Derek Weems

Derek Weems, originally from Farmington, NM, represents injured individuals throughout the state of New Mexico, protecting their rights in workers’ compensation and personal injury claims against insurance companies.
 
Mr. Weems received a degree in Political Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Weems managed a group of small businesses in San Antonio, worked in gaming in Lake Tahoe as well as Alaskan tourism, and was an acclaimed motivational speaker for Making it Count, a division of Monster.com.  He graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law.
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Upon receiving his law degree, Mr. Weems worked in a prominent insurance defense firm practicing in the defense against workers’ compensation, liability, motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, medical negligence, and other personal injury claims.  In 2008, he and Veronica Dorato joined forces to create Dorato & Weems LLC with the intention of representing injured individuals in New Mexico.

Mr. Weems is recognized as one of the Nation's Top Injured Workers' Attorneys by the Workers’ Injury Law Group


​Mr. Weems is a recipient of the Justice Lewis Powell Medallion for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, earned the Erwin Stern Moise Award in Legal and Judicial Ethics, was named as a Superlawyers “Rising Star” for multiple years, National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys “nationally ranked Top 10 under 40,” and was named by the Workers’ Injury Law Group as one of “The Nation’s Top Injured Workers’ Attorneys.”
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In addition to his practice, Mr. Weems reaches out to the legal community teaching general trial practice, deposition skills, ethics, and workers’ compensation related subjects.  He also gives back to the UNM School of Law donating time teaching trial practice, deposition skills and civil procedure.

Mr. Weems dedicates his time to representing injured individuals throughout New Mexico to ensure they receive the benefits they deserve.