Representing clients in all aspects of law affecting Native Peoples

At Luebben Johnson & Barnhouse, we respect and understand the unique traditional values of Indian tribes. Our attorneys have 115 years of combined service and dedication in the practice of Indian Law, with expertise across a spectrum of legal needs. We walk hand-in-hand with our clients through the challenges of native sovereignty in the modern world. Our legal knowledge and guidance has been forged and tempered by our firm history representing indigenous peoples throughout North America. Because the firm has a wealth of experience serving tribes both as general and special counsel, it has developed a particular expertise in coordinating efforts among various tribal, legal and technical representatives.

In its years of service as general and special counsel for many Indian tribes, the firm has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with the problems and issues confronting governmental bodies of tribes and tribal entities. We also have spent extensive time in federal, tribal and state courts and court systems. We are actively involved in lobbying, conducting litigation, coordinating and overseeing the work of outside counsel, and handling communications and relations with other governmental bodies and associations

With the development and operation of casinos comes the requirement to address and answer the diverse needs and challenges of this business. We have assembled a legal team with the expertise to prepare gaming ordinances and procedures and tribal gaming commission policies. The firm's attorneys are quite familiar with Indian gaming issues, gaming agreements, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the roles of tribal gaming commissions and the National Indian Gaming Commission, and taking land into trust for gaming purposes.

Native peoples have lived by tribal law prior to the arrival of other peoples to their shores. Our attorneys have the experience to assist in the design of modern tribal law to enfold traditional culture along with the influence of modern society. Each of the firm's senior and associate attorneys is well-versed in drafting tribal constitutions, statutes, ordinances, resolutions and regulations.

The firm has substantial experience enforcing the federal government's trust responsibility. Throughout our history, we have brought claims on behalf of Indian tribes against the United States to secure compensation for and correct the mismanagement of tribal trust funds. On behalf of our clients, we have litigated trust actions before the Court of Federal Claims, every level of the federal court system, and administratively with the Department of the Interior.

All of the firm's attorneys have substantial administrative experience representing tribal clients in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Office of the Solicitor, as well as in the Environmental Protection Agency, United States Forest Service, the Small Business Administration and other federal executive agencies. We also represent clients before Congress, the state legislatures, city councils, country commissions, planning agencies and state water offices.