James Bristol

James grew up in Colorado. He is a NM Board Certified Family Law Specialist and Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, who practices exclusively in the area of Family Law. James maintains an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubble, the highest ranking available from this peer-reviewed attorney evaluation system.  James is consistently ranked a Southwest Super Lawyer. He was chosen by his peers as the New Mexico Collaborative Practice Group Practitioner of the Year for 2024.

As a lawyer experienced in Family Law litigation, James knows that managing emotions is extremely important. Therefore, he maintains an independent licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.). This licensure also supports James' role as a Guardian ad Litem, representing the interests of children and adults. James co-authored an amicus brief that resulted in the New Mexico Supreme Court decision extending quasi-judicial immunity to Guardians ad Litem.

James is on the Board of the New Mexico Collaborative Practice Group, and was a Board Member of the Family Law Section of the New Mexico State Bar and Board Secretary from 2007 through 2021. James plans and promotes Family Law trainings and continuing legal education trainings, including the yearly Family Law Symposium. James served on the Domestic Relations Rules Committed from 2012 until 2017. James is a member of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association.

Prior to starting his own firm, James was an associate at Sutin, Thayer & Browne, A.P.C., and served as a law clerk to Judge Carol Vigil of the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, and as an extern law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

James received a B.A. (Phi Beta Kappa) from Loyola University Chicago, an M.Div. from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, an M.A. from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law.  

In his free time, with family, he climbs, skis, flies a Cessna, and travels to interesting, off-the-beaten-path parts of our beautiful world.

Marilyn Tillman

Marilyn is a paralegal. She moved to Santa Fe in 2010 and began working in a large law firm as a legal assistant for its Domestic Relations practice. For twenty-five years prior to that Marilyn worked in the area of Intellectual Property law in Rochester, New York, where she assisted with the filing, prosecution, and maintenance of patents and trademarks.

Marilyn has a strong work ethic. She enjoys her work as a paralegal in Family Law matters, and gives 110% of herself to handling the many, varied tasks encountered in Family Law. Marilyn prides herself in working with integrity to serve people going through what is probably one of the most difficult events of their life. 

When Marilyn is not working at the office, she and her husband enjoy beautiful Santa Fe and the company of their awesome Shelties.

Marilyn has an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies.