Kelly joined Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, P.C. in 2010 and has been a shareholder/owner of the law firm since 2016. Kelly’s legal career began in 2009, when she received her law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Since joining the law firm in 2010, Kelly has been a staunch supporter of child victims of crime. It’s her goal to make New Mexico a safer, more hospitable place for children, which she hopes to achieve through pursuing cases that will have a significant impact on policy. Kelly combines her deep commitment to the justice system with her commitment to her friends and neighbors to enact real, positive change in the lives of others.
Areas of Practice
Kelly’s practice focuses primarily on representing injured children and victims of crime. Through the civil justice system, Kelly works hard to make New Mexico a safer place for our children in holding people, corporations, and the government accountable for preventable injuries. Kelly’s entire practice if devoted to litigation representing clients in all types of personal injury cases, concentrating her practice on handling cases involving wrongful death, injuries to children and adults with disabilities, sexual abuse claims, and civil claims for crime victims. Her focus is on holding those accountable for their failures and empowering her clients through giving them the power to make choices.
Honors and Awards
In 2019, Kelly was awarded the University of New Mexico School of Law’ Distinguished Alumni Promise Award, which honors a recent UNM School of Law graduate who has contributed innovative and substantial service to the law school, its students, and its community. In 2018, the City of Albuquerque honored Kelly for her significant efforts in raising donations for the Albuquerque Public Schools Title I Homeless Project. While in law school, Kelly received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Law School Community. In 2020, Kelly was recognized as a Super Lawyer. Prior to being named a Super Lawyer, Kelly had been named a top-rated Rising Star in personal injury and civil rights by her peers in legal community from 2014-2019.
Volunteering and Community Outreach
Kelly has been an active member of this community her entire life. After graduating from Albuquerque High School, Kelly attended the University of Minnesota where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history and political science, and was an NCAA student athlete on the University of Minnesota’s Gymnastics Team. She returned to New Mexico and has been a passionate advocate for the members of her community.
Separate from her individual clients at MHSR, Kelly tried to serve her community through her profession. Kelly volunteered and was appointed as a special prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office to prosecute the cases in the rape kit backlog. Kelly also volunteers her time with the ACLU Rape Legal panel and is a cooperating attorney with the ACLU. Since passionate about making the world safer for children, Kelly has been an active board member for the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. Kelly is a member of the National Crime Victims Bar Association and has published articles and presented at seminars regarding the representation of crime victims in civil cases.
In addition to pushing for positive change through her work at Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, P.C., Kelly spends a significant amount of her free time in service to her community. She was a youth gymnastics coach for over 15 years and has taught gymnastics classes for children with special needs. Every year, Kelly dedicates significant time to raising donations for the Albuquerque Public Schools Title I Homeless Project and also works with Emerge NM and is a proud supporter.
Renowned and Compassionate Legal Assistance You Can Depend On
Kelly is just one of the many skilled, renowned, and compassionate attorneys at Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, P.C. Along with the rest of the team at Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, P.C., Kelly takes the time to get to know her clients on an individual basis. This allows you to investigate your case and create an effective legal strategy to ensure your rights are upheld. She also knows that holding a negligent party accountable is an important process for many accident and crime victims, which is why she works so aggressively on your behalf. Our team is dedicated to upholding the law and ensuring our clients’ rights are respected throughout the legal process.