Since 2005, Sam Cohen has brought his legal talents to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians as the Government Affairs Officer and Legal Officer. During his tenure in this role, Cohen has led the tribe in their nine-year Fee to Trust application to successfully establish 6.9 acres of land in federal trust for a Chumash Museum and Cultural Center. Cohen also served as lead counsel for the tribe in the renegotiation of the Tribal State Compact in 2014 and 2015. He has been instrumental in the tribe’s educational legislative efforts, which include bill AB 544, establishing a teaching credential for the teaching of Native American Languages in 2008, and AB 163, expanding the previous bill to include a culture credential in 2015. Cohen earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He also studied law at University College London and has an LL.M. degree from the Tax Program at New York University. Cohen is well-regarded in the legal community and has served as the managing editor of the Minnesota Law Review. Prior to his experience in Native American legal affairs, Cohen practiced law in Tokyo and Guam. He is a frequent author on Indian legal issues and also serves as a board member for the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture & Business (COLAB), the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce, and the Econ Alliance of North Santa Barbara County.