Tribal laws and policies in the United States form a distinct legal framework that requires deep understanding and experience. That's why Tribal governments and individual and corporate clients look to our attorneys to represent them in matters ranging from sovereignty issues to gaming licenses. 

Our Indian Law Team includes lawyers and policy professionals with advanced degrees in Native American studies, fluency in Indigenous languages, and good reputations in the Indian community nationwide, ensuring we can effectively advocate for our Tribal client's interests.

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Our Tribal Law and Policy Attorneys

Our Tribal Law and Policy Services

Our Tribal Law and Policy Team includes attorneys and policy professionals experienced in Indian Law and highly familiar with the rules, regulations, and procedures used by Tribal administrative bodies to govern their functions and interactions with tribal members and other entities. Tribal law impacts every aspect of our practice, as we offer a full range of legal services to Indian Tribes, businesses, Tribal agencies, and individual stakeholders nationwide, encompassing:

  • Indian gaming
  • State and federal legislative and administrative issues
  • Licensing matters
  • Business operations
  • Tribal lands, real estate, and project development
  • Intellectual property matters
  • Financial transactions
  • Litigation and dispute resolution

Tribal Administrative Law

In our practice, we deal with Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state agencies that regularly interact with our Tribal clients. Our lawyers interact with the United Senate Indian Affairs Committee, select members of Congress, state legislators in Arizona, California, and Washington, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Areas of Experience

Governance and Sovereignty

  • Jurisdiction and tribal sovereignty
  • Self-determination and Self-governance
  • Tribal governance: codes, regulation, contracting, and compacting

Tribal Lands and Resources

  • Tribal real property law: land into trust, leasing, and rights-of-way
  • Trust land acquisitions
  • Energy and utilities 
  • Environmental law

Economic and Business Affairs

  • Economic development
  • Corporate law
  • Finance
  • Gaming
  • Tax law

Legal Representation and Advocacy

  • Litigation
  • Legislation and lobbying
  • Employment matters
  • General legal advice, i.e., acting as Outside General Counsel

Real Estate And Project Development

Our Indian Law group collaborates with Womble Bond Dickinson's real estate attorneys to assist Tribal clients with real estate and project development matters. We also represent real estate developers in joint ventures with tribal business partners.

Indian Gaming

Our Indian gaming lawyers serve a national clientele and handle a wide variety of matters, including regulation, licensing, compact negotiation, state and federal legislation, real estate and project development, financial transactions, intellectual property, litigation, and business law.

General Business Law

We assist clients in legal matters related to business, including labor and employment, corporate governance, insurance, and finance. We can leverage our experience and resources to help Tribal government and enterprise clients achieve their gaming, business development, and enterprise operation goals.

Intellectual Property

We frequently work with the firm's intellectual property lawyers to help tribal clients protect their trademarks, copyrights, publicity rights, and patents.

Litigation

Our firm's nationwide litigation experience ensures that our Tribal Law and Policy attorneys can handle nearly any litigation matter Tribal clients face. Our extensive experience representing Tribal clients is essential to genuinely understanding the subtle contours of Indian Law and, in turn, producing excellent results for our clients.

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