Montgomery & Andrews

Overview

Ms. Constantaras has over fifteen years of experience in a wide range of civil litigation and transactional law.  She has successfully tried bench and jury cases in magistrate, state and federal district court.  Her areas of practice include: banking, business formation and transactions, civil rights defense, commercial transactions and litigation, construction law, education law, employment law, family law, insurance law and litigation (coverage and defense), medical malpractice, municipal and government law, real estate transactions and litigation, and title insurance law and litigation (coverage and defense).  She has represented and advised a broad base of clients such as banks, business owners, commercial entities, corporations, employers, employees, insurance companies, title insurance companies, insureds, individuals, medical providers, municipalities, property owners and school districts.  Ms. Constantaras is fluent in Greek and French and proficient in Spanish. She has rudimentary knowledge of German, Russian, Arabic and Chinese (Mandarin).

Education

Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in Political Science and French, from the University of New Mexico, Phi Beta Kappa (1991)

Juris Doctor Degree, University of New Mexico (1994).  While at UNM, Ms. Constantaras received the Dean’s Award, was a Ford Foundation Research Fellow, and served as an editor of the Natural Resources Journal.

Bar Admissions

Ms. Constantaras was admitted to the State Bar of New Mexico in 1995.  She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for New Mexico and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Professional Memberships and Activities

Ms. Constantaras is a member of the New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, the First Judicial District Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.  Ms. Constantaras was a member of the Oliver Seth American Inn of Court for several years.  In 2011, she served on the First Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission.

Certifications

• Certified Mediator
• Certified in trial advocacy by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy

Speaking Engagements

Ms. Constantaras has presented seminars on real estate law, title insurance, easements and access law through the National Business Institute and other continuing legal education forums.  She was a former speaker at annual school law conferences sponsored by the New Mexico School Boards Association.

Publications

Ms. Constantaras has prepared continuing legal education materials and newsletters in the areas of civil rights law, education law, real estate law and title insurance.  She also prepared program material on real estate issues for Santa Fe’s local radio show “All Things Real Estate.”

Representative Cases and Transactions

Wakeland v. Montano, 203 F.3d 836 (10^th Cir. 2000), affirming federal district court’s denial of plaintiff’s federal claims for alleged violations of plaintiff’s constitutional rights.

Kerr v. Valdez, 55 Fed. Appx. 491(10^th Cir. 2002), affirming federal district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of school district defendants with respect to plaintiff’s civil rights claims.