• Provide legal services and consulting to Tribes and businesses doing business in Indian Country, particularly businesses new to Indian Country, with 16 years of experience in Federal Indian Law and Tribal Law
• Focus in estate planning; business development and support, including contract review, negotiation and drafting, employment matters and collections; real estate and elder law; some family law
• Practice in state and tribal courts

Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Band of Mohican Indians, Bowler, Wisconsin

In-house Counsel, Lead Tribal Attorney, Director Stockbridge-Munsee Legal Department

October 1992 -June 2007 

• Established Stockbridge-Munsee Legal Department and developed process for delivery of legal services to Tribal Council, programs, businesses, boards and committees; including a contract review system with model contracts and model language for outside contracts to properly and consistently address issues of sovereignty, jurisdiction and enforcement
  
• Managed the Tribes original compliance with Indian Gaming Regulatory Act through drafting of laws, regulations and policies; creation of regulatory infrastructure including Gaming Commission and Compliance Office; training for gaming staff. Also managed implementation of original Tribal State Gaming Compact; led tribal negotiations for first Compact renewal and oversaw negotiations of second renewal
  
• Worked on amendments to Tribes IRA Constitution, providing advice and counsel to Tribes Constitutional Revision Committee, including explanations on secretarial election process; assisted in development of Tribes court system
  
• Worked with federal, state and county departments, agencies and individuals on behalf of the Tribe in an array of issues including Indian Child Welfare; housing; health; land to trust matters; cultural and historic preservation; sacred sites; land claims; boundary challenges. State and local government work included the State of Wisconsin where the Tribe is currently located and New York, the Tribes original homeland
  
• Handled cases in Tribal Court on behalf of the Tribe, including land lord tenant, collections, foreclosures, membership matters and also prosecuted code violations during the last four years of my tribal tenure
  
• Provided presentations on “Doing Business in Indian Country" to various entities, including the State Bar of Wisconsin and a gaming conference in Sullivan County, New York; presentation on “Stockbridge-Munsee: Different Types of Land Holdings" for the Land Tenure Department at the University of Wisconsin in Madison; and numerous internal presentations to departments, boards and committees regarding the relevant laws and policies governing their particular situation
  
• Provided advice and counsel to the Tribal Council, including written opinions regarding tribal law and policy; speech writing; written testimony for hearings on federal and state legislation or other matters; press releases and briefing documents on issues of concern for the Tribe
  
• Managed and coordinated outside legal counsel for the Tribe