James Montalbano

James Montalbano is an associate at Youtz & Valdez, P.C. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His practice focuses on employment and labor matters for workers and unions, including wage-and-hour disputes, collective representation, and appellate advocacy. James handles claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum-wage laws, represents unions in negotiations and proceedings before local labor boards, and assists with briefing in appellate matters.

James earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2011. During law school, he tutored first-year students and completed internships with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1564, McGinn, Carpenter, Montoya & Love, and Youtz & Valdez. He previously earned bachelor’s degrees in English and U.S. History from the University of Illinois at Chicago, following an earlier career in journalism.

After law school, James clerked for Judges Celia Foy Castillo and Monica Zamora on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. He joined Youtz & Valdez as an associate in May 2013. His work since then has included FLSA and state minimum-wage actions, union representation during negotiations, appearances before local labor boards, and preparation of appellate briefs, giving him experience across litigation, administrative proceedings, collective bargaining, and appeals.

James Montalbano is admitted to practice before the New Mexico Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico and the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee. His background in journalism, judicial clerkships, and labor advocacy supports clear writing, careful analysis, and practical representation.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Youtz & Valdez, P.C.
• Member, State Bar of New Mexico
• Member, Labor and Employment Law section of the New Mexico State Bar
• Member, AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee

Licensed State

• New Mexico

Education

• University of New Mexico School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD) Cum Laude
• University of Illinois at Chicago
  Bachelor’s degrees in English and U.S. History

Awards & Badges