American Indian Policy & Regulation

Washington politics is involved in nearly every decision made or action taken by tribal organizations. Our American Indian law & policy lawyers have at their disposal extensive political know-how and resources from one of the largest, most diverse and bipartisan lobbying & public policy practices in the world.

Based in Washington, D.C., the group comprises lawyers and advisors, including former members of Congress and others who have held senior positions in the federal government, who possess personal insight into, and experience with, how decisions in Washington are made and implemented. We regularly engage officials and staff from the White House, Congress and all relevant federal agencies to advance the specific goals of our clients.

Our lawyers and advisors are highly experienced and respected in their field and appreciate the subtleties of tribal sovereignty and American Indian culture. Operating in a bipartisan fashion, we assist clients in understanding and working with the rhythms, personalities and idiosyncrasies of the federal government. The firm is engaged on behalf of tribal interests in the major issues developing in Washington that affect Indian Country.

Representative Matters

Successfully lobbied Congress to appropriate funds for the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act section 105(l) lease program and developed an innovative solution that allowed the Department of the Interior (DOI) to resolve a significant backlog in federally funded schools on Native American reservations.
Played a significant role in obtaining passage of the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act, P.L. 113-168, which clarified that general welfare programs offered by tribal governments to their citizens are exempt from federal taxation.
Assisted in the passage of the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership (HEARTH) Act of 2011, which established a process by which American Indian tribes can approve their own surface land leases without having to wait for the DOI to approve each lease.
Played a key role in the negotiation, implementation and congressional approval of two of the largest settlements of Indian water rights claims in U.S. history—unlike most Indian water settlements, the bill authorizing this settlement immediately provided funding to the tribe.
Negotiating a P.L. 93-638 contract for over $100 million with the DOI Bureau of Reclamation to implement a construction project on a tribe’s irrigation project in connection with the successful passage of a water settlement.
Successfully advocated for a negative decision from the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) in efforts to fight against another tribe developing a casino in the aboriginal territory of our tribal client; developed legislation—recently introduced in Congress—preventing the development of the casino.
Successfully advocated for appropriations and federal funding for tribal clients on housing and health care matters and against funding cuts to their tribal programs.