I strive to provide cost-effective and efficient solutions, with a focus on finding creative and innovative methods of getting past any roadblocks to my client’s goals.
How I represent clients at Schwabe
I have over 15 years of experience handling complex commercial, corporate, and litigation matters—specifically, working with Alaska Native Village and Regional Corporations and their subsidiaries, ANCSA settlement trusts, and tribal governments. Previously, I was vice president and general counsel for an Alaska native village corporation, which gave me an invaluable understanding of their inner workings and the unique challenges they face. I am well-versed in issues of corporate governance, legal and risk management, government contracting, bid protests, corporate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.
I provide guidance related to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) small business programs, including SBA’s Section 8(a) and HUBZone Business Development Programs, and have advised clients regarding 8(a) and small business joint ventures, regulatory compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations, requests for equitable adjustment and claims, and provided strategic advice regarding the utilization of the SBA’s small business programs. I also advise Alaska native corporations and tribal entities regarding federal funding opportunities and grant compliance, including CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act compliance issues.
I have extensive experience providing advice regarding creating, managing, and leveraging the unique characteristics of Alaska native corporation settlement trusts.
Chambers & Partners USA, client highlights
“Chris is available, quick and responsive. He’s strong on Native law questions, governance of ANCs and government contracting.”
“Chris is smart, responsive and a great guy to work with.”
“He is friendly, attentive and supportive.”
Experience
Alaska Native Corporations and Native American law
- Represented several ANCs in the creation of new Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) settlement trusts and substantive amendments to existing ANCSA settlement trusts.
- Represented and assisted an ANC in the contribution of significant amounts of surface estate to an ANCSA settlement trust.
- Advised a client on the creation, management, and use of a captive insurer as part of its risk management and insurance program, resulting in significant savings on insurance costs.
- Assisted in developing and promoting state and federal legislation beneficial to ANCs, including serving a material role in drafting and advocating for the ANC settlement trust tax legislation passed in 2017.
- Advised several ANCs and non-profit entities regarding eligible use of CARES Act funds and leveraging of federal funding opportunities, including ARPA funds provided to tribal entities.
- Advised Alaska native corporations and their subsidiaries on compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations and federal government contractor vaccine mandate.
Business and corporate
- Represented a seller in the multi-million dollar sale of a hospitality business.
- Represented a seller in the multi-million dollar sale of road contractor.
- Represented a seller in the drafting and negotiation of submarine fiber optic cable for $20 million.
- Represented a guarantor in a complex financing arrangement involving letters of credit and pledges of the guarantor’s assets for the construction of a $20 million assisted living facility.
- Represented an oil field services company on a multimillion-dollar acquisition of a competitor’s assets on the North Slope.
- Represented a purchaser in the multimillion-dollar acquisition of a professional engineering firm and a government contracting entity.
- Represented an owner on the construction and financing of multiple microwave facilities in remote Alaska.
Litigation and dispute resolution
- Represented a municipal government in personal injury litigation involving 1983 claims, sovereign immunity, and tribal immunity.
- Represented a municipal government in complex litigation involving issues of separation of powers, inverse condemnation, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing arising out of construction of deep-water dock and legislative changes to the municipal government’s forest management plan.
- Represented a municipal government in complex litigation with a landowner over obligations arising out of a municipal landfill and sale of methane gas.
- Represented a plaintiff in a sexual abuse case against an assisted living home that resulted in the Alaska Supreme Court adopting the aided-in-agency theory of vicarious liability in Alaska.
- Successfully obtained a dismissal of claims against a municipal government on summary judgment in an inverse condemnation case through application of the statute of repose.
- Successfully obtained a reversal of the trial court on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit of an adverse summary judgment decision in a Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) case.
- Successfully represented an investor in a week-long Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration case against a broker-dealer based on a misrepresentation claim.
Education
- Lewis & Clark, Law School, Juris Doctor degree, cum laude (2001)
- University of Utah, Bachelor of Science degree, Political Science and Government (1998)
Admissions
- Alaska Federal Courts
- Alaska State Courts
- Oregon State Courts
- Washington State Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
Memberships
- Alaska Bar Association (2002-present)
- Alaska Civil Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, appointment by Alaska Supreme Court (2014-present)
- Access to Civil Justice Committee, appointment by Alaska Supreme Court (2014-present)
- Environmental Law Review, Editor (2000-2001)
- Washington State Bar Association (2020-present)
- Oregon Bar Association (2020-present)
Awards
- Ranked for Litigation: General Commercial in Alaska, Chambers USA (2023, 2024)
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2021-2025)
- Alaska Attorney General’s Award for Pro Bono Service, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (October 2020) NEWS 51
- Selected to the Alaska Super Lawyers Top 10 List, Native American Law (2023-2025)
Additional Publications
Fifty-State Survey of Legal Malpractice, The Law of Lawyers’ Liability, Author, State of Alaska Chapter, American Bar Association, January 1, 2012
Additional Events
Speaker, Teaming Agreement/Joint Venture
SWCA Construction Executive Summit
February 2024
Speaker, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
Reservation Economic Summit 2020
March 1-5, 2020
Speaker, Advanced Government Contracting for ANC Executives & Board Members
The National 8(a) Small Business Conference
February 11-13, 2020
Presenter, Tax Issues Regarding Alaska Native Corporation Settlement Trusts
Tax Executives Institute, Alaska Chapter
October 10, 2019
Panelist, SBA and Government Contracts Training: Effectively Managing Multiple Subsidiaries in the 8(a) Program and Beyond—Advanced Level Intensive
National 8(a) Association’s 2019 Alaska Regional Summer Conference
June 18-19, 2019
Panelist, Overview of Alaska Native Corporation Settlement Trusts After 2017 Tax Act Alaska Native Settlement Trusts
Alaska Native Village Conference
May 8-9, 2019
Panelist, ANCSA Update—Alaska Native Settlement Trusts; Presenter, Native Edge Institute: Contracting & Procurement
National Reservation Economic Summit
March 25-28, 2019
Speaker, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Settlement Trusts
Alaska Bar Association’s 34th Annual Alaska Native Law Conference
October 9, 2018
Services
Community Activities
- Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, pro bono legal representation (2010-present)
Outside Interests
Snowshoeing at my cabin.
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