Kerry Patterson

Practice Areas

Kerry Patterson focuses on gaming, commercial transactions, leasing, finance and economic development in Indian country, and has developed gaming projects and negotiated tribal-state gaming compacts in several jurisdictions. She leads lease negotiations and resolves environmental conflicts, and has extensive experience engaging with state and federal governments on behalf of clients, whose interests include gaming ordinances, financings, development and management agreements, land into trust and Indian lands determinations. Kerry is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, and leads Procopio’s Native American Law practice.

Professional Memberships

Founding Member and Current Board Member of the Native American Bar Association of Arizona

Gaming Law Journal, Editorial Board Advisory Committee, William J. Boyd School of Law

Federal Bar Association Phoenix Chapter, Board Member

Indian Law and Real Estate Section State Bar of Arizona, Member

Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Community, Administrative Law Judge

Work Highlights

Refinanced multi-million dollar loans for tribal entity client, including providing guidance regarding Indian gaming law, tribal corporate governance law, and sovereign immunity and jurisdictional issues.

Directed multimillion dollar real estate and gaming projects involving Native American land and dealing proactively with the state and federal agencies including the Department on Interior and National Indian Gaming Commission.

Negotiated complex real estate deal for the Navajo Nation to build the Twin Arrows Casino, a $120 million gaming facility, golf course and resort on 405 acres 20 miles east of Flagstaff.

Developed and financed a $458 million gaming project in Southern California.

Represented tribal non-profit organization in acquiring and developing 200+ acres for a museum and other projects in New Mexico.

Represented California tribe in negotiations with state and federal agencies to obtain improved access to the tribe’s reservation.

Assisted Arizona tribe in obtaining an Indian Lands determination for development of a large-scale casino/hotel project.

Advised hotel developer regarding lease and loan documentation for a hotel project located on a reservation in Arizona.

Facilitated economic development and provide financing advice in Indian Country by assisting developers and lenders in understanding federal and tribal laws related to Indian lands.

Education

Awards