MICHELLE L. LAPENA
Michelle L. LaPena is experienced in a broad spectrum of tribal legal matters including tribal gaming operations and regulation, cultural resource protection, Indian child welfare, tribal taxation, administrative law and general civil litigation involving tribal governments. She is extensively involved in developing statewide policy on tribal taxation, gaming regulation and cultural resource protection. In 1999, she negotiated a tribal-state gaming compact with the State of California. Since that time, she has worked with gaming tribes to implement complex terms in their compacts, including licensing procedures for gaming resource suppliers, revenue sharing distribution to non-gaming tribes and public safety.
Prior to entering private practice, she edited and contributed significantly to reports that were submitted to Congress in August 1997 by the Advisory Council on California Indian Policy. She has served as a trainer for the National Indian Gaming Association, Gaming Regulator Certificate Program and lectured at primary, secondary and university levels on topics related to California Indians and federal Indian law.
In 2003, Michelle was appointed to the Governor’s Children’s Justice Act Task Force which allocates Title IV-E money to child abuse prevention programs in the state of California. Michelle is a member of the Pit River Indian Tribe, and is admitted to practice in California, all federal district courts in California, and the Hoopa Valley Tribal Court. She received her B.A. in 1993 and her J.D. in 1998, both from the University of California, Davis. She was recently featured on the cover of Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine.
Publications:
“Real Estate Transactions in California's Indian Country: How to Conduct Business with California Indian Tribal Governments and Businesses,” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine, January 2006 (Cover Article).
Book Review, “Negotiating Tribal Water Rights: Fulfilling Promises in the Arid West,” by Bonnie G. Colby, John E. Thorson, and Sarah Britton; foreword by David H. Getches. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, American Indian Cultural and Research Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1 (2005).
“A Healing Process,” reprinted in Frontiers: A Journal of Women’s Studies, University of Washington Press, Vol. 23, No. 2 (2002).
Book Review, “To Show Heart: Native American Self-Determination and Federal Indian Policy, 1960-75,” by George Pierre Castile, American Indian Culture and Research Journal, Spring 1999.
“Federal Land Management Practices and California Indians: A Proposal to Protect Native Plant Species,” Environs, UC Davis Environmental Law Review, June 1998.
“A Healing Process,” Prized Writing 1992-1993, An Anthology from the University of California, 1993.
AMYANN R. TAYLOR
AmyAnn Taylor is an associate attorney at LaPena Law Corporation. AmyAnn specializes in the firms land and environmental practice including fee-to-trust applications, environmental codes, and cultural resource protection issues. She heads up the firms general civil litigation practice, the drafting of tribal codes, and issues surrounding probate, Indian Child Welfare Act, and administrative law. AmyAnn is also a board member of TESSA, Tribal Economic and Social Solutions, Inc., a licensed Indian foster family agency.
Prior to joining LaPena Law Corporation as an attorney, AmyAnn served as the firm’s law clerk since January 2007. AmyAnn previously worked as a law clerk in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of Justice, in the Environment Division and the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means; and in Sacramento at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the Office of Legal Affairs.
AmyAnn received her law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where she specialized in Governmental Affairs. During law school AmyAnn was heavily involved in campus affairs as the Student Bar Association class representative, President of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, and was a student member of the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court in 2006-2007.
She received her B.A. in both Public Relations and Political Science from Brigham Young University. While there, she wrote for the collegiate newspaper, and was a student body representative for the school and state legislative activities. Upon graduation she worked for Bravo Group, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s most prestigious lobbying firm, in their communications department before entering law school.
AmyAnn is an active member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, California Indian Law Association, and the Federal Bar Association. She is licensed to practice law in California and is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
CHRISTINE WILLIAMS
Christine Williams is a contract attorney who works with LaPena Law Corporation on special projects including ICWA, NAGPRA, and cultural resource protection issues. Christine has her own private practice located in Pleasanton, California where she also specializes in a wide variety of tribal matters including housing, gaming, California legislation, civil litigation, and the development and review of tribal codes and resolutions.
Prior to beginning her own private practice she served the State of California for over 2 years as the Lead Attorney for the ICWA Initiative at the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children, and the Courts and as an attorney for the Santa Clara County Department of Child Support Services. In addition to her public service, she has worked in private practice for many years where she had the opportunity to represent Tribes in a variety of areas affecting Indian Country.
Christine received her law degree and Indian Legal Program Certificate from Arizona State University College of Law in 2000. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles with a double major in Sociology and Women’s Studies.
Christine is honored to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Yurok Tribe’s Supreme Court. She is the 2008 California Indian Law Association Board Vice President and Scholarship Committee Chair and is also a Visiting Assistant Professor at Mills College, teaching courses in American Indian Studies. Christine is a Yurok tribal member.
MICHELLE NGUYEN
Michelle Nguyen is a law clerk at LaPena Law Corporation and has been with our office since 2007. Prior to joining LaPena Law Corporation, Michelle worked at local California Indian casinos as a Casino Dealer and a Table Game Supervisor.
Michelle is a 2009 J.D. Candidate at the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Since she has been enrolled at Hastings, Michelle has served as the President of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA), the President of the Vietnamese Association of Law Students (VALS), and as a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (A/PALSA).
Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. While at UC Davis, she made the Dean’s Honor List for five consecutive years.
VICTORIO L. SHAW
Victorio Shaw is a law clerk at LaPena Law Corporation. He is currently enrolled at the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall). In 2007 and 2008, Victorio worked as a litigation project assistant at Winston & Strawn LLP in San Francisco. Prior to working in San Francisco, Victorio volunteered part-time at California Indian Legal Services (CILS) in Eureka, California. In addition to volunteering, Victorio worked full-time as the marketing manager at Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Trinidad, California, serving from 2006 to 2007.
Victorio will receive his J.D. from King Hall in 2011 where he is currently focusing on Federal Indian Law as well as tort litigation. He is active in the National Lawyers Guild at King Hall and presents “Know Your Rights,” training to high school seniors in the Sacramento Area.
He received his B.A. in fine arts from Humboldt State University in 2004 where his studies included: marketing, graphic arts, and Native American Studies. He is an enrolled member of the Hoopa Tribe in Northern California as well as being Karuk, Yurok, Apache, and Cherokee.
CRYSTAL M. BLUE
Crystal Blue is the Research and Special Projects Analyst of LaPena Law Corporation. Crystal develops our weekly Legislative Updates, and provides support for our attorneys, including in depth research and administrative responsibilities.
Prior to joining our team, Crystal worked as a Paraeducator for Progress Ranch, a residential treatment center for emotionally-troubled children. She also worked as the Native American Community Intern at UC Davis’ Cross Cultural Center, serving as a liaison between the Native/Indigenous community and the UCD community through programs designed to cultivate multiculturalism through education and advocacy.
She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Davis, with a major in English and a minor in Native American Studies (NAS). While at UC Davis, Crystal participated in the Native American Student Union, Native American Culture Days, and the King Hall Outreach Program. She has also helped the NAS Department and Natives Empowered through Unity and Education with many events and programs.
Crystal plans on applying to law school and aspires to become an attorney, specializing in Indian law. She is an enrolled member of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians.
DEBBIE A. GRAY
Debbie Gray is the Office Manager at LaPena Law Corporation. Debbie handles vendor negotiations/purchases, client communications, employee benefits, and personnel issues.
Prior to joining LaPena Law Corporation, Debbie worked as a Firm Administrator, Accounting Head, and Billing Clerk for Bolling, Walter & Gawthrop. She has expertise with Human Relations (HR) and has great experience in accounting and legal billing; working with management, brokers, and staff to maximize efficiency.
She received her undergraduate degree in Business from Appalachian State University.
Debbie continues to demonstrate her community leadership as a member of the Association of Legal Administrators. She also helped form the Boosters Club at Folsom High School and served as its treasurer.
Debbie is a valuable asset to our team and keeps our firm running efficiently and smoothly.
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