DENVER (April 18, 2023) — Beatty & Wozniak is elated to announce that Miguel Suazo has joined the firm as Shareholder, effective April 2023. Based in the Santa Fe, New Mexico office, Suazo is recognized for his distinguished accomplishments and remarkable client services in energy regulatory, natural resources and environmental law.
Suazo brings with him a diverse background of nearly two decades of extensive business, public policy, energy, environmental and extensive regulatory work. He will service clients with a broad spectrum of permitting and environmental issues across the board at the state and federal level. Suazo joins the firm from AmLaw 100 firm and top national energy law practice, Husch Blackwell LLP, where he served as senior counsel in the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources group.
“Miguel has a sterling reputation among his clients in both traditional and emerging industries,” said Jim Martin, Shareholder in the Santa Fe office. “We expect his experience and demonstrated talent to pave the way for his and our firm’s success as he leads our New Mexico office to future growth.”
Suazo has extensive experience across a range of energy projects from solar and wind development to oil and gas production, commercial scale utility power projects, and complex water rights transactions. Since 2019, Suazo has represented clients before the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and he is at the forefront of advising clients on clean hydrogen production. Suazo looks forward to continuing his work in Texas while also focusing on working in his home state to help New Mexico continue to build its legacy as an energy leader at the epicenter of balancing energy production and environmental stewardship in the Southwest.
Suazo ran for Texas Land Commissioner in the 2018 general election where he earned bipartisan support for his practical and nuanced positions on a range of energy and environmental issues. Prior to law school, he worked as a staff member to former New Mexico U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman on various policy issues affecting eight New Mexico counties. His work on Capitol Hill and in New Mexico involved issues central to land-use planning, education, natural resource development, environmental protection and veterans’ affairs.
While Austin is currently home for Suazo and his wife (Shay) and their two young daughters, they often return home to New Mexico to fly fish and spend time with family in Bernalillo, Taos, and Santa Fe.
“My New Mexico roots are incredibly deep, and I grew up with my family’s tradition of cattle ranching and agricultural production in Mora and Taos counties. My family taught me to love the land at an early age and I have been privileged to make land use and energy development into a career,” shared Suazo. “I have admired Beatty & Wozniak for a long time and am honored at the opportunity to diversify the firm’s offerings while still being able to practice energy and environmental law at the highest levels and to do so in my home state.”
Suazo earned dual bachelor’s degrees in government and history from Georgetown University and a law degree focused on natural resources and business law from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in New Mexico and Texas. Suazo is a current board member of the Public Utility Law Section (PULS) of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the Texas Blockchain Council.