Jesse Gallegos is Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber and part of the firm’s Fire Litigation Practice. His thorough understanding of litigation strategy and regulatory compliance has been crucial to navigating the complexities of wildfire liability cases, helping to secure favorable outcomes for clients who have suffered devastating losses in catastrophic fires. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Jesse served as General Counsel and Chief Government Accountability Officer for the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor, providing sensible counsel and managing key litigation and public policy initiatives. He led the Office’s investigation into Pharmacy Benefit Managers, facilitating increased accountability regarding prescription drug costs, and worked closely with the New Mexico Supreme Court, establishing monitoring programs for conservatorships and driving significant government reforms. Jesse also gained extensive litigation, transactional, and negotiation experience representing clients in business, trust, and estate matters in Santa Fe and Denver. Jesse earned his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where he served as a manuscript editor for the New Mexico Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree in politics from Pomona College in Claremont, California. Jesse is a pragmatic and trusted legal advocate throughout New Mexico and spends his free time pursuing his passions outdoors and finding new challenges and adventures.

Pilar Borneo is an Associate Attorney in Singleton Schreiber’s Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking and Wildfire Litigation practices, where she brings exceptional litigation skills and a robust background in both criminal and civil law. Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pilar has a deep-rooted commitment to justice and advocacy, which is evident in her impressive track record. Pilar began her legal career as a prosecutor, quickly distinguishing herself with her exceptional trial skills. She managed an average caseload of 130 complex and high-profile criminal cases, conducting over 30 trials and gaining proficiency in oral advocacy, trial preparation, and the rules of evidence. Her time as an Assistant District Attorney for Bernalillo County saw her excel in pre-trial and status conferences, motion hearings, and the drafting of legal briefs and motions. Transitioning to the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General, Pilar focused on Historical Preservation Law, leveraging her passion for preserving cultural heritage within the legal framework. As an Assistant Attorney General, she represented various government clients, boards, and commissions, providing legal advice, conducting appellate advocacy, and reviewing proposed legislation and rules. Her work required her to stay abreast of legal developments and collaborate on legal strategies and initiatives. Pilar's educational background includes a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she was on the Dean's List and founded the Historical Preservation Law Society. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University, where she was active in Delta Gamma Sorority and the Law & Society Club. Pilar's journey in law is complemented by her diverse interests outside the courtroom. She is an avid traveler, with Costa Rica being her favorite destination, and enjoys scuba diving, concerts, and comedy shows. Her multifaceted experiences and unwavering dedication make her a valuable asset to Singleton Schreiber and a tenacious advocate for her clients.

Michael Duran is Partner at the Albuquerque office of Singleton Schreiber, where he brings over two decades of extensive litigation experience to the firm’s Personal Injury practice group. Mr. Duran is a lifelong New Mexican and has strong ties to northern New Mexico where his family can be traced back for several generations. His comprehensive background in handling personal injury cases at both state and federal levels includes automobile collisions, trucking accidents, premises liability, and motorcycle collisions. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Mr. Duran served as the Managing Litigation Attorney at a prominent plaintiff law firm in Albuquerque for more than 17 years. In this role, he managed attorneys across the firm, filed and litigated numerous cases in New Mexico up and through trial. In that time, Mr. Duran took over a dozen cases to trial and verdict. His responsibilities also included supervising support staff and participating in extensive litigation activities. Earlier in his career, Mr. Duran served as an Insurance Defense Litigation Attorney at Stiff & Associates, Miller Stratvert LLP, and Houliston and Associates in Albuquerque, NM. In these positions, he litigated a wide range of insurance cases, maintaining a substantial caseload and fulfilling extensive litigation responsibilities including discovery, depositions, motions practice, and mediations. Mr. Duran earned his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where he made the Dean’s List and received a Certificate in Basic Mediation. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Information Systems from the University of Phoenix. An active member of several prestigious legal associations, Mr. Duran serves on the Board of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers, the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, the American Association for Justice, and the National Hispanic Bar Association. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Mr. Duran leverages his language skills to effectively communicate and advocate for a diverse range of clients. Outside of his legal practice, Michael enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, cooking, eating, and traveling. He and his wife, Laura, are blessed with a blended family of six adult children, their spouses, and grandchildren.

Former New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Vern Payne is a native New Mexican and Spanish speaker and has practiced in both State and Federal Courts in New Mexico. He has represented thousands of clients in many different areas of law, including municipalities, counties and the State of New Mexico. A key member of the Las Conchas Fire trial team, he has been a lawyer and Judge in New Mexico for almost 60 years and brings an unparalleled amount of local knowledge and connections to the team. He has handled cases in every county of the State. He has represented the New Mexico Association of Counties on their Risk Management Committee for several years and the State of New Mexico Risk Management Committee, reviewing claims against counties and the State of New Mexico. He represented the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and been an advisor and trainer of many different Tribal Courts. He has taught judges from all over the country with the National College of State Courts as well as consulted to courts in Venezuela, Argentina and Australia.