Practice Areas
Benjamin E. Thomas is an attorney in the Albuquerque office. Ben is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Department, primarily in commercial litigation with a focus on employment and banking matters.
Mr. Thomas’ practice focuses on representation of employers and businesses in employment law matters, commercial and tort litigation, and governmental investigations. Mr. Thomas has extensive experience with employment law. He advises businesses with respect to employment relations and represents companies before the Human Rights Commission, the EEOC and in employment discrimination, sexual harassment and civil rights lawsuits. In addition, he conducts workplace investigations, prepares policies and employment contracts, and provides anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training seminars for his employer clients.
Mr. Thomas has achieved the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating. He has been recognized for his experience and expertise in Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, and Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law in Best Lawyers in America, listed in Chambers USA-Client’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, listed in Benchmark Litigation in the following categories: Litigation Star, Bankruptcy, General Commercial Litigation, Employment, and Real Estate, and recognized in Southwest Super Lawyers in both General Litigation and Employment & Labor.
Mr. Thomas was recognized by the Albuquerque Journal as the 2019 Top Legal CEO.
-
State Bar of New Mexico, 2003
-
United States District Court, District of New Mexico, 2004
-
10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 2006
-
United State Supreme Court, 2007
-
Eastdale Little League, Board of Directors, 2021-present
-
Parker Center for Family Business, Board Member, 2021-present; President, 2023
-
National Dance Institute (NDI), Corporate Council, 2020-present
-
Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque, Board Member, 2012-2023
-
The Storehouse, Board Member, 2007-2020
-
Leadership New Mexico, 2018
-
Legal Instructor, Western States School of Banking, 2014-2018
-
Leadership Albuquerque, 2008
- Boston University School of Law (J.D. 2003)
- Boston University (M.A., International Relations 2004)
- Vanderbilt University (B.A. 1999)
- “It’s Tuesday, So the Rules Must Have Changed,” June 14, 2022. Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico Human Resources and Management Virtual Conference.
- “Recreational Cannabis and Employment Law,” September 17, 2021. State Bar Center, Albuquerque, NM. CLE sponsored by the Employment Law Section of the New Mexico State Bar.
- “Keeping It Together by Keeping Us Together,” part of the post-COVID Community Conversation webinar “Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being,” hosted by the American Heart Association – New Mexico, August 18, 2021. Co-panelist with Nathan Cogburn, Western Sky Community Care and Jolou Trujillo-Ottino, Delta Dental of New Mexico.
- “Getting Back to Business After COVID: Health, Well-Being, and Legal Considerations,” May 20, 2021. Informational webinar on the issues surrounding re-opening businesses post-pandemic. Co-hosted with Dr. Mark Epstein, True Health New Mexico CEO, and Dr. F. Kiko Torres, True Health New Mexico Chief Medical Officer.
- “Employment Law, Including FMLA, and How it Relates to COVID,” March 24, 2021. Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico Virtual Conference.
- “Employment Law and Legal Ethics Regarding New Mexico Cannabis Law,” November 13, 2019, State Bar Center, Albuquerque, NM. Sponsored by the Cannabis Law Section of the New Mexico State Bar.
- Presents anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training seminars for employers and prepares policies and employment contracts for businesses.
- Presents banking and finance law courses for professionals in the banking and finance industry sector.