Vanessa Norman
Of Counsel
Co-chair, Attorneys of Color Affinity Group
Vanessa Norman advises Alaska clients and lower 48 clients doing business in Alaska, in the areas of corporate governance, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ("ANCSA") related matters. She assists clients with the formation and structure of their companies and on stock and asset acquisitions both in and outside of Alaska. Vanessa also serves principal outside counsel to a number of Alaska based companies and is particularly experienced with advising ANCSA corporations in regards to governance matters, annual proxy materials, conduct of board elections, and shareholder matters.
Vanessa co-chairs the firm's Attorneys of Color Affinity Group, a group that includes over 120 attorneys nationwide. She also co-chairs the Alaska Native Law Section of the Alaska Bar Association. Vanessa is a co-author of the Alaska section of "Doing Business in States Other Than the State of Incorporation (Alabama Through Michigan)" published in the Corporate Practice Portfolio Series, Bloomberg Law.
Vanessa is a tribal member of the Native Village of Port Graham, a federally recognized tribe in Alaska. She lives and practices in Anchorage, Alaska, but often travels to assist clients throughout the state of Alaska.
Admitted to Practice
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Alaska, 2012
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U.S. Supreme Court, 2020
Education
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J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, 2012
- President, Native American Law Students Association, 2010-2011
- Member, Lewis and Clark National NALSA Moot Court Team, 2011
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M.A., Rural Development, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2008
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B.B.A., Management, Marketing, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2004
- Dean’s List, 2004
Memberships & Affiliations
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- Board of Directors, Alaska Native Heritage Center, 2015
- Board of Directors, ROSSIA, Inc. (Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska)
- Federal Bar Association
- Co-chair, Alaska Native Law Section, Alaska Bar Association
- Alaska Native Professionals Association
- University of Alaska Anchorage Alumni Association
- University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association
Professional Recognition
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- Listed among "Associates to Watch" by Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A (Alaska), 2021-2022; Listed as "Up and Coming," 2023
- Received the "Alumni Emerging Leader" award from the University of Alaska Anchorage, 2019
Background
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- Summer Associate, Davis Wright Tremaine, Anchorage, Alaska, 2011
- Law Clerk, Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP, Anchorage, Alaska, 2010
- Special Assistant to the Chairman, Chugach Alaska Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska, 2008-2009
- Legal Intern, Alaska Federation of Natives, Anchorage, Alaska, 2007-2008