Native Village of Venetie v. State of Alaska, 944 F.2d 548 (9th Cir. 1991) (counsel for amici 197 Tribes, Alaska Federation of Natives, and Alaska Native Coalition in case holding Indian Child Welfare Act and Public Law 280 left intact the inherent authority of Alaska Native Tribes to adjudicate child custody and related matters, and entitling those decrees to full faith and credit).
Mr. Miller’s Indian law practice is wide-ranging and involves complex litigation, civil and criminal jurisdiction, Indian Self-Determination Act health and social service matters, labor law issues, gaming issues, Indian Child Welfare Act matters, fee and trust land acquisitions, land claims, corporate law, government contract negotiations, and environmental issues. Mr. Miller's significant recent work includes victories in
Business Disputes
Arctic Slope Native Ass’n v. Sebelius, 699 F.3d 1289 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (holding Contract Disputes Act six-year limitations period equitably tolled by tribal reliance on related class action).
Business Transactions
Sonosky, Chambers is a national law firm dedicated to representing Native American tribes and tribal organizations in a wide range of areas, including litigation, federal Indian law, tribal law, Indian self-determination and self-governance matters, commercial transactions, transportation and infrastructure, water law, natural resources, and economic development.
CIGNA Ins. Co. and Native Village of Mekoryuk, et al. v. Moses, Case Nos. S-08908/ 8918 (Alaska) (co-counsel for Amici in case involving interplay between sovereign immunity and workers compensation laws) (appeal dismissed on settlement).
Donald J. Simon joined the firm as an associate in 1982 and became a partner in 1984. Mr. Simon has worked on litigation and administrative law matters, and has represented tribal interests in water rights, fishing rights, self-determination issues, boundary disputes, jurisdictional matters, sovereignty issues, land claims, Indian gaming and general litigation. He has been co-counsel in administrative and court proceedings involving contract support cost issues under the Indian Self-Determination Act, including as co-class counsel in the breach of contract class action against the United States for underpayment of contract support costs...
Construction Litigation
Amanda Saunders joined the firm in 2019. She works in all areas of the firm’s practice, with a particular focus on and interest in tribal sovereignty, self-determination and self-governance, environmental law, tribal infrastructure and construction law, and litigation. Before joining the firm, Ms. Saunders clerked for Justice Craig Stowers (Ret.) of the Alaska Supreme Court. She is a member of the Alaska and California Bars.
Real Estate Transactions
Mr. Hampson has represented tribes and tribal organizations in litigation in federal, tribal and state court as well as before federal agencies. He has represented tribes in litigation involving water rights, jurisdictional disputes, tribal sovereignty and self-determination issues. In commercial matters, he has reviewed and negotiated agreements related to the financing, development and construction of new or expansions of tribal casinos and other facilities, operation of federal programs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, professional services, gaming machine leases, and real estate transactions involving trust and fee lands. Mr. Hampson has drafted organic documents for tribal and Indian-owned entities for business enterprises and a tribal permanent fund trust. He has reviewed and advised on proposals for business opportunities and assisted with due diligence of proposed business partners, including proposals for casino development, wind energy, media programming, and pharmacy sales. Mr. Hampson has also advised tribal clients on a range of tax issues in economic development and other circumstances. He has represented tribal health departments and organizations on a range of health care issues.
Roger W. DuBrock has been collaborating with the firm in its Alaska practice since 1984 and has served as counsel since 1986. He collaborates with the firm on selected client matters for individuals, village corporations and regional non-profit health and social service organizations. Mr. DuBrock obtained an A.B. in 1964 from Brown University where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors. He received his L.L.M. in 1967 from Harvard University Law School. Mr. DuBrock also spent one year of study at Edinburgh University in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has been in private practice in Alaska since 1967, excluding six years when he served as a state District Court judge in Sitka, Alaska (1969-1975). From 1975 to 2002 he practiced in Anchorage emphasizing village and regional Native corporation matters, rural municipal government matters, general commercial practice, construction litigation, and personal injury litigation.
The firm's Albuquerque office is located in downtown Albuquerque, just two blocks from the Federal Courthouse and close to a number of regional and local federal offices, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Interior Department's Regional Solicitor's Office. The attorneys in this office primarily represent our New Mexico clients on a full range of issues described in the "Our Practice" section of this website, including gaming, complex financial transactions, water, and governmental matters. The attorneys of the Albuquerque office also assist other offices with respect to client representation on business transactional and tax matters.