In Memoriam

Anne Porter Browne, prominent Albuquerque lawyer, died May 16, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 60.

Anne, beloved daughter, sister and friend, is survived by her mother, Sandra Porter Browne, of Albuquerque, her cherished cairn terrier, Maggie, and a host of friends, colleagues and admirers.

Anne was born in Albuquerque on January 20, 1963, and grew up in the city’s Northeast Heights. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania in 1985 and her law degree from University of Bridgeport in Connecticut in 1988. After law school, she returned to Albuquerque as vice president and general counsel for The First National Bank, now Wells Fargo Bank. In 1994, she joined the law firm of Sutin, Thayer & Browne, where she built a sterling reputation, became a shareholder and senior principal, and excelled in financial and commercial law for almost 30 years.

Her mastery of her fields of legal practice was unsurpassed. Anne had a lightning intellect, legal expertise and tremendous sense of humor. She won many national professional awards, including being selected as the 2022 Albuquerque Lawyer of the Year in Banking and Finance Law by Best Lawyers in America. She was hailed as one of the New Mexico’s finest real estate and finance lawyers, and served on several high-profile banking, real estate and commercial development projects in New Mexico. She played a significant role in the leadership of Sutin, Thayer & Browne and was a true and valued mentor and wise person.

Anne was a woman of sharp wit and strong opinion, yet she was warm, well-mannered, and direct with clients and colleagues alike. She laughed easily. She had superb taste in art, jewelry and furnishings, and had a special affinity for art deco style. She loved her family, and she loved many of her colleagues like family. She had a deep love for animals, especially her beloved dogs. She was a fan of vintage television shows, movies and the Dallas Cowboys.

Anne was preceded in death by her father, notable lawyer Graham Browne, in 2003, and her sister, Rebecca Browne, in 2015.

Animal Humane New Mexico was Anne’s charity of choice for contributions in lieu of flowers.