R. LAR THOMAS

R. Lar Thomas has been a lawyer licensed in all courts in the State of New Mexico and several other jurisdictions.  He has also been admitted to practice in the 9th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeal.  His practice was primarily focused on construction and agricultural and environmental law. He began his practice in 1989 and retired from active practice in 2022.

He has held GB-2 and GB98 Residential and Commercial Construction License for the State of New Mexico and has been personally involved in both remodeling and new house construction for many years.  He has hands-on experience as a laborer, framer, roofer, concrete finisher and many other construction specialties.   He also has served as an “In House Risk Manager” for a major commercial construction company for several years.

Mr. Thomas has been certified by the courts of New Mexico as an arbitrator, mediator, and settlement facilitator and he has served in these capacities each year for the first, second, seventh and thirteenth judicial districts.  Over the years, he has conducted many mediations and arbitrations relating to the construction industry.  As a lawyer, he has also represented many contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and the public in mediations, arbitrations, and in civil litigation related to the construction industry.  He has also served as an expert witness in numerous court cases and arbitrations.  He has had extensive dispute resolution training and understands the importance of being a neutral and independent dispute resolution specialist.   Mr. Thomas has served as the Presiding Judge for the Village of Bosque Farms, New Mexico as well as a Trial Judge for the Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico.

EDUCATION

In 1986, Mr. Thomas received a dual Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science and International Agriculture from Utah State University located in Logan, Utah.  In 1989, he received a Juris Doctorate Degree from the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi.  Throughout his career, he has attended a great number of Legal Education seminars in the areas of construction law, public contracts, procurement codes, Subcontractors Fair Practices Act, Retainage Act, lien laws, the Large and Small Miller Acts, construction scheduling claims, construction change orders, construction claims and many other construction topics. 
In addition to his law school training, he has completed numerous hours of training for Mediators and Arbitrators sanctioned or approved by the State Bar of New Mexico.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Mr. Thomas has been a member of the American Bar Association, the Procurement Law Section, the Construction Specifiers Institute, the State Bar of New Mexico, the National Association of Home Builders, the New Mexico Home Builders Association, the Associated General Contractors, and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Mr. Thomas has served on many committees for the various associations and organizations that he is affiliated with including the AGC Education Committee and the AGC Legislative Rapid Response Team.

SPECIALIZATIONS