Biography

Colin Cloud Hampson (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the White Earth Band of Chippewa) joined the firm in 1994, established the San Diego office in 1999, and became a partner in 2002.  Mr Hampson represents tribes and tribal organizations on a wide range of Indian law matters including gaming, commercial and economic development matters, gaming regulation, energy, water, construction, jurisdiction, recognition, legislative issues, environmental law, health care, tax, Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, employment, election, administrative law and general counsel matters.  

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.  

Reported Decisions

• Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria v. Dutschke, 715 F.3d 1225 (9th Cir. 2013)
• Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 133 S.Ct. 2552 (2013)  
• Inyo Cnty., Cal. v. Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Cmty., 538 U.S. 701 (2003) 
• Burlington N. Santa Fe R. Co. v. Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck Reservation, 323 F.3d 767 (9th Cir. 2003)

Presentations

• “Doing Business with Tribal Casinos” Roundtable discussion. Western Indian Gaming Conference, Harrah’s Rincon. Valley Center, California (February 11, 2015)
• “UNDRIP and Environmental Protection in Indian Country: A Tale of Convergence” Stanford Law School. Stanford, California. (February 7, 2015)
• “EEOC v. Peabody Western Coal Co. and Tribal Employment Preferences” California Gaming Law Summit. Los Angeles, California. (January 15-16, 2015)
• “Indian Reserved Rights and Groundwater” CLE International, California Water Law - Recent Cases & Water in the 21st Century. San Diego, California. (June 13, 2014)
• “Tribal Procedures and Institutions for Decisionmaking in Citizenship Matters” 39^th Annual Federal Bar Association Indian Law Conference. Santa Fe, New Mexico. (April 10-11, 2014)
• “Henry Roe Cloud and the Indian Reorganization Act Today:  A Look Back” Yale Law School. New Haven, CT (November 8, 2013)
• "Update on the Little Colorado Adjudication" 7th Annual CLE Conference on Natural Resources & Environmental Law on the Reservation. Scottsdale, Arizona (August 21, 2003)
• "Tribal Sovereignty and Taxation" Nations Within: Aspects of American Indian Tribal Sovereignty. University of San Diego American Indian Legal Issues Conference. San Diego, California (April 18, 2002)
• "Presentation on Panel on Changing Legal Contours of Environmental Programming in Indian Country" National Congress of American Indians Annual Meeting. San Diego, California (November 12, 2002)
• "Legal Foundations of Tribal Sovereignty and Jurisdiction" Bordering on Insanity: Finding Your Way Through the Maze of Sovereignty Issues in US/Mexico Questions and Native American Law, SANDALL Fall Workshop. San Diego, California (October 27, 2000)