Biography

Vanessa L. Ray-Hodge (Pueblo of Acoma) is a Partner and works in all areas of the firm’s practice with a special focus in water rights, protection of treaty rights, as well as natural resource and environmental law issues.  She also regularly advises and represents tribal clients on matters involving land restoration, reservation boundary issues, tribal jurisdiction, and matters concerning infrastructure and economic development. 

Ms. Ray-Hodge has worked on some of the largest Indian water rights settlements both in the negotiation and implementation phases.  She, along with partners Ryan Rusche and Mary Pavel, was a primary negotiator for federal legislation enacting the Montana Water Rights Protection Act—a landmark $1.9 billion water settlement for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) of the Flathead Reservation.  She has played a key role both during private practice and while serving the federal government in numerous other Indian water rights settlements.

Ms. Ray-Hodge is also a seasoned litigator for Indian tribes.  She successfully litigated the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s entitlement to reserved water rights before the Idaho Supreme Court in In re CSRBA Case No. 49576, Subcase No.91-7755, 448 P.3d 322 (Id. 2019).  Ms. Ray-Hodge, with partner Matthew Murdock, has successfully litigated Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa v. Wheeler, 519 F. Supp. 3d 549 (D. Minn. 2021), in which the Federal District Court held for the first time that the U.S. EPA has a non-discretionary duty to determine under Section 401(a)(2) of the Clean Water Act whether a proposed project “may affect” the Band’s downstream water quality standards. 

Prior to rejoining Sonosky in 2016, Ms. Ray-Hodge served as the Senior Counselor to Solicitor Hilary Tompkins at the Department of the Interior during the Obama Administration.  At Interior, Ms. Ray-Hodge advised the Solicitor on Indian Affairs issues and was integral in a multitude of decisions.  Some of her key efforts included addressing the Supreme Court’s decision in Carcieri v. United States, to continue to take land into trust for tribes, culminating in the Solicitor’s M-Opinion 37029 (March 12, 2014); participating in and developing the United States position in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 570 U.S. 637 (2013) and leading efforts to develop regulations implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act post Baby Girl; settling tribal trust lawsuits and implementing the Secretary’s Trust Reform Commission.  Ms. Ray-Hodge regularly advised senior Departmental officials on tribal trust and treaty rights, economic and natural resources development issues in Indian country, including water rights, oil and gas operations, and Indian gaming issues.

Ms. Ray-Hodge attended Wellesley College graduating in 2000 with a major in Anthropology.  She went on to Columbia Law School graduating in 2003 with honors as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.  Ms. Ray-Hodge is licensed in Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho and Washington D.C. 

Outside of the firm Ms. Ray-Hodge serves on various Boards including the Pueblo of Acoma Health Board.   

Honors

  • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
  • Department of the Interior Solicitor's Excellence Award, BP Oil Spill - 2010
  • Department of the Interior Solicitor's Excellence Award, Indian Affairs - 2015