Stephanie K. Demers

Ms. Demers is a seasoned litigator. Before joining YLAW in early 2025, she spent eleven years as a law clerk to United States District Judge John E. Conway in New Mexico, one of the busiest federal districts in the country, followed by more than a decade of civil practice, including serving on national counsel trial teams in New Mexico and other jurisdictions.

Stephanie is as comfortable in a hard hat and boots at forensic scene inspections as she is taking and defending depositions, writing and arguing trial and appellate level briefs, handling settlement negotiations, and appearing in state and federal courts. Her written work and oral advocacy skills have contributed to her success in briefing and arguing summary judgment and other motions. In addition to New Mexico state and federal bar admissions, she has been admitted pro hac vice or otherwise participated in matters in California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, North Dakota, Mississippi, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.

Prior to joining YLAW, her practice focused primarily on defending manufacturers and other companies in product liability and catastrophic injury matters, often involving fires, explosions, oil fields, and heavy equipment. Through more than a decade of practice with a premier national fire and explosion law firm, she developed strong working relationships with some of the finest forensic engineers and scientists in areas of general origin and cause, propane and other hydrocarbons, electrical, metallurgy, and lithium-ion, and lithium-polymer batteries. She has also handled matters involving the federal False Claims Act, foodborne illness, employment, trucking and auto accidents, and medical malpractice.

Stephanie received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, where she was a member of the rugby club, and her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she competed in the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy competition (“Moot Court”), earning second place for Best Oral Advocate from among more than seventy competitors in the southwest region and submitting the third place Best Brief. She also served as a research assistant to Professor Robert L. Schwartz in his publication of a leading bioethics textbook and received a Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Law School upon graduation.

Stephanie lives in Albuquerque’s North Valley with her husband, a high school math teacher, and their son, currently a student-athlete attending college in Maine. She has previously served as President of the Board of Directors at St. Mark’s in the Valley Day School and Stronghurst Neighborhood Association.