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 corporations, ‎Alaska native corporation settlement trusts, and tribal ‎governments. Previously, I was vice president and ‎general counsel for an Alaska native 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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