Our Indian law practice area is headed by two of the most distinguished attorneys practicing Indian law in Colorado today. The two partners who lead the Indian Law & Tribal Law Section, Lisa R. Shellenberger and Keith Chee Smith, have 35 years of combined Indian law experience to offer clients, and their professional lives have been dedicated to the representation of American Indian tribes, tribal members, and tribal organizations.
Our attorneys also have grass roots experience living and working in tribal communities, and the firm’s partners in the Indian Law & Tribal Law Section also currently serve in the role as a tribal court judge and as an administrative law judge for tribal communities. Additionally, they also have experience teaching in the field of Indian law in law schools and at the professional level to attorneys and other judicial officers (CLEs). Their backgrounds provide an understanding of and sensitivity to tribal ways and customs that are crucial to providing successful representation, which undeniably sets our services apart.
Tribal Courts Admitted to Practice in:
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Navajo Nation
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Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
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Flandreau Santee Sioux
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Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
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Hualapai Tribe
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Havasupai Tribe
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Oglala Sioux Tribe
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Osage Nation
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Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
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Southern Ute Tribe
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Ute Mountain Ute
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Ute Tribe
The attorneys at Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger LLP are skilled negotiators and Indian law experts with longstanding ties to the tribal nations of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nebraska, New York, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. We have a deep commitment to tribal sovereignty, tribal self-government, and tribal self-determination. This dedication to tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination, and tribal self-governance is a cornerstone value upon which the firm is built.
Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger LLP recognizes the unique situation of each tribal client. Our attorneys understand the differences among tribal communities, not just in terms of culture and tradition, but also economic, social, political history, and governmental structure and nuances. As a result, our work in Indian Law is calibrated specifically for each tribe and tribal organization, and in a manner that serves them best and responds to their specific needs and priorities. This leads to the most effective and cost-effective utilization of our attorney’s experience and expertise in Tribal law, Federal Indian Law, and other areas of law.
Our attorneys have a remarkably broad range of experience working with Native American Indian Tribal nations and Indian organizations. This includes general tribal governmental matters, jurisdictional issues, land issue, tribal courts, 638 contracting, employment and personnel issues, insurance issues, casino management and compliance issues, and construction, to name a few areas.
Contact Us
Please contact us to reach an attorney in our Native American & Tribal Law division.
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