Gabriel Galanda

Gabe’s practice focuses on complex, multi-party litigation and crisis management, and representing tribal governments, businesses and members when it matters the most.

Gabe is skilled at defending tribes and Indian-owned enterprises against legal attack by local, state and federal government and private parties; advocating for tribal members in disenrollment or civil rights defense; and representing tribal plaintiffs and defendants in catastrophic personal injury lawsuits. Gabe also assists tribes with economic development strategies and transactions.

Trained by the American Arbitration Association, he also arbitrates disputes between tribal and non-tribal governments and other parties, as well as mediates such disputes.

From 2000 to 2010, Gabe practiced law with a large corporate law firm, where he forged a tribal practice and was the youngest lawyer to ever be elected to the firm’s membership and to serve on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Gabe is a columnist for Indian Country Media Network, and writes frequently about tribal litigation, sovereignty and business issues, having been published over 100 times in such other national periodicals as National Law Journal, Business Law Today, Gaming Law Review & Economics, and Indian Gaming magazine. Annually he co-authors the Tribal Court Litigation chapter for the ABA's Annual Review of Developments in Corporate & Business Litigation desk reference book.

Most notably, Gabe co-authored a law review article titled, “Curing the Tribal Disenrollment Epidemic: In Search of a Remedy,” which was published by Arizona Law Review in 2015.

In 2012, Gabe was featured in "An Interview With One of 'The Best Lawyers in America' for the Seventh Straight Year: Gabriel Galanda." His "life and times" were also featured by Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez in a King County Bar Bulletin article titled, "Native Son." Gabe was dubbed one of “five people are rocking the world with their forward thinking, innovation and commitment to social justice” in an Indian Country Today piece titled, “5 Visionaries Who See a Brighter Future for Indian Country.” He was also named one of "Fifty Faces of Indian Country."

In 2014, the Washington State Bar Association honored him with the Excellence in Diversity Award for his "significant contribution to diversity in the legal profession." In 2016, the Seattle Timesfeatured Gabe in a front-page story, “Native Lawyer Takes On Tribes That Kick Out Members.” Most recently, the University of Arizona College of Law bestowed him with the Professional Achievement Award, for his public service.

In his "spare" time, Gabe founded and now operates Huy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing religious, cultural and other rehabilitative opportunities for American Indian prisoners. He serves as Chairman of the Huy Board of Advisors.

Gabe is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of California.