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Josh Newton advises clients on environmental and natural resource issues along with providing general counsel advice. He focuses on complex civil dispute resolution, which includes federal and state court litigation at both the trial and appellate level. Josh also has substantial experience with alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. His practice includes the representation of Native American tribes, providing a suite of general and special counsel services.

Experience
  • Representation of federally recognized Indian tribes on a wide range of issues, including trust litigation against the United States and enforcement of tribal treaty rights
  • Representation of clients on various water law matters, including water right certification, water right transfers and water right protests
  • Representation of hydroelectric project owner regarding bond financing dispute
  • Representation of landowners on Endangered Species Act issues
  • Representation of landowners on a variety of real estate disputes, including easement and right-of-way disputes
  • Representation of solar project developer regarding land use entitlement issues
  • Representation of title companies with respect to title and escrow issues
  • Representation of Oregon community associations focusing on dispute resolution and governance issues
  • Representation of Oregon attorneys in defending legal malpractice claims
Accolades
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2017–2025
  • Boss of the Year, Central Oregon Legal Professionals, 2006–2007
Professional & Community Involvement
  • OSU-Cascades, The Laboratory for the American Conversation, advisory board member
  • High Desert Museum Board of Trustees, member and former chair
  • Economic Development for Central Oregon, Inc. Board of Directors
Thought Leadership

Publications

  • “Understanding Tribal Sovereignty: An Essential Primer for Productive Native American Relations,” IMLA’s Municipal Lawyer The Journal of Local Government Law, Nov-Dec. 2022
  • Amended and Supplemental Pleadings, OREGON CIVIL PLEADINGS AND PRACTICE 2012 Revision (OSB CLE)
  • Contracts Created by Agreement and Contracts Created by Operation of Law, CONTRACT LAW IN OREGON 2008 Supp. (OSB CLE)
  • Amended and Supplemental Pleadings, OREGON CIVIL PLEADINGS AND PRACTICE 2006 Revision (OSB CLE)
  • Contracts Created by Agreement and Contracts Created by Operation of Law, CONTRACT LAW IN OREGON 2003 Revision (OSB CLE)
  • Amended and Supplemental Pleadings, OREGON CIVIL PLEADINGS AND PRACTICE 2001 Supp. (OSB CLE)

Presentations

  • “Deschutes River Basin Update,” The Seminar Group Annual Oregon Water Law Conference, Oct. 26, 2023
  • “Plenary V - Understanding Tribal Sovereignty in the Context of Creditor-Debtor Law,” Oregon State Bar Annual Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, Apr. 15, 2023
  • “Understanding California Water Law: A Primer for California's Timberland Owners and Forestry Professionals," California Forestry Association Forestry Strategies and Innovations, Feb. 28, 2023
  • “Water Infrastructure Bill,” The Seminar Group Annual Oregon Water Law, Nov. 9, 2022
  • “Tribal Law Panel: Understanding Tribal Sovereignty: An Essential Primer for Productive Native American Relations,” International Municipal Lawyers Association's Annual Conference, Oct. 20, 2022
  • “Bureau of Indian Affairs' New Right-of-Way Regulations,” Lorman Education Services Webinar, Apr. 6, 2022
  • “Legal Update,” California Forestry Association Calforests Annual Conference, Mar. 29, 2022
  • “Goal 5 from a tribal perspective: How much information is enough to protect tribal cultural sites?” RELU Annual Summer Conference, Oregon State Bar, August 2019
  • “Deschutes River Basin – Update,” Oregon Water Law Conference, The Seminar Group, November 2018
  • “The Lands and Waters of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon,” High Desert Museum, September 2018
  • “Deschutes River Basin – Update,” Oregon Water Law Conference, The Seminar Group, March 2018
  • “The Lands and Waters of the Western United States – A Tribal Perspective,” RAND Corporation, January 2018
  • “Deschutes Basin Update,” Oregon Water Law Conference, The Seminar Group, November 2017
  • “Leadership,” NALS of Oregon, Kah-Nee-Ta, September 2017

Education & Admissions

Education
London School of Economics
LL.M, international law
Willamette University College of Law
J.D.
Oregon State University
B.S., forest management
Bar Admissions
California
Oregon
Washington

Languages

English

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