Charles K. Purcell

Mr. Purcell is a director in the Albuquerque office and a member of the firm’s Health Law and Medical Malpractice Defense and Coverage/Bad Faith practice groups. His practice in the Litigation Department focuses on tort litigation, insurance litigation, media law, personal injury, products liability, medical and legal malpractice, civil rights litigation, appellate litigation, and general litigation.

Before joining the firm, Mr. Purcell was law clerk to the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1984-1985. He was also a member of the Harvard Law Review from 1982 to 1984, and was Executive Editor of that journal from 1983 to 1984. He has achieved the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in appellate practice law, Bet-the-Company litigation, commercial litigation, legal malpractice law-defendants, litigation-First Amendment, and medical malpractice law-defendants. He is also listed in Southwest Super Lawyers for his expertise and experience in appellate law. The 2012 edition of Southwest Super Lawyers lists Mr. Purcell as one of the Top 25 Lawyers in New Mexico.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year-2025 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants Lawyer of the Year-2025 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year-2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants Lawyer of the Year-2022 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Litigation – First Amendment Lawyer of the Year-2021 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year-2020 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants Lawyer of the Year-2019 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants Lawyer of the Year-2017 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year-2016 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque First Amendment Litigation Lawyer of the Year-2015 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Purcell was named Albuquerque Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants Lawyer of the Year-2013 by Best Lawyers in America.

Recipient, New Mexico Foundation for Open Government’s William S. Dixon First Amendment Award, 2014

Recipient, New Mexico ACLU’s Cooperating Attorney of the Year Award, 2009