About Legal Economics

Legal Economics performs forensic economic analysis for Plaintiffs and Defendants. Legal Economics was founded by the late Melissa Patterson and David Hamilton in the 1960's. William Patterson joined Legal Economics in 1986 and has been an active member in the field regarding damages in litigation since. Melissa retired in 2002 and William carried on with the business solely until his daughter, Adrianna Patterson joined the firm in 2016. 

At Legal Economics we advocate that the expert’s role in litigation is to be an aide to the finders of fact, and we do so by providing reports and testimony concerning loss of earning capacity, lost household services, future medical expenses, and lost value of the pleasure of life. 

Executive profile – William Patterson is the owner of Legal Economics and is a forensic economist, self-employed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. William received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota in 1979. He began working at Legal Economics in 1986 alongside the founder of Legal Economics, his mother, Melissa Patterson. Most of Mr. Patterson's work is in State and Federal Courts in New Mexico and Texas, but he has consulted or testified in several other jurisdictions, including Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, and Florida. With over 30 years of experience at Legal Economics, he has specialized in testimony as an expert witness for plaintiffs and as a consultant for defendants. He is employed in tort cases, wrongful death cases, civil rights cases, employment cases, business contract disputes, domestic relations, and occasionally consults for real estate developers.

Associate profile - Adrianna Patterson is a forensic economist at Legal Economics. She began working at Legal Economics in 2016 alongside her father, William Patterson.  Adrianna received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2018. She is passionate about economics and is eager to continue on in the field of forensic economics as the third generation representing Legal Economics.