Indian Law

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt's Indian law group comprises a team of attorneys dedicated to serving and protecting the interests of tribal governments, Alaska Native villages, and related business entities. Our team members have extensive experience working with tribes on a wide range of economic development, financial workout, natural and cultural resource protection, environmental regulation and cleanup, and intellectual property matters.

Our Indian law team's philosophy encourages moving beyond the traditional attorney-client relationship, to building collaborative partnerships with each of our tribal clients. We function as trusted advisors, determining cost-effective approaches to each legal issue, taking into account the tribal government's or tribal enterprise's broader goals and objectives. We understand the legal and jurisdictional complexities that are unique to Indian Country, and are committed to assisting tribes in economic development and diversification, environmental protection, protection of sovereignty, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. We identify emerging industries and opportunities for economic growth for tribes, particularly in the area of sustainability, including green building and renewable energy development.

We strive to advance the interests of our tribal clients through negotiation and consensus, rather than conflict, where possible. However, when the need arises, our litigators are able to provide our clients a strategic advantage, having accumulated the depth of experience and insight necessary to understand the most effective and efficient ways to reach successful resolution.

Client Services
Our Indian law attorneys are admitted in state, federal and tribal courts throughout the West, and are uniquely qualified and positioned to assist tribes in every substantive area that SWW offers to its clients, including but not limited to:

• Business enterprises and diversification
• Construction and development
• Contaminated site cleanup
• Copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property matters
• Employment policies and handbooks
• Energy development
• Environmental protection
• Fee-to-trust transactions
• Financial workouts
• Gaming
• Insurance, fidelity, and security
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• NAGPRA enforcement
• Natural resource damage assessment and restoration
• Real estate and land use
• Resource extraction
• Retirement plans and other benefits
• Securities and financial services
• Small Business Administration 8(a) certification and contracting
• Solid waste regulation
• Tax counsel and planning
• Treatment as State qualification
• Tribal code development
• Water, power, and utility needs