Sonosky Chambers Sachse LLP

Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP is a national law firm specializing in federal Indian law and tribal advocacy since 1976. With offices across Alaska to the Southwest, the firm represents Native American tribes in complex litigation involving treaty rights, sovereignty, water rights, and natural resources, recently securing a landmark Supreme Court victory directing billions in IHS reimbursements to tribes.

About

Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP is a national law firm established in 1976 with a singular mission: to represent the legal interests of Native American tribes and tribal organizations. Based in Washington, D.C., with additional offices in Anchorage, Juneau, San Diego, Albuquerque, and Portland, the firm has spent nearly five decades building deep expertise in federal Indian law and tribal advocacy.

The firm's practice spans a comprehensive range of matters affecting tribes and their sovereignty. Attorneys at Sonosky represent tribal clients in complex federal and appellate litigation, including high-stakes disputes over treaty rights, tribal self-governance, water rights, and natural resources. The firm maintains an active Indian water rights practice and has litigated major claims on behalf of tribes including the Hopi Tribe, Nez Perce Tribe, Kalispel Tribe, and Coeur d'Alene Tribe. Beyond the courtroom, the firm advises on tribal government structure and self-determination matters, health care policy, child welfare, environmental law, gaming, transportation and infrastructure development, and economic development initiatives.

The firm's attorneys bring substantial government and litigation experience to their tribal representation. Vanessa Boyd Willard, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, recently joined as an experienced litigator with over two decades of federal trial practice. While serving as trustee counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, she led multidisciplinary litigation teams on complex tribal disputes and participated in federal water settlement negotiations. Founding Partner Reid Chambers exemplifies the firm's long institutional commitment to Indian law. The firm actively recruits litigation associates with backgrounds in federal Indian law, judicial clerkships, and private practice, underscoring its investment in developing skilled advocates for tribal causes.

The firm has contributed to landmark outcomes for its clients. In June 2024, the Supreme Court decided Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe, a case in which Sonosky represented tribal interests. The decision concluded that the Indian Health Service's failure to reimburse contract support costs violated the Indian Self-Determination Act, potentially directing $800 million to $2 billion in annual additional payments to tribes. Such victories reflect the caliber of federal appellate and Supreme Court work the firm undertakes.

Sonosky maintains a strong reputation within the tribal law community. The firm's Indian Law Section presents the annual Lawrence R. Baca Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring outstanding service to Native American interests. With offices spanning Alaska to the Southwest, the firm is positioned to serve tribal clients across the country, combining national reach with regional presence and deep relationships within tribal communities.

Overview compiled from the firm's website