Mr. Ryan J. Villa

Practicing Since 2006

My practice focuses on criminal defense, civil rights, and plaintiff’s personal injury cases. I am licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico, the United States District Court in the District of New Mexico and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. I have conducted dozens of jury trials in federal, state, metropolitan, and various municipal and magistrate courts throughout the State. I have also argued cases in the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

I am a native of Albuquerque where I live with my family. I graduated summa cum laude from UNM Law School in 2005. After law school, I clerked for Chief Justice Richard Bosson of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 2005 to 2006. I worked as an attorney with the Robert Cooper Law Firm from 2006 to 2014 before I decided to take the plunge and open my own law firm. Before law school I attended New Mexico State University where I graduated in 2002 with bachelors’ degrees in Criminal Justice and Government with distinction in the University Honors Program. I attended Highland High School here in Albuquerque, graduating in 1998. I am dedicated to trial practice and remain active in the law school community by volunteering to judge and guest coach the UNM mock trial team every year.

The majority of my work involves cases where the government or a large corporate insurance company is the opponent. Whether it be the State or the Federal Government prosecuting a client or a lawsuit against one of these governments or their agents, I take a large measure of pleasure keeping the government and large corporations in line. I have defended clients from all types criminal charges, large and small including DWI, domestic violence, drugs and narcotics—possession and trafficking/sale, white collar crime, and all types of violent crimes including sex offenses and murder. I have also sued all manner of government and governmental agencies, including police departments and police officers for civil rights violations and negligence including the federal government, the State of New Mexico, and several counties and cities. These cases include wrongful death, excessive use of force, illegal arrest, First Amendment violations and gender discrimination. I have also taken on dozens of lawsuits against auto insurance companies and cases involving injuries including premises liability, suits against drunk drivers, dramshop, dog bite, product liability and other injuries. I have handled cases against multi- national, multi-billion dollar corporations on down to small companies who have injured or taken advantage of the unsuspecting person.

I believe that handling a different variety of cases has helped me craft a holistic, well-rounded approach to any case that comes my way. Trying cases in all different courts, criminal and civil, has given me skills that I would not have otherwise gained had I only focused on one area.