Professor Alex Ritchie

Assistant Professor of Law
B.S. B.A. 1993, Georgetown University
J.D. 1999, University of Virginia School of Law
Member of the Colorado and Texas Bars

Alex Ritchie joined the University of New Mexico School of Law faculty in the fall of 2012. Previously, he practiced as a partner in the natural resources and corporate departments at an international law firm based in Denver. In private practice, Ritchie focused on mergers and acquisitions and other large transactions involving oil and gas, mining and other natural resources companies, as well as corporate law, securities, financing and commercial law transactions.

Most recently, Ritchie was a senior corporate counsel at one of the largest fully integrated oil and gas companies in North America, managing upstream and downstream oil and gas litigation and transactional matters.

He has represented clients in transactions aggregating in the billions of dollars, and hopes to apply his practical experience to enrich the legal education of his students. In addition, Ritchie has published several papers and model form legal documents and has given numerous talks focused on natural resources related topics.

At the UNM School of Law, Ritchie teaches oil and gas law and other natural resources courses, as well as property and business associations. His research focuses on oil and gas law, with particular emphasis on conflicts between private interest owners and between public and private interests in oil and gas development.

Ritchie is a trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and was recently named the co-chair of the foundation’s Special Institute on Oil and Gas Agreements: Contracting for Goods, Services and People, scheduled for May 2-3, 2013 in Santa Fe.

In addition to his legal interests, he has been actively involved in the Denver community, including service on the board of directors, the executive committee and as pro bono general counsel of Urban Peak, an organization that operates shelters and transitional housing for homeless youth, and The Spot, an organization that operated a drop-in youth center for youth at-risk of gang involvement. He also volunteered with Denver’s Road Home, an organization formed with a mission to end homelessness in Denver.

Ritchie has also been an active singer, directing an a capella singing group and performing for a number of years in bands.

Contact Information

Ph.: 505-277-0995
Fax: 505-277-0068
Office: 1113
Email: