Denise earned an undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management in 1989 on a presidential scholarship and her juris doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 1993 on a national Hispanic scholarship, graduating with honors in clinical law.

She is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and has been awarded Advocate status. She has been selected by her peers as one of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of personal injury and alternative dispute resolution 2005-2016, selected for the 25th anniversary edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of alternative dispute resolution and personal injury litigation, Southwest Super Lawyer in the specialties of personal injury and alternative dispute resolution for 2007-2017 and the American Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New Mexico 2008-present.

Denise is an experienced personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice lawyer. In working as a mediator since 2004, Denise chairs discussions to settle legal disputes by finding points of agreement among those in conflict for a fair resolution. Her strengths as a mediator originate from the frontline work Denise has done and continues to do in representing people hurt or wronged through no fault of their own.

In 2008, the Supreme Court of New Mexico appointed Denise to serve on the state’s Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) in which she issues evaluations on justices and judges standing for retention at the statewide, district and county levels. As one of seven lawyers on the 15-person commission, Denise currently holds the position of JPEC chairwoman and volunteers her time to fulfill this civic duty.