As a litigator, Shelby leads the strategy and execution of complex, high-impact cases involving tribal law, Indigenous rights and other civil rights matters, land and environmental issues, and appellate litigation. Shelby works hard, prepares arguments of the highest quality, and has won favorable results for her clients in federal and state courts across the country. She has appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Fifth Circuits, U.S. district courts in various states, the Washington Supreme Court, and the Washington Court of Appeals.

Shelby was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® magazine in 2024, and “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers in America in the fields of environmental, and labor and employment litigation for 2025.

Shelby previously clerked in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and worked for a top-ranked international law firm, where she represented the Duwamish Tribe in its pursuit for federal recognition. Before law school, Shelby worked in the nonprofit sector, focusing on global economic development, women's rights, youth development, and education. Shelby also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Middle East.

Memberships

Washington State Bar Association
Federal Bar Association

Accolades

Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2024

ADMISSIONS

Washington
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Cour of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Tulalip Tribal Court

Education

The University of Washington School of Law, JD
Columbia University, MA
The University of Washington, Bachelor of Arts

Recent Publications

“The Finality Trap: When ‘Without Prejudice’ is Actually Prejudicial,” The AmLaw Litigation Daily, October 26, 2021
“Washington State Legislature Passes Pay Equity and ‘Me Too’ Legislation,” The National Law Review, April 20, 2018
“Key Takeaways from the NLRB’s Flip-Flop on Joint Employment Standards,” The National Law Review, March 29, 2018

Upcoming/Recent Seminars

Presenter on Indian Law and Tribal Sovereignty, WSBA CLE: The Washington Law and Practice Refresher Course, February 2024
Presenter on Federal Recognition of Indian Tribes: The Duwamish Experience, WSBA CLE, September 2022