Randi McGinn

Randi is a founder of Athea Trial Lawyers and a partner with the New Mexico firm of McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry, PA., and is widely considered one of the most successful and formidable trial lawyers in the country. As the first female President of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates (best 100 Plaintiff trial lawyers in the country), she is a pioneer and mentor for generations of women trial lawyers. Randi has tried over 130 trials to verdict in both state and federal court.

The stories about Randi are legendary and true:

• She once cross-examined a lying witness so thoroughly, he threw up on the stand;
• After a creative cross-examination, she left a pretentious Beverly Hills doctor/expert standing in front of the jury covered in post-its and clutching a grapefruit to his chest;
• In another cross-examination, she exposed that a world-renowned polygraph expert was secretly administering polygraph tests to his own sperm cells in the dead of night
• An enamored jury once bought her a present and couldn’t decide whether to give it to her before or after the verdict (they waited);
• When a vigorous defense attorney kept objecting to her questions, one of the male jurors stood up and said, “You just leave her alone!!” (and the defense attorney stopped objecting);
• Her speaking engagements are usually standing room only events, as trial lawyers are transfixed and enthralled by her stories and trial strategies;
• She wears cowboy boots and stiletto heels regularly to trial.

As a former journalist, Randi learned to tell a riveting story that serves her well in the courtroom. Her cases have led to significant changes in various industries that ensure public safety. Some of these cases include:

• Record wrongful death settlement after the jury reached a $52,000,000 verdict in a case against a convenience store. Randi’s book, “Changing Laws, Saving Lives” is written like a legal thriller about the case and how she brought an industry (and its insurer) to their knees
• $67,300,000 Wrongful implant of pacemaker verdict
• Obtained a $42 million verdict in a fiery truck crash case
• $9,000,000 Medical malpractice verdict
• $6,000,000 Wrongful death police shooting verdict
• $3,700,000 Wrongful death settlement against Sheriff’s department

Randi is double-listed in criminal and civil litigation in Best Lawyers in America and is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. She is a former governor of the American Association for Justice, a past president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, and a former board member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Randi has taught trial practice for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the National Criminal Defense College and has been an adjunct professor for the University of New Mexico.

Accomplishments

• Best Lawyers in America (1993 - 2022)
• Lawdragon Legend (2020)
• First Woman President, Inner Circle of Advocates
• AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers in America, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Law and Criminal Law
• Top 25 lawyers in NM, Southwest Super Lawyers
• Top 10 Lawyers, Albuquerque Magazine
• Member of Inner Circle, US 100 Top Trial Lawyers
• Recipient, Justice Mary Walters Award, UNM Women’s Law Caucus
• Recipient, UNM Distinguished Alumni Award
• Recipient, NM Status for the Commission on Women Award
• Emerge NM Woman of the Year
• First Woman Admitted to Roehl Circle of Trial Lawyers
• Listed in the American Lawyers Magazine, “Women Leaders in the Law”
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Lawyer of the Year, Albuquerque Bar Association
• 500 Best Lawyers in the US, Lawdragon 500
• Compassionate Gladiatrix Award