Jaime Cuevas, Jr.

American Indian Law

• Assisted in representation of Cougar Den, Inc. in successful proceedings before the Washington Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. See Washington State Dep't of Licensing v. Cougar Den, Inc., 16-1498, 2019 WL 1245535 (U.S. Mar. 19, 2019). Both courts ruled that Cougar Den, which is owned by a member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, did not owe millions of dollars in fuel taxes assessed by the Washington State Department of Licensing. The courts held that Washington’s application of its fuel tax on Cougar Den were preempted by the Treaty of 1855 between the Yakama Nation and the United States and preserved members’ rights to travel upon all public highways.
• Drafted various tribal codes, including those pertaining to criminal law, taxation, probate, and licensing.
• Helped establish an inter-tribal joint venture in the oil and gas sector aimed at keeping trust resources within Indian Country markets.  
• Assisted or lead treaty rights litigation across the United States, including in Kansas, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, California, and Washington State.
• Advised Tribal Section 17 Corporation on labor and employment matters.

Agriculture / Business

• Served as General Counsel and Board advisor to a conglomerate of privately-held corporations.  
• Assisted with the acquisition of a mixed zone property and represented client through the rezoning of what became one of the largest highway tourist commercially zoned properties in Yakima County.
• Successfully represented large agricultural employer in favorable pre-finding settlement before the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
• Represented local restaurant before the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board regarding liquor license issues.
• Represented local real estate investor in numerous disputes with tenants, including assisting with eviction proceedings.
• Assisted agricultural employer with the successful resolution of a labor strike dispute.
• Assisted in the representation of fruit packing warehouse in alleged mishandling of agricultural commodity.

Policy Advocacy

• Represented tribal-member owned enterprises at Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) within the U.S. Department of Treasury regarding tax reform
• Assisted tribal leaders in Washington State on policy advocacy related to tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and new clean energy state law initiatives.
• Lobbied with dozens of tribal leaders in the United States Congress on issues related to federal legislation aimed at promoting tribal nation building and economic development in Indian Country. 
• Lobbied the Washington State Legislature for continued and additional civil legal aid funding.

Pro-Bono

• Cooperating Attorney, Brief Of Amicus Curiae Cougar Den, Inc., in Support Of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, United States Supreme Court No. 21-1248 (2022)
• Cooperating Attorney, ACLU Amicus Brief in Support of Supreme Court Review - Earl v. City of Tacoma, Washington State Supreme Court No. 101143-1 (2022)
• Successfully represented a family of seven at their asylum hearing before the U.S. Immigration Court. Only 4% of asylum applications from the family’s country of origin were granted in 2016.
• Served as pro bono cooperating counsel with ACLU of Washington in the matter of Glatt v. City of Pasco. Achieved historic Consent Decree in Voting Rights Act case that guarantees equal access to electoral process to Pasco’s Latino community.

• “Issues and Opportunities in Small Town and Rural Practice,” Moderator, WSBA Small Town and Rural (STAR) Practice Inaugural Summit, (June 2024)
• “Taxation & Energy Sovereignty,” Speaker, Tribal Convenience Store Association Member Meeting (2023)
• “Fuel Taxation in Indian Country,” Speaker, National Intertribal Tax Alliance Spring Conference (2022)
• "Revitalizing Inter-tribal Trade,” Speaker, along with Yakama Elders, “Punia” Kip Ramsey Sr., and Harris Teo, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Conference (2022)
• "Washington's Paid Family Medical Leave Act," Co-Presenter with Sarah Wixson, Bilingual Business Workshop, What Employers Need to Know (November 2019)
• Indian Law Panel, Panelist, Supreme Court Year in Review, Social Justice Decisions, Gonzaga University School of Law (October 2019)
• "U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Yakama Treaty Rights in Washington State Department of Licensing v. Cougar Den, Inc.," co-author, article, Indian Law Newsletter (Spring 2019)
• “Legal Ramifications of H-2A for the Agricultural Employer:  What You Need to Know About Handling Domestic Referrals, Employing Local Workers, and Complying with Farm Labor Contractor Law,” Co-Presenter with Brendan Monahan, Washington Growers League-MasLabor H-2A Forum (January 2018)
• “History, Math, and Science: Hitting the Books to Understand The Voting Rights Act of 1965,” presenter, Yakima Valley Community College - Diversity Series (October 2016)

• Tribal Economic & Tax Reform Advocacy Alliance (2022  – Present)
• Gonzaga University School of Law, Board Member (2020 – Present)
• YMCA - Yakima, Board Member (2023 – Present)
• Sozo Academy U.S. Grassroots Soccer Coach (2024 – Present)
• Color of Justice Yakima Valley Youth Conference, Volunteer (2024)
• JustLead Washington Leadership Academy, Fellow (2019)
• Access to Justice Conference, Past Planning Committee, Co-Chair
• Campaign for Equal Justice, Board Member, Past Board Member
• Children’s Campaign Fund,  Past Board Member
• Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce, Past Board Member
• Youth & Justice Forum(s), Volunteer and Keynote Speaker
• Veterans Will Clinic, Volunteer