Lynn Slade serves clients' needs addressing Federal Indian law and Native American law, energy, natural resources, environmental law, project development, complex litigation and transactions for over 30 years. In his Indian law practice, Lynn advises and counsels natural resource and energy developers, financial institutions, utilities, and other businesses in transactions and project development, including extensive involvement with renewable energy projects. He also leads litigation teams in disputes concerning resource development, environmental regulation and business activities on Indian lands. In addition, Lynn represents oil and gas exploration and production and mid-stream companies in transactions and regulatory compliance as well as financing and equity investing parties in the purchase, sale, financing and operation of oil and gas producing and transportation assets and has represented participants in gas and electric markets before federal and state agencies.Lynn Slade's experience in energy markets includes both renewable energy, including solar, hydroelectric, biomass, and wind energy projects, and fossil fuel or conventional energy resources, including oil and gas exploration and production, royalty accounting, and taxation, and negotiation and drafting of leases, joint venture agreements, and pipeline or transmission rights-of-way agreements. On the litigation side, he has been involved in federal, state, and tribal trial and appellate courts in numerous states, and provides counsel in complex mediations and arbitrations. Lynn's clients include Enel Green Power, Enterprise Product Partners, Kinder Morgan, Continental Resources, Sempra Energy, and have included the State of Oklahoma, including its Tax Commission and Department of Environmental Quality.Chambers USA has recognized Lynn with a top Band 1 rating nationally in Native American Law and named him a Star Individual in New Mexico. In the 2017 publication, Chambers reports, "One source describes Lynn Slade as 'the godfather of New Mexico Indian law.' One interviewee stated, 'he has as good a grasp of the interface between tribal, state and federal law as anyone I know.'" His practice encompasses environmental law, energy work and project development. For more than twenty-five years, he has been listed by Best Lawyers in America®, and named Lawyer of the Year – Albuquerque in multiple areas and years: Oil and Gas Law, 2014 and 2019; Native American Law, 2012; Natural Resources Law, 2012; Energy Law, 2011. Additionally, he has been listed by Southwest Super Lawyers®, and Benchmark Litigation as a local Litigation Star.Lynn serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Native American/Federal Indian Law Practice and is a member of the Natural Resources and Environment; Oil, Gas & Midstream; and Renewable Energy Practice Groups.
Lawyer Profile
Lynn H. Slade
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Recognized Since:1989
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Recognized in:Energy LawEnvironmental Law...
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Law School:University of New Mexico
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Website:
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E-mail:
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Location:500 Fourth Street, NW, Suite 1000P.O. Box 2168Albuquerque, NM 87103
Lawyer Bio
Education:
- University of New Mexico , J.D., graduated 1976
- University of New Mexico, B.A. in Economics, graduated 1973
Bar Admissions:
- New Mexico, State Bar of New Mexico
- New Mexico, United States Supreme Court
- New Mexico, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth, Tenth and District of Columbia Circuits
- New Mexico, U.S. District Court for the Districts of New Mexico, D.C., N.D. Oklahoma, W.D. of Oklahoma
Affiliations:
- American Bar Association - Section of Environment, Energy and Resources; Past Chair, Committee on Native American Natural Resources
- American College of Environmental Lawyers - Fellow
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation - Former Board of Trustees
- State Bar of New Mexico - Past Chair, Natural Resources Section; Former Board of Directors, Indian Law Section
- The American Law Institute - Member
- U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society - New Mexico State Chair, 2008-2011
- Utton Center for Transboundary Resources - Advisory Council, 2003-present, Executive Committee, 2010-present
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:
- Oil and Gas Law, Albuquerque (2019)
- Oil and Gas Law, Albuquerque (2014)
- Native American Law, Albuquerque (2012)
- Natural Resources Law, Albuquerque (2012)
- Energy Law, Albuquerque (2011)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- Native American Law
- Natural Resources Law
- Oil and Gas Law
Awards:
- Chambers USA Directories of America's Leading Lawyers for Business, recognized Nationwide in Native American Law, 2010-present; in New Mexico, Star Individual in Native American Law; and in Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries, 2007-pres
- Best Lawyers in America® in Energy Law, Environmental Law, Native American Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil & Gas Law, 1989-present
- Benchmark Litigation The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Law Firms and Attorneys, Litigation Star, 2013-present
- International Who's Who of Environment Lawyers and Mining Lawyers, 2007-present
- Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent, based on a peer review
- New Mexico Business Weekly, "Best of the Bar – Native American Law" 2009
- Southwest Super Lawyers® (derived from a lawyer survey), 2007- present; "Top 25 New Mexico Super Lawyers" 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2014
Areas of Expertise:
- Contract
- Development
- Energy
- Litigation
- Native American
- Native American Affairs
- Native American Lands
- Oil and Gas
- Pipeline
- Project Development
- Transactional
Lawyer Client Comments
"Lynn is the dean of New Mexico Energy and Natural Resources Law, with strong understanding of the unique intersection of those areas with Native American law. He is tough, practical and very effective. There is no one better in New Mexico."
"Lynn Slade has deep experience in advising clients across a wide range of energy and natural resource matters for projects in which Indian tribes have interests on or are near Indian reservations."
"Lynn Slade is QEPFS's "go- to" outside counsel concerning Native American issues."
"Lynn Slade is the ultimate professional."
"Lynn Slade is a superb lawyer. His expertise in Native American Law is unparalleled and he is a pleasure to work with."
Firm Details
Lawyer Case History
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality v. Environmental Protection Agency
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Represented the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality in its successful petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review a portion of an EPA regulation (the "Indian country NSR Rule") arguing, among other grounds, that EPA was without statutory authority to displace state implementation plans with respect to non-reservation areas of States because EPA failed to make required jurisdictional determinations that such areas were within a tribe's jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals set aside the rule with respect to the Oklahoma portions challenged. See Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality v. Environmental Protection Agency, 740 F.3d 185 (D.C. Cir. 2014).
Osage Nation v. Irby
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Led a Modrall Sperling team defending the authority of the Oklahoma Tax Commission to tax incomes of Osage Nation tribal members residing on certain lands the Osage contend are a continuing reservation. Based on evidence addressing legislative intent and over 100 years of history, the federal district court ruled the reservation was terminated in 1906 and entered judgment in favor of the Commissioners. The court of appeals affirmed. See, Osage Nation v. Irby, 597 F.3d 1117 (10th Cir. 2010), cert. denied, 131 S. Ct. 1553 (2011).
Solar Energy Development
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Served as Native American/Federal Indian Law counsel to K Road Energy with respect to leases of tribal lands for large scale photovoltaic developments on lands of the Maopa Reservation, Nevada; Chemehuevi Reservation, California; and others.
