Racheal M. White Hawk
Senior Associate
Services & Specializations
Admissions
Arizona;
California;
Intertribal Court of Southern California;
Tule River Tribal Court;
US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit;
US Supreme Court;
USDC, Central District of California;
USDC, Eastern District of California;
USDC, Southern District of California
Address
525 B Street, Suite 2200, San Diego, CA 92101
Office Tel.
619.906.5629
Fax
619.744.5426
Overview
Racheal brings a decade of legal experience to clients in Indian country. She regularly practices in the areas of tribal gaming, litigation, employment, real estate, and finance. She has successfully defended tribes on sovereign immunity and tribal court jurisdictional grounds in a variety of federal, state, and tribal courts. Outside of litigation, Racheal counsels clients to minimize risk and expense and maximize, expand, and protect their legal interests in Indian country. She has been repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers® as a One to Watch in Native American Law.
Racheal is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Before joining Procopio, Racheal clerked for the Honorable Judge Mary Schroeder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and for the Honorable Chief Justice Scott Bales of the Arizona Supreme Court.
- Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch, Native American Law, 2024-2025
- Alan Matheson Service Award, recognizing a graduate for service to ASU law school, 2016
- Tipping the Scales, Best and Brightest Award for academic performance, leadership, and potential, 2016
- Honorable Mention, American College of Environmental Lawyers, for excellence in a published student article on a noteworthy aspect of environmental law, 2016
- Willard H. Pedrick Scholar, for achieving high academic success, 2013-2016
- Gold ‘n Gavel Scholar, for contributions to ASU law school, 2015
- First Place, Ross-Blakely Law Library Award for Exemplary Student Research, 2015
- Fulbright Research Grant in Chengdu, China, 2011
- JD, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2016
- BA, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009
- Panelist. “Navigating the Storm: Current Legal Challenges in Lexington Insurance Litigation within the Ninth Circuit,” California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) 28th Annual Western Indian Gaming Conference, Pechanga Casino Resort, February 26, 2025.
- Panelist. “Indian Gaming and the Law,” San Diego County Native American Lawyers Association / East County San Diego Bar Association, August 29, 2024.
- Panelist. “Are Tribal Officials Subject to Employee Handbooks and Codes of Conduct?” California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) 27th Annual Western Indian Gaming Conference, Pechanga Casino Resort, Pechanga Indian Reservation, February 22, 2024.
- Panelist. “Best Practices for Tribal Casinos When Facing Unionization,” California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Western Indian Gaming Conference, Sycuan Casino Resort, February 15, 2023.
- Panelist. “Labor and Employment,” 19th Annual Indigenous Law Conference, East Lansing, Michigan, November 17, 2022.
- Author. “Five Tips for Tribal Employers to Reduce Liability,” February 26, 2021.
- Co-author. “The California Consumer Privacy Act’s Applicability to Tribes and Tribal Gaming Enterprises,” Blogging Circle, January 22, 2020.
- Co-author. “Cybersecurity, Sports Betting, Hemp, and Child Welfare: 2020 Indian Law Updates,” Blogging Circle, January 6, 2020.
- Presenter. “Federal Indian Law 101,” San Diego Law Library MCLE Series, January 16, 2020.
- Presenter. “Strengthening Tribal Justice Systems and Empowering Native Attorneys: the Benefits of Judicial Clerkships,” 10th Annual Tribal Leadership Conference: Transitions, October 1, 2019.
- Presenter. “The Revised Regulations for Federal Recognition of Indian Tribes: An Analysis Under the Tunica-Biloxi Precedent, National Congress of American Indians Conference,” October 18, 2015.
- Co-author. “Federal District Court in Texas Defies Precedent, Holds ICWA Unconstitutional,” Blogging Circle, October 9, 2018.
- Author. “Community-Scale Solar: Watt’s in It for Indian Country?” 40 Environs Envtl. Law & Pol’y J., 2016.
- Author. “Comment, a New Formula for Tribal Internet Gaming,” 56 Jurimetrics J. 47, 2015.
- Presenter. “Federal Indian Law and Policy,” NAFOA Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program, May 19, 2015.
- Federal Bar Association, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Law Clerk Working Group, Chair, 2020-2022
- American Indian Law Center, Judicial Clerkship Program Committee
- Chair, 2020-2021
- Co-Chair, 2018-2020
- National Native American Law Students Association, Moot Court Judge, 2018-2020
- Phoenix Indian Center Future Inspired Native American Leaders, Mentor, 2017
- Jurimetrics, The Journal of Law, Science and Technology, Editor-in-Chief, 2016
- Owens, Crystal. “High Court Won’t Hear Insurer’s Calif. COVID Tribal Dispute,” Law360, May 19, 2025.
- Daley, Elizabeth. “Tribal Court Wins Jurisdiction For 4th Time In COVID-19 Suit,” Law360, December 9, 2024.
- Beck, Nate. “Judge Sanctions Group In Latest Suit Over Tribal Hotel Project,” Law360, March 1, 2024.
- “Racheal M. White Hawk: A Profile,” The Appellate Project, November 11, 2023.
- Symons, Caleb. “Catholic Church Sued Over Tribe’s Casino Expansion,” Law360, May 19, 2023.
- “Majority of U.S. States, 75 Members of Congress, and More Than 30 Organizations File Amicus Briefs in Support of Native American Families and Children,” News Maven, December 16, 2019.
- Westney, Andrew. “Native Groups, Profs, States Champion ICWA to 5th,” Law360, December 13, 2019.
- Westney, Andrew. “Feds Say Indian Child Welfare Law Must Stand,” Law360, January 17, 2019.
