Native American Law | USA

Akin has extensive experience handling contentious and noncontentious gaming matters on behalf of Native American tribes. Akin offers expertise in litigation relating to treaty rights, water rights and tribal sovereignty. The team is highly regarded for experience in public policy, finance and tribal energy policy. Akin also assists tribes with healthcare and employment matters, as well as COVID-19 support relating to distribution of funds.

Dentons has an illustrious and well-established Native American practice working exclusively for tribes. The Dentons team enjoys an excellent reputation for gaming work, environmental regulations and fee-to-trust land acquisitions, among other matters. Dentons skillfully advocates on behalf of clients before state legislatures, Congress and government agencies in addition to its strong litigation and regulatory capabilities. Team members have experience working at the DOI, National Indian Gaming Commission and DOJ.

Drummond Woodsum is recognized for its excellent Indian finance and economic development practice. Drummond Woodsum represents Native American businesses as well as tribes in litigation, government affairs and transactional work. The Drummond Woodsum team frequently acts for tribes on the developing, financing and subsequent operation of Indian tribal enterprises, as well as demonstrating great expertise in labor and employment cases. Drummond Woodsum also represents tribes in sovereignty issues and jurisdictional disputes. Throughout the past year the team has also been assisting tribes with federal funding under the CARES Act during the pandemic.

Kanji & Katzen is a highly distinguished and experienced group noted for its representation of Indian nations and tribes. The team advises primarily on sovereignty and governance matters, treaty rights, taxation and jurisdictional issues. It has a strong reputation among peers for appellate litigation at all levels, including up to the Supreme Court. The group is known to be increasingly handling environmental disputes such as contamination and fishing rights as part of its growing emphasis on environmental protection.

Dorsey & Whitney is a versatile full-service firm offering breadth and depth of expertise encompassing finance, employment law, litigation, economic development, taxation and governmental relations, for both tribal and nontribal clients. The firm's areas of expertise include treaty rights, gaming and healthcare. The team also advises Alaska Native corporations on M&A and natural resource management.

Greenberg Traurig caters to Native American tribes as well as corporations, government bodies and nonprofit organizations. The team offers an interdisciplinary practice encompassing tribal economic development, financial transactions, energy and natural resources law, and federal policy matters. The group has experience at all levels of tribal, state and federal court, including the Supreme Court. Greenberg Traurig also offers capabilities in mediation, particularly in disputes involving energy projects affecting tribal land.

Holland & Knight's flourishing Indian law outfit covers a broad range of matters including gaming, government relations and public policy issues. The firm also handles oil and gas transactional work for tribes, as well as aiding clients in navigating federal environmental regulations. The team's clients include tribal governments and Alaska Native corporations and is known for advising tribes on complex tax issues.

Jenner & Block maintains a strong reputation for its capabilities in litigation involving Native American tribes. It represents clients in a range of disputes involving gaming, taxation and tribal sovereignty concerns. The firm has notable experience acting before the federal and state courts and is widely recognized for the strength of its appellate practice. The group boasts a sizable team of former government attorneys.

Robins Kaplan's distinguished team advocates on behalf of tribes in a range of complex litigation. It possesses a wealth of experience representing clients in energy extraction and sovereignty disputes in federal, state and tribal courts. The firm has played a particularly prominent role in opioid litigation brought against manufacturers and distributors. The team also offers capabilities in the area of tribal lending and advises clients on tribal cannabis business operations.

Faegre Drinker provides high-quality advice to tribal and nontribal clients on a range of matters. Faegre Drinker is noted for its market-leading expertise in tribal finance as well as gaming, real estate and the environment. The team assists in drafting tribal codes and constitutional amendments, and regularly represents tribes before federal and state courts.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton's burgeoning litigation, finance and government affairs practice provides representation and counsel to tribal governments, organizations and businesses. The team offers expertise in a range of issues including land rights, labor issues and intellectual property. Kilpatrick also represents tribal clients in matters concerning tribal sovereignty and the protection of natural resources. Many of the team's lawyers have acted in-house for tribes or worked for government agencies dealing with complex tribal issues. The firm has also been assisting tribes with federal funding under the CARES Act during the pandemic.

Lewis Roca has a robust Native American law practice assisting a number of tribes on a broad range of contentious and noncontentious issues. The Lewis Roca team provides extensive guidance on gaming, land use and financing matters.

Van Ness Feldman has a comprehensive Native American law practice noted for its strength in areas such as tribal energy development, natural resources and environmental law. It is well known for its work advising tribal, local and federal governments on environmental preservation and protection of endangered species on Indian land. The firm offers significant capabilities in government affairs, in addition to its transactional and regulatory expertise.

WilmerHale is a prominent firm renowned for counseling tribal governments on complex federal law questions and litigation. The firm also represents tribes in both strategic planning and litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. The team offers expertise in matters such as gaming, trust actions and land claims. WilmerHale represents tribes in policy matters, drawing on its strong relationships with Congress, the DOI, the Indian Gaming Commission and other key policymakers.