Justin R. Kaufman | Partner
Justin Kaufman is a trial and appellate lawyer who manages the firm’s New Mexico practice from Santa Fe. Since joining the firm as a partner in 2018, Justin works closely with some of the country’s top trial lawyers representing clients who have been harmed by corporations and individuals in a wide variety of contexts. Specializing in complex litigation including wrongful death, catastrophic injury, toxic tort, product defect, trucking, pharmaceutical, consumer fraud, and medical negligence cases, Justin helps formulate and execute litigation strategy and guides cases from pre-suit investigation through trial and appeal. Like all of his talented colleagues at DP&S, he is frequently asked to research, brief, and present oral argument on critical motions and legal issues. And he is often sought out to serve as local counsel to work with some of the most accomplished trial firms in the country in cases being litigated in state and federal court in New Mexico. He has tried cases to verdict in New Mexico and in courts throughout the country, and has successfully settled numerous cases on behalf of individuals and families. Justin also has extensive experience with mass torts, having represented thousands of clients as well as state attorneys general in multi-district litigation.
Justin received his B.A. from Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences, and his J.D., cum laude, from Temple University School of Law, where he served as editor of the Temple Law Review. Justin also holds an M.B.A. from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
Before entering private practice, Justin served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Herbert J. Hutton of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Kaufman is licensed to practice law in New Mexico, Texas, and New York.
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Bankert v. 10 Roads Express, LLC, A-1-CA-41783 (N.M. App. March 17, 2025) Successfully convinced the Court of Appeals to affirm the denial of a motion to compel arbitration in this class action under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act. The Court agreed that the arbitration agreement was unenforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act’s transportation worker exemption. Opinion
In the Matter of the Estate of Perry R. Trujillo, No. A-1-CA-39680, 2024 WL 1093779 (N.M. App. March 13, 2024)
Successfully defended against the Estate’s appeal, which sought to redistribute valuable water rights and various family heirlooms. The New Mexico Court of Appeals agreed that the judgment should be affirmed, partially on the merits and partially for the Estate’s failure to preserve issues for appellate review.Livingston Land, LLC v. Brooker, No. A-1-CA-38948, 2023 WL 2017517 (N.M. App. Feb. 15, 2023)
Successfully convinced New Mexico Court of Appeals to affirm judgment rejecting contract and fraud claims against state licensed medical cannabis growers for failure to prove damages.
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Super Lawyers Honors 7 in Durham, Pittard & Spalding Offices in Texas and New Mexico
Durham, Pittard & Spalding is proud to announce that seven firm attorneys are honored in the 2025 Super Lawyers guides for Texas and New Mexico. Read more.Santa Fe office wins in the New Mexico Court of Appeals!
Congratulations to Santa Fe partners, Caren Friedman, Justin Kaufman, and Roz Bienvenu, who successfully convinced the New Mexico Court of Appeals to affirm the judgment in this probate case involving a dispute over the decedent’s property. At the heart of the dispute was the Estate’s claim of a valid contract that allegedly distributed valuable water rights appurtenant to land near Truchas in Northern New Mexico.Caren Friedman & Justin Kaufman help protect $11M verdict on appeal!
Congratulations to Jeffrey Pitman and Benjamin Reyes of Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice on their victory in the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Mr. Pitman and Mr. Reyes, along with Feliz Rael of The Law Offices of Feliz A. Rael, and Keller & Keller, successfully defended an $11 million jury verdict on appeal in a nursing home wrongful death case. In a published opinion, the Court of Appeals rejected the defendants’ bid to overturn the verdict and procure a new trial and, on cross-appeal, reinstated a jury finding that the various defendant-entities operated as a joint venture, making them all responsible for the nursing home’s conduct. DP&S partners Justin Kaufman and Caren Friedman assisted with the appellate strategy and briefing.Congratulations to our 2022 New Mexico “Super Lawyers”!
DP&S is proud to announce that Santa Fe-based partners Caren Friedman and Justin Kaufman have been named Southwest (New Mexico and Arizona) “Super Lawyers” for 2022, an honor based on professional achievement and peer recognition.DP&S named to “Best Lawyers” 2022 “Best Law Firms” List!
DP&S is proud to announce that it has been named to the “Best Lawyers” 2022 “Best Law Firms” list as a “Tier 1” firm–the highest ranking available–in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Appellate Practice! According to U.S. News–Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” “[a]chieving a tiered ranking . . . signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and regional-based scale. Firms that received a tier designation reflect the highest level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients from the same communities and practice areas.”
Phone: (505) 629-1438
Fax: (214) 807-1799
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Address:
125 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 402
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501