Mary Bessone

Mary Bessone is an Associate with Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her practice includes litigation, education and public sector law, and employment and civil rights law, with current work primarily involving general civil litigation, insurance law, education law, and public sector representation. Bessone brings prior criminal defense and civil rights experience to a practice that can involve government entities, schools, insurers, individuals, and other clients facing disputes in state or federal forums.

Bessone earned a B.A. from DePaul University in 2012, studying History of Art and Architecture. She received her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2018 and completed an Intellectual Property Certificate focused on Art and Museum Law. During law school, she served as lead article editor of the DePaul Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law. Her academic background strengthened the research, writing, and analytical skills that support complex litigation and public law work.

After law school, Bessone spent four years with a small Chicago firm handling criminal defense and civil rights matters. Her work included both civil and criminal cases through appeals and post-conviction proceedings in state and federal courts. She returned to Santa Fe in 2024, passed the New Mexico bar, and joined Cuddy & McCarthy in 2025. Her prior appellate and civil rights experience adds perspective to her current litigation involving public entities, education issues, insurance matters, and employment-related disputes.

Mary Bessone is admitted in Illinois and New Mexico and works within a firm with a substantial trial, appellate, administrative, and public sector practice. Her background spans criminal defense, civil rights, appeals, insurance, education, and general civil litigation. She helps clients assess legal claims, organize the factual record, address procedural requirements, and prepare for negotiation, hearings, trial, or appellate review as needed, bringing broad courtroom experience to disputes arising across New Mexico.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of New Mexico

Licensed State

• Illinois
• New Mexico

Education

• DePaul University College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• DePaul University
  B.A. (2012) Major: History of Art and Architecture

Awards & Badges