Christopher T. Stearns
Of Counsel

Chris Stearns, who is Navajo, specializes in the practice of energy, health care, self-determination and self-governance, education, campaign and election law, and matters involving Congress and federal agencies. He started with the Firm upon graduation from law school in 1989, and left in 1994 to go on Capitol Hill. He returned to the Firm in 2001.

Chris also serves NCAI President Tex G. Hall as his senior political advisor, providing strategic advice and services on all matters affecting Indian Country, including the 2004 elections, trust reform, and other national developments.

Mr. Stearns served as the North Dakota state campaign director for former Vice-President Al Gore’s campaign in the 2000 presidential campaign. He is the first Native American appointed to the position of state director in presidential campaign history. He also served on the Richardson for Governor 2002 campaign where he worked the Navajo vote operation. In addition Chris has managed two successful Tex Hall for NCAI President campaigns.

Between 1998 and 2000, Mr. Stearns served as Director of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Secretary Bill Richardson. He oversaw all national DOE tribal relations and policy initiatives. These included the largest voluntary return of Indian lands ever to a tribe (the Northern Ute Tribe); the largest set-aside of government electricity for Indian tribes (through the Western Area Power Administration); the first national study of Indian electricity needs; the revision of the DOE-tribal consultation policy; the first-ever “Indian 101” training sessions for senior management, and the creation of the Department’s Tribal Energy Program. He also served as Senior Advisor to the Director of the Office of Policy at the Department, where he worked on electricity, oil and gas, and environmental issues.

From 1995-1998, Mr. Stearns served as Democratic Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Resources where he handled Native American issues for Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA). Among the issues for which he had direct oversight were Indian gaming, labor relations, health care, federal recognition, the original Title V Self-Governance legislation, amendments to the Indian Child Welfare Act, and California Indian Policy. In 1994, he worked as Counsel to the House Sub-committee on Native American Affairs for then-Chairman Bill Richardson (D-NM), where he helped secure passage of the 1994 Indian Self-Determination Act Amendments.

Mr. Stearns earned his B.A. (with honors) from Williams College in 1986, and his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1989. He co-authored with Dean B. Suagee Indigenous Self-Government, Environmental Protection and the Consent of the Governed, 5 Colo. J.Int’l Envtl.L & Pol’y 59 (1994).

Mr. Stearns serves as the Secretary of the Clinton Gore Alumni Assocation, a national association of past Clinton Administration political appointees. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and is co-chair of its national Indian teen awareness campaign. He has also taught a course on Native American Film Stereotypes at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. He is a member of the District of Columbia bar.

E-mail: cstearns@hsdwdc.com

Phone: (202) 822-8282

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