Peter Larson is a partner in the firm's Tribal Affairs, Finance, and Gaming practice groups. Peter's transactional practice focuses on representing Indian tribes, tribal entities in financing matters, and commercial and economic development in Indian country.
Peter has considerable experience in all areas of Indian gaming, including Indian lands determinations, federal, state, and tribal regulatory matters, and representation of tribal gaming agencies. He also works on other economic development issues, including land use and leasing, tribal court development, taxation issues, development of tribal laws and regulations, and regularly interacts with the NIGC and the Department of Interior.
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Tribal economic development planning, including strategic planning and implementation.
- Represented Indian tribes in taxable and tax-exempt debt offerings.
- Represented tribal gaming enterprises in new casino construction financing.
- Represented institutional lenders in complex financing and refinancing transactions with Indian tribes.
- Drafted and negotiated development agreements, consulting agreements, and management agreements between tribal governments and non-Indian developers.
- Negotiation and drafting of leases of tribal and allotted lands.
- Drafted and implemented tribal gaming ordinances and regulations.
- Represented native based nonprofit organization in corporate formation and successful efforts to obtain tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.
- Represented Indian tribes and tribal gaming agencies in tribal-state rulemaking efforts.
- Drafted federal and state legislation for the benefit of Indian tribes.
- Drafted and implemented Patron Tort Claims Ordinances.
- Various other issues relating to tribal government, economic development, and land issues in Indian Country.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Advisory Council Member
- Native American Bar Association of Arizona
- Tribal In-house Counsel Association
- Maricopa County Bar Association
- Intertribal Court of Southern California Tribal Bar Association
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA Ranked Lawyer, Native American Law, Arizona (2023-Present) and Nationwide (2023-Present)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Native American Law, 2017-2025
- Super Lawyers Southwest Rising Stars, Native American Law, 2013-2014
- ASU President's Medal for Social Embeddedness, Arizona Native Vote - Election Protection Project, 2009
Thought Leadership
- Quoted, "Harvard Report: Tax Clarity Could Transform Tribal Economies, Boost Clean Energy," Tribal Business News, October 13, 2024
- Panelist, "Legislation Update," National Intertribal Tax Alliance Annual Conference, November 2023
- Speaker, "Tax Talk: Native American Tax Legislation in the 118th Congress," NAFOA Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference, October 2023
- Speaker, "Mobile Gaming App Technology: Implications for Cross-Border Regulatory Jurisdiction Disputes/ Cooperation Between International, US, and Indian Country Regulators," International Masters of Gaming Law Conference, April 2022
- Speaker, "Dual Taxation (State Property Taxes)," National Intertribal Tax Alliance Conference, March 2022
- Panelist, "State of the States in Gaming 2k21: A Legal and Regulatory Overview on the Rapidly Developing Sports Betting and iGaming in the United States," American Bar Association, Business Law Section, August 2021
- Presenter, "Tribal Enterprise Case Law Update," Tribal In-house Counsel Association, Arizona State Bar, February 2020
- Moderator, "Tribal Enterprise Privileges and Immunities: The Slipping Legal Principles," Western Indian Gaming Conference, February 2020
- Presenter, "Sovereign Immunity Litigation Update," 17th Annual Northwest Gaming Law Summit, December 2019
- Presenter, “Tax Related Financing Tools,” NCAI’s Mid-Year Conference Tribes Taking Action, June 2019
- Presenter, “Finance and Capital For Business Development in Indian Country,” Coalition of Large Tribes Quarterly Meeting, March 2019
- Moderator, “Future of TED Bonds and Tax-Exempt Financings,” 24th Annual Western Indian Gaming Conference, February 2019
- Guest Lecturer, “Gaming Industry Regulation,” (GAM437) UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, November 2018
- Guest Lecturer, “Indian Gaming Law,” (LAW631E) U of A James E. Rogers College of Law, April 2018
- Presenter, “Financing in Indian Country,” California Nations Indian Gaming Association’s Western Indian Gaming Conference, February 2018
- Guest Lecturer, “Gaming Industry Regulation,” (GAM437) UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, November 2017
- Guest Lecturer, “Gaming Law,” (Law 622-1001) UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, November 2017
- Presenter, “Bank Secrecy Act,” Commissioner Certification Training, NIGA Seminar Institute-Indian Gaming Law Master Series, September 2017
- Panelist, “The Status of Tribal Gaming,” 17th Annual Saratoga Institute on Equine, Racing and Gaming, August 2017
- Guest Lecturer, “Law of Gaming and Gambling,” (LAW631E) U of A James E. Rogers College of Law, April 2017 and April 2018
- Guest Lecturer, “Indian Gaming Under IGRA,” Gaming Law (Law 622-1001) UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, November 2016
- Guest Lecturer, “History of Indian Gaming,” Gaming Law (Law 622-1001) UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, November 2016
- Presenter, “Geo-Location Issues for Mobile Gaming: Additional Legal Issues for Gaming on Mobile Platforms,” Law Seminars International: Tribal Online Gambling, May 2015
- Presenter, “Resolving Easement and Right-of-Way Issues on Reservation Lands,” Negotiating Contracts on Tribal Lands, National Business Institute, April 2015
- Speaker, “Taxation, Accounting and Audits: State Efforts to Expand Revenues,” Gaming Law Minefield 2015, February 2015
