Keith C. Smith
Setter Roche Smith Shellenberger
Keith Chee Smith, Partner (Navajo), is a founding partner, co-majority owner and managing partner of Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger, LLP. He chairs the firm's tribal and federal Indian law practice. Keith currently sits as an administrative law judge for the Office of Hearings and Appeals for the Navajo Nation hearing ethics violation matters, and has also served as special prosecutor for the Nation. He has been practicing tribal and federal Indian law since he received his juris doctorate degree from the Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, in 1997. As such, his experience in tribal and federal Indian law is unparalleled to many working in the field. Keith has extensive experience litigating federal Indian law matters in federal district court and in tribal courts. He is known as a leading attorney in federal Indian law and tribal law, including wills and estates issues, in Colorado, the Navajo Nation, in the Southwest, and throughout the nation. In addition to practicing tribal and federal Indian law, Keith's practice also includes domestic relations, land issues, business law, employment matters, wills, trusts and estates, and general civil litigation. Keith authored “Inside the Minds: Best Practices for Defending Tribal Membership Cases” in 2014. He was also honored as the 2016 Lawyer of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce for his work in Federal Indian law and representation of tribal client and American Indian companies, such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, First Nations Development Institute, Denver Indian Center. In 2014, while representing the American Indian College Fund, Keith helped negotiate and draft a $60 million dollar agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior for scholarships to assist native students. Prior to establishing the firm, Mr. Smith held a position as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he taught federal Indian Law, family law, and contracts and as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Keith continues to present as a guest lecturer and speaker at numerous venues, such as the University of Colorado, University of Denver, Arizona State University, Metro State College, Colorado State University, American Indian College, Dine' College, National Indian Education Association, National Conference, Indigenous Bar Association, and many other venues. Mr. Smith has also presented at several national conferences in the areas of federal Indian law, employment law, and wills, trusts and estates.
(08/25)
