Sam W. Maynes

Sam W. Maynes - Maynes, Bradford, Shipps, Sheftel LLP

Sam W. Maynes is a partner in Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel, LLP. His practice focuses primarily on representing the Southern Ute Indian Tribe on a broad array of issues involving all aspects of federal Indian law. His recent practice emphasizes environmental matters, natural resources development, intergovernmental relations, treaty rights, taxation, contracts (including software licensing contracts), and jurisdictional and regulatory issues. He has represented the Tribe in civil litigation in federal, tribal, and state court; provided legal advice and counsel to the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council; provided legal advice and counsel to tribal department directors and division heads; assisted in negotiating intergovernmental agreements; and assisted in  training attorneys to join the Tribe’s in-house legal department.

Education

  • Sam received his undergraduate degree from Fort Lewis College in 1985, and his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1988.

Admitted to Practice

  • State Bar of Colorado
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribal Court
  • U.S. District Court, Colorado
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Representative Experience

  • Conducted trainings on the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ new right-of-way regulations, recommended tribal modifications to right-of-way forms, and advised tribal departments on implementing the new regulations.
  • Represented the Tribe in obtaining Colorado state legislation recognizing the tribal and tribal member state and local sales tax exemption.
  • Co-author of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s application for treatment as a state under section 518(e) of the Clean Water Act for purposes of the water quality standards and certification programs.
  • Principal author of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s application for treatment as a state under section 301(d) of the Clean Air Act to administer a Part 70 operating permit program, which application was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Represented the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in successfully preventing a non-Indian oil and gas operator from discharging coalbed methane wastewater into the Piedra River.
  • Represented the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in developing air pollution control programs for the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. This involved extensive work with the Tribe’s Environmental Programs Division; the Southern Ute Indian Tribe/State of Colorado Environmental Commission; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the State of Colorado Air Pollution Control Division.
  • Represented the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in the negotiation of several intergovernmental agreements with federal, state and local governments and was a co-author of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the State of Colorado Concerning Air Quality Control on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation (1999); the Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning Revocation of Drivers’ Licenses (2001); and the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and State of Colorado Concerning Wildlife Management and Enforcement in the Brunot Area (2008).
  • Represented the guardians of a handicapped tribal member in a successful appeal of the failure by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to approve disbursements from the handicapped tribal member’s individual Indian money account.
  • Represented tribal interests in rights-of-way and other road issues discussions with two Colorado counties.
  • Advised an alternative energy company on the applicability of federal and state taxes to an on-reservation compressed natural gas fueling station under consideration.