Publications & Select Cases

Martha C. Franks

Martha Franks is a graduate of St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico (1978), the University of New Mexico School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1982), and the Virginia Theological Seminary (M.T.S., magna cum laude, 1997).

After a clerkship with the Tenth Circuit, from 1983 to 1985, she worked for the firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Kampelman in Washington, D.C., practicing in the area of complex securities law litigation. In 1985, she returned to New Mexico as Special Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the State Engineer.

In 1996, Ms. Franks returned to Washington D.C. as Solicitor for the Department of the Interior, representing the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management. She joined Mr. Abramowitz in 2002 to form the firm of Abramowitz & Franks.

Experience

Ms. Franks has appeared before the United States Supreme Court twice representing states on matters involving interstate water disputes. She has a broad, unsurpassed knowledge of federal reclamation law and western water law administration and policy, as well as environmental law compliance and disputes, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Ms. Franks has served as lead counsel in numerous state water rights adjudications, emphasizing those involving the adjudication of Pueblo and Native-American claims to water, and she is a recognized authority on Indian and Native-American claims to water. She has extensive experience in structuring complex litigation.

Ms. Franks has served as lobbyist in water matters on behalf of various state and governmental agencies, and has testified in numerous forums regarding water and water-related natural resource matters. She practices primarily in the areas of water policy, administration and regulation, interstate water disputes, general water and natural resource law, and Indian law. Ms. Franks is licensed in all state and federal courts in New Mexico as well as in the Tenth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Appointments & Academic Involvements

  • Part-time Faculty, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, (2000 to present), teaching philosophy and theology.

Interests

Ms. Franks is married to Grant Franks, a professor at St. John’s College, and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is an avid bicyclist, scholar and artist who is fluent in French, and in her spare time she teaches philosophy and theology at St. John’s College.

Publications

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AF&OMartha C. Franks

Fred Abramowitz

Fred Abramowitz is a graduate of Columbia University (B.A., 1973, M.A., 1975), and the University of New Mexico (J.D., 1982). He began his legal career working for the New Mexico State Engineer, where he was employed from 1983 to 1987.

In 1988, Mr. Abramowitz became general counsel for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, and in 1989 he left the public sector and went into solo practice. In 1991, he became the first recognized water law specialist in the state of New Mexico.

Abramowitz & Franks was formed in 2002. Mr. Abramowitz is the managing partner of the firm.

Experience

Mr. Abramowitz has litigation experience covering a broad range of areas, including water law, natural resources law, civil rights, and employment law, as well as experience in structuring complex litigation. He has represented numerous state and governmental agencies, including the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, the Interstate Stream Commission, the State Land Office, the City of Albuquerque, the County of Bernalillo, and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as numerous acequias, domestic water users associations, and individuals throughout the west.

Fred Abramowitz has served as lead counsel and principal negotiator in matters involving interstate water compacts and water apportionments, the Endangered Species Act, and numerous other natural resource and water matters, including extensive experience in acquiring, evaluating, and transferring water rights in administrative and judicial forums.

Mr. Abramowitz is an experienced trial attorney. He has been an adjunct professor of water law at the University of New Mexico, School of Law. He is a former independent counsel for the City of Albuquerque, where he served as the city’s civilian police oversight officer. He is licensed in all state and federal courts in New Mexico and Colorado, in the Tenth Circuit, and in the United States Supreme Court. For a list of Mr. Abramowitz’ principal cases, visit our Publications and Principal Cases section.

Appointments & Academic Involvements

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, University of New Mexico School of Law, teaching water law (2003-2005).
  • Visiting Professor of Law, University of New Mexico School of Law (1992).
  • Instructor in Water Law, Albuquerque Bar Association.
  • Invited Speaker, First Annual Water Marketing Conference, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, (1993).
  • Week’s End with Dan Vukevich, KNME-TV, as an expert panelist on Albuquerque water issues.

Interests

In 2004, Mr. Abramowitz and his wife Dr. Amy Susan Hayes moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. He is an avid fly-fisherman and ultra marathon runner, and has traveled extensively throughout the world.

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AF&OFred Abramowitz