Manages a firm dedicated to supporting Native American tribes and tribal leadership in areas of Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law, Government Law and Civil Litigation. Possesses more than 23 years’ experience providing general counsel work on tribal government matters, economic development, administrative law, constitutional law, employment law and civil defense. ADMISSIONS: U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits; U.S. District Courts of Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma (Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts); U.S. Court of Federal Claims; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Court; and Navajo Nation Court. REPRESENTATIVE CASES: Osage Minerals Council v. U.S. Department of the Interior, case number 4:15-cv-00367 (N.D. Okla. 2015); Final Disposition in the Matter of U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General Report of Investigation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation ARRA Funds (St. Marks), No. OI-CO-13-0243-I (Apr. 24, 2015); First Bank & Trust Co. v. Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes, No. IN-110909 (Ok. Civ. App. Feb. 23, 2015); St. Marks v. Chippewa Cree Election Board, No. 2013-CV-CV-1645 (Chippewa Cree Ct. App. Nov. 19, 2014); Oklahoma v. Hobia, No. 12-5134, 2014 WL 5822654 (10th Cir. Nov. 10, 2014); Bighorse v. S. Plains Regional Director, 59 IBIA 1 (2014); Miami Business Services, LLC v. Davis, 299 P.3d 477 (Okla. 2013); Brown v. Boswell, No. 5:20-CV-00970-R (W.D. Okla. Nov. 3, 2011); Wandrie-Harjo v. Boswell, No. CIV-11-171-F, 2011 WL 7807743 (W.D. Okla. Aug. 15, 2011); Lynn v. Boswell, No. SC-2010-0014 (Cheyenne & Arapaho S. Ct. June 17, 2011); Gulfstream Worldwide Realty, Inc. v. Philips Electronics N. America Corp., No. CIV-06-1165 JB/DJS, 2007 WL 4707080 (D.N.M. Aug. 14, 2007); John v. Baker, 982 P.2d 738 (Alaska 1999). Disclaimer: Past successes cannot be an assurance of future successes because cases will be judged on their own merits.

Represented tribes in self-governance matters, parliamentary procedure, and employment mattersWorked on transactions and litigation involving Indian gaming related issues, including: tribal-state gaming compacts, taking land into trust, and Indian land determinationsPrepared and reviewed contracts for development of various facilities and infrastructure Prepared and argued briefs, motions, and appeals in federal, state, administrative, and tribal courts on civil mattersSuccessfully defended tribal sovereign immunity from state encroachment in criminal cases where the tribe is subpoenaed in state courtSuccessfully pursued whistleblower status and protection for tribal chairman who reported the mismanagement of federal funds by tribal employees. See: http://www.doi.gov/oig/news/finding-of-whistleblower-retaliation-under-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act.cfm

Developed four casinos, including the Navajo Nation Twin Arrows facility (May 2013), which has 1,890 slot machines, 18 table games, 12 poker games, a 16,000 square foot banquet and conference center, and 200 deluxe rooms and suites Reviewed bids; interviewed and selected developers Reviewed capital improvement repayment obligations, and made policy decisions to restructure debt to allow for a longer term at a lower interest rate to lower the cost of capital and increase cash flowMade policy decisions on distributions that were sound and within the repayment obligationsSelected top management teamReviewed and approved policies related to employment

Worked on zoning and land use, personnel, Inspection of Public Records requests, Open Meetings Act, and prosecution issues.Litigated property, contract, zoning and land use cases.Drafted, edited and reviewed documents including: ordinances, policies, legislative findings, agreements, contracts, and appeals.

Worked with the Navajo Nation Economic Development Committee and advised on the various aspects of the Nation’s twelve (12) economic development enterprises Worked on issues including withdrawing land for economic development purposes; business site leasing, subleasing, assignments, and cancellations; evaluating the enterprises’ plans of operations or charters; and evaluating business opportunities Worked on the Navajo Nation Business Site Leasing Process, which formed the basis of the HEARTH Act, amending 25 U.S.C. § 415 to allow tribes to develop their own leasing regulationsDrafted, edited and reviewed Economic Development Committee and Transportation & Community Development Committee documents including legislation, policies, regulations, and contractsDrafted and negotiated a national regulation on business site leasingAssisted committees to carry out their oversight of their divisionsRepresented the Nation before local, state and federal bodiesConducted public hearings

Led effort to comprehensively reform government, including: conducting hearings and translating results into legislative format; drafting national policies to transfer funds to the local governments; conducting radio presentations and trainings; drafting informational materials on governance matters; and giving oral and written presentations and advice to committees, departments, and local governmentsDrafted legislation including the Navajo Nation Sales Tax Trust Fund Plan of Operation for Distributing Funds, Local Governance Trust Fund, and amendments to the Local Governance ActDrafted many of the policies still in use today including the Public Employment Project (“PEP”) Policies and Procedures for Chapter Expenditures, and the Housing Discretionary Fund Policies and Procedures Worked on capital improvement and transportation planning for infrastructure nationally and at the chapter level

Researched and drafted legal memoranda on cases involving aboriginal fishing rights, constitutional rights of Alaska Native individuals and tribes, and tribal authority over its own membersLobbied a federal agency on subsistence issuesAdvised various tribes and individuals in oral and written form on issues of sovereignty and subsistence rights