Native American Uniquely Qualified For Indian Country
To best represent their unique legal needs, Native American tribes and individuals require specialized legal counsel and government relationship services. At Kilpatrick, our Native American Practice Group has earned a national reputation preserving, promoting, and protecting tribal sovereignty. Anchored on both coasts in our Washington, D.C. and Seattle offices, our team is entirely dedicated to empowering tribal governments. Keenly aware of the unique legal status tribal nations enjoy, we build deep, lasting relationships with our tribal clients, while seeking innovative solutions for the complex legal issues facing Indian Country today.
Reach
Well-Connected Advocates
With the resources of a global law firm and the tailored approach of a boutique practice, our attorneys regularly collaborate across multiple practice areas and industries when handling complex, high-profile tribal matters. Our Washington, D.C. office and government relations colleagues provide us with direct access to national policy makers and regulatory agencies to strengthen government-to-government relationships.
Service Areas
- Tribal, State & Federal Trial & Appellate Litigation
- Land Acquisition & Natural Resources Protection
- White Collar & Internal Investigations
- Water Rights
- Finance & Economic Development
- Intellectual Property
- Labor & Employment
- Tax & Tribal Lending
- Trust Enforcement
- Treaty & Statutory-Based Rights
- Tribal Governance & Gaming
Approach
Deeply Invested
Kilpatrick is proud to provide comprehensive legal services and public policy advice and counsel to tribal governments. We serve on many Native American-related associations, councils, and committees; teach and speak nationally on tribal-related topics; and have won a number of prestigious awards — including consecutive tier-one ratings by Chambers USA and U.S. News - Best Lawyers® in Native American Law — for our dedication to the protection of tribal sovereignty. Our commitment to Indian Country means we never represent non-Indian interests against tribes.
Law Firm of the Year
Native American Law
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” (2020)
National
Tier 1
Native American Law
U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” (2023)
Law Firm of the Year
Native American Law
U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” (2020)
Experience
Obtained permanent injunction barring state and local taxes on Indian land held in trust by the federal government against a county tax official.
Protected federally reserved groundwater rights for a California tribe against two state water agencies, delivering a game-changing decision for Indian Country.
Secured a permanent injunction against a natural gas company for trespass and an order to remove a natural gas pipeline across Oklahoma Indian lands in a landmark decision for Indian Country.
Refinanced $310 million comprehensive casino debt, subsequently converting $105 million of the refinanced debt into tax-free debt using TED bonds to set new precedent in Indian Country and winning a NAFOA Deal of the Year Award.
Advanced treaty rights when representing Washington State tribe in ongoing treaty fishing rights litigation (U.S. v. Washington).
Successfully affirmed court rulings for Indian tribes in Indian Child Welfare Act litigation.
Successfully confirmed tribal government jurisdiction over Indian lands and waters and over non-Indian interests for tribes in Washington State and Arizona.
Strengthened tribal governments through successful representation of tribal leaders and key tribal employees in litigation threating tribal sovereign immunity and tribal governance decision making.
Represented tribes in litigation to preempt state and local taxation of Indian lands that will help build strong tribal economies.
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Disclaimer
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DO NOT CONVEY TO US ANY INFORMATION YOU REGARD AS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL A FORMAL CLIENT-ATTORNEY RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
If you do convey information, you recognize that we may review and disclose the information, and you agree that even if you regard the information as highly confidential and even if it is transmitted in a good faith effort to retain us, such a review does not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could be used against you.
