Walter E. Stern

Overview

Walter brings more than forty years of experience providing representation, advice and counsel to businesses and individuals in their dealings with Native American tribes, nations, Pueblos, and other groups, and with public land management agencies, such as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and New Mexico State Land Office. Walter’s practice is focused mainly on natural resources, energy and environmental law.

Clients throughout the west and across the country seek Walter’s advice in matters involving transactions, disputes and consultations with federally-recognized Indian tribes. In addition, clients look to Walter when pursuing federal lands development and related permitting and environmental compliance efforts under the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and related federal statutes.

Walter also is actively involved in community and professional non-profit organizations. He has served as President of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (n/k/a The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law), a world-class continuing education provider for professionals working in the areas of natural resources development and environmental law. Walter also served as the Board of Trustees’ Chair of the Albuquerque Community Foundation (“ACF”) in 2019, where he was actively involved as a Trustee from 2014 to 2023. He also served as Co-Chair of the ACF Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for three years, and as Chair of the ACF Impact Investment Committee for four years. Following his nine years on ACF’s Board, Walter now serves on the Board of the New Mexico Community Trust, a statewide organization providing community foundation-like services. He has also recently joined the Board of Saranam, an organization working to end homelessness in the Albuquerque area. In addition, Walter is a past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Albuquerque Academy, an independent day school.

Nationally recognized in Native American Law by Chambers USA, Walter has also received top recognition in the area of Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries in Chambers’ New Mexico review.  As reported in Chambers, Walter’s clients describe him as “outstanding,” and peers view him as a “great litigator.”  He has been listed by Best Lawyers in America® since 1995 and named “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque ten times: in Energy Law in 2014, 2018 and 2023; Natural Resources Law in 2020 and 2025; Environmental Law in 2016, 2019, and 2021; Oil and Gas Law in 2012; and Native American Law in 2011. Walter has achieved the AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Super Lawyers in New Mexico by Southwest Super Lawyers®, and as Best of the Bar in Native American Law by the New Mexico Business Weekly. He is a Past President (2013-2018) of the firm.

Walter enjoys his family, hiking, skiing, swimming, and mountain bike riding that does not involve crashing on boulders.

Experience

Indian Law Experience

• Served as co-lead counsel with Lynn H. Slade in defending the City of El Paso in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. City of El Paso, Case No. 3:17-cv-00162-DCG (W.D. Tex.), involving a land claim seeking to quiet title to City-owned lands based on an alleged 1751 Spanish land grant encompassing roughly 8,000 acres within the El Paso city limits. El Paso was successful in obtaining a dismissal of the suit on jurisdictional grounds in part because the alleged land grant had not been confirmed by the United States Congress following the execution of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War.  Following extensive briefing on cross-Motions for Summary Judgment, the District Court dismissed the case for lack of federal jurisdiction. See Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo v. City of El Paso, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6592 (W.D. Tex. Jan. 15, 2020).
• Served as co-lead counsel with Meg L. Meister in negotiating, drafting and obtaining tribal and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs consents and approvals for three renewable energy leases, two for 50 MW solar arrays and one for a 20 MW energy storage facility, located on tribal trust lands within the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in northern New Mexico.
• Led a multi-disciplinary counsel team in completing a series of interrelated transactions between BHP Billiton New Mexico Coal, Inc. (BBNMC) and its subsidiaries and the Navajo Nation and Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC (NTEC), a wholly owned enterprise of the Navajo Nation. The successful closing followed execution of confidentiality agreements and a non‐binding term sheet or memorandum of understanding, lengthy due diligence efforts, detailed discussion of risk allocation and creative deal structuring, the crafting of several agreements and related documents, and the navigation of Navajo Nation legislative and executive approval processes to ensure the enforceability of the transactions with sovereign entities. The multi-faceted transaction included, among other elements, the sale of BHP Navajo Coal Company (BNCC), the owner and operator of the Navajo Mine, a large surface coal mining operation located on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, to NTEC.
• Represented clients in a range of transactions seeking to secure agreements, leases, and/or rights-of-way on Indian lands, and addressing forum selection, waivers of immunity from suit, tribal regulation, and deciphering tribal and federal law to identify and acquire any necessary approvals to help ensure enforceable agreements.
• Successfully represented San Juan Coal Company in obtaining injunctive relief authorizing the coal company to mine through oil and gas wells in a matter involving a coal vs. oil and gas development conflict arising from a split estate under the Coal Lands Act of 1910. See San Juan Coal Company v. Redwolf Production, Inc. (2008). Subsequently, we defeated claims for compensation and damages for the oil and gas operator.
• Represented clients in permitting and environmental compliance efforts regarding developments on Indian lands, including National Environmental Policy Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and related regulatory schemes.
• Represented the Sandia Peak Tram Company, a special use permit holder on national forest lands, in litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings that resulted in an amicable Indian land claim settlement requiring ratification by federal legislation, the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Act legislation (2003). Representation included participation in a lengthy mediation process, lobbying, and testimony before Senate Committees on Indian Affairs and on Energy and Natural Resources.
• Submitted a “Friend of the Court” or amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case which involved the scope of tribal jurisdiction over non-Indian fee lands within Reservation boundaries. The Supreme Court ruled that the Navajo Nation lacked jurisdiction to impose certain tribal taxes under the circumstances of the case. See Atkinson Trading Co. v. Shirley, 532 U.S. 645 (2001).
• Defended a substantial private landowner in a case involving a tribal land claim, and in related cases involving tribal jurisdictional claims over off-reservation lands and activities in northwestern New Mexico. See Navajo Tribe v. State of New Mexico, 809 F.2d 1455 (10th Cir. 1987).
• Successfully argued that New Mexico state court, and not federal court, was the appropriate forum for a general stream adjudication involving Indian reserved water rights claims. See United States/Pueblos of Laguna and Acoma v. Bluewater Toltec Irrigation District, et al ., 806 F.2d 986 (10th Cir. 1986).
• In an alleged conflict between the Pueblo of Santo Domingo grant and the Mesita de Juana Lopez grant located between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, successfully argued for the defense that the Pueblo’s claims were barred under the 1924 and 1933 Pueblo Lands Acts. See United States/Pueblo of Santo Domingo v. Leland Thompson, et al., 941 F.2d 1041 (10th Cir. 1991).

Public Lands and Related Matters

• In the general stream adjudication on the San Juan River in northwestern New Mexico, addressed claims by the New Mexico State Land Office that sought to apply the federal reserved water rights doctrine to lands granted to the State of New Mexico through the New Mexico Enabling Act and related legislation. See State of New Mexico ex rel. State Engineer and United States, et al. v. New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands, 2009-NMCA-004 (2008).
• Successfully represented San Juan Coal Company (“SJCC”) in attempts by the Navajo Nation and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) to place federal lands subject to SJCC’s coal leases in trust as part of the Navajo Reservation. Specifically, the case involved the validity of BLM’s decision to implement Navajo Nation land selections of federal public lands for transfer into trust under provisions of the federal Navajo-Hopi Settlement Act. Obtained an immediate stay of BLM’s decision from the Interior Board of Land Appeals (“IBLA”). After efforts to find an amicable resolution acceptable to a wide range of stakeholders, obtained a favorable ruling from the IBLA that the Navajo Nation’s and BLM’s actions were unauthorized. See San Juan Coal Company, 155 IBLA 389 (2001).
• Representing numerous clients in permitting projects triggering compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historical Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, and related statutory and regulatory services.
• Experience negotiating and drafting long-term coal supply contracts, and related agreements; additionally, negotiated resolution of disputes concerning surface reclamation and royalty valuation of mining activities on Indian lands.

Activities

Professional Activities

• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (n/k/a The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law) (President, 2009-2010; Vice President, 2008-2009; Secretary, 2003-2004; Member, Board of Directors, f/k/a Executive Committee, 1999-2001, 2003-2004, 2008–2012; Program Chair, 2001 Annual Institute; Chair, Special Institutes Committee, 2002-2007; Trustee, 1997-2001, 2003-2004, 2008-present)
• American Bar Association, Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (Chair, Public Lands Committee 1995-1997; Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinating Group 1994-1995)
• State Bar of New Mexico Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (Chair, 1989-1990)

Civic Activities

• Albuquerque Academy, Board of Trustees (Chair, 2009-2014; Vice-Chair, 2008-2009; Trustee, 2003-2005, 2007-2017)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation, Board of Trustees (Chair, 2019; Chair, Impact Investment Committee, 2016-2018, 2020; Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, 2018-2020; Trustee, 2014-2023)
• New Mexico Community Trust, Board of Trustees (Vice-Chair, 2024-present)
• Saranam, Board of Directors, 2024-present
• New Mexico Land Conservancy, Past Board Member and Board Chair

News & Articles

Discourse

Selected Presentations

• “Black Snakes” or Infrastructure? The Dakota Access Pipeline Litigation and the Federal Government’s Tribal Consultation Obligations, co-presented with University of New Mexico’s School of Law Professor Jeannette Wolfley, 63^rd Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 20, 2017
• Cultural Resources Management: Tribal Rights, Roles, Consultation, and Other Interests (A Developer’s Perspective), Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Special Institute on Federal Regulation of Cultural Resources, Wildlife and Water of the U.S., Paper No. 3, 2012

Honors

Honors and Awards

• Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (NREEL) Section of the State Bar of New Mexico Natural Resources Lawyer of the Year, 2014. This was the inaugural presentation of the award, given to a single attorney each year.
• Best Lawyers Energy Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque, 2014, 2018, 2023
• Best Lawyers Natural Resources Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque, 2020, 2025
• Best Lawyers Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque, 2016, 2019, 2021
• Best Lawyers Oil & Gas Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque, 2012
• Best Lawyers Native American Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albuquerque, 2011
• Best Lawyers in America^® in Energy Law, Environmental Law, Mining Law, Native American Law, Natural Resources Law, and Oil and Gas Law, 1995-present
• Chambers USA Directories of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, recognized Nationwide in Native American Law, 2013-present; in New Mexico in Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries, and Native American Law, 2004-present
• Law Dragon 500 – New Stars New World, 2006
• Martindale-Hubbell AV^® Peer Review Rated
• New Mexico Business Weekly Best of the Bar in Native American Law, 2010
• Southwest Super Lawyers^® (derived from a lawyer survey) 2007-present; Top 25 Super Lawyers in New Mexico, 2007, 2008