As the current chair of the firm's Natural Resources Department and recent four-year member of the firm's Executive Committee, Stuart has devoted himself to ensuring that the firm's attorneys and staff are primed to provide excellent, cost-effective service to clients. He is a team player who is adept at helping clients and colleagues pursue their business and professional goals. He also helped to recruit many of the firm's bright young attorneys.
Stuart is actively involved in community and professional non-profit organizations. As a long-time Trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and past member and Chair of the Section of Natural Resources of the State Bar of New Mexico, he has contributed countless hours as program chair, author and speaker in connection with legal education programs in New Mexico and throughout the West. He is past President of the University of New Mexico School of Law Alumni Association. His professional practice and interests extend beyond New Mexico to other parts of the West and, to a limited extent so far, other countries.
Stuart enjoys playing guitar in a band and supporting the music scene in New Mexico. His other interests include basketball (as former player and coach), natural landscaping, amateur photography and art.
- Best Lawyers of America® in Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental, Mining Law and Natural Resources Law, 2008-present
- Chambers USA Directories of America's Leading Lawyers for Business in Environment, Natural Resources and Regulated Industries, 2010-present
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- New Mexico Business Weekly "Best of the Bar in Natural Resources," 2011
- Southwest Super Lawyers® (derived from a lawyer survey), 2008-present
- International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers, 2003-present