Galanda Broadman Named Washington State Gaming Law Firm of the Year

Corporate INTL has named Galanda Broadman the Gaming Law Firm of the Year in Washington, for the second consecutive year. The awards commemorate those lawyers who have been successful over the past 12 months and who have shown excellence not only in expertise but in service.

For all of Corporate INTL's awards, they undertake detailed research via Corporate INTL's independent research and editorial teams. Corporate INTL then creates a shortlist of up to 5 potential winners in each category. The shortlisted firms are then reviewed by an independent awards panel in each country with the eventual winners chosen by that independent panel.

Galanda Broadman is an American Indian owned firm dedicated to advancing tribal legal rights and Indian business interests. The firm handles various Indian gaming transactional, regulatory and litigation matters.

Gabe Galanda Stumps Against Interior's Land Buy Back; Serves as Professor in Residence

This week, Gabe Galanda visited the University of Arizona College of Law in Tucson for a speech at the 2nd Annual Tribal Lands Conference, and a Professorship in Residence at the Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program. Gabe's speech at the Conference, which was themed "The Cobell Settlement Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations," was titled: "The Perils of Indian Law Buy Back." He explained that "while Interior’s plan disclaims any facilitation of forced sales under 25 U.S.C. 2204(a), the $1.55 Billion in 'buy back' monies will catalyze controversial intra-tribal forced sales."

Gabe further explained how any such forced sale could violate various federal laws, including the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the United States' trust fiduciary duty at common law, as well as international human rights law, including Articles 1 and 10 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Article 11 of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. His slides are available here, and his prior published commentaries are here.

During his Professorship in Residence, Gabe engaged indigenous law students during a program moderated by Dean Marc Miller, in the development series called "A Conversation With...," which features prominent law school alumni. He also delivered a lecture to Professor Ray Austin's class titled, "Tribal Economic Development: Looking Through the Prism of Indian Taxation & Sovereign Immunity."

In his lecture, Gabe explained very recent developments in federal Indian law regarding the powers of tribal taxation, sovereign immunity and territorial authority. His slides are available here.

Gabriel “Gabe” Galanda is the Managing Partner of Galanda Broadman PLLC, of Seattle, an American Indian owned law firm. He is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, California. Gabe can be reached at 206.300.7801 or gabe@galandabroadman.com.

Tribal Disenrollment Defense Lawyers

We are proud to represent the Nooksack 306 and the Grand Ronde descendants of Chief Tumulth, as well as other American Indian citizens facing disenrollment. We do not prosecute disenrollment actions; we defend against them. Our sworn duty is to ensure that fundamental human rights and guaranteed civil rights are honored during any disenrollment actions. Too frequently, they are not.

Our work on behalf of the Nooksack 306 is featured here on Turtle Talk, and our work for the Chief Tumulth descendants can be found here.

Galanda Broadman is an American Indian owned firm dedicated to advancing tribal legal rights and Indian business interests. The firm represents tribal governments, businesses and members in critical litigation, business and regulatory matters, especially in the areas of Indian Treaty rights, tribal sovereignty, taxation, commerce, personal injury, and human/civil rights.

There is no more critical a legal situation to an American Indian than a disenrollment action. Legal counsel is almost certainly required. If you facing disenrollment, call the firm's Managing Partner Gabe Galanda to see if we can help.

Gabe Galanda Publishes on Legal History of Washington Tribal-State Relations

Gabe Galanda has published an article, "Galanda Washington Tribal-State Relations Bar Bulletin," in this month's King County Bar Bulletin, which is themed, "polarity." Dedicating the piece "to those Washington Indians who fought the fish wars and to the tribal lawyers who won the Boldt Decision," he recaps modern Indian legal history in Washington and concludes with criticism that the Washington Supreme Court's three most recent Indian law decisions are regressive.

Polarity accurately describes the historic legal relationship between the State of Washington and those Tribal Governments indigenous to our state. Tribal sovereignty, i.e., “the right of reservation Indians to make their own laws and be ruled by them,” has always been antipodal to state sovereignty as a matter of Anglo-American jurisprudence. So much so, that by the late 1800s nascent states were deemed the Tribes’ “deadliest enemies” by none other than the U.S. Supreme Court. And over the ensuing century, tribal and state governments waged a zero-sum battle over who would regulate Indian Country.

But today, in what is the era of Indian self-determination as a matter of both federal policy and tribal behavior, tribal/state opposition is waning. As noted by leading Indian law scholar, Professor Matthew T. Fletcher:

States and tribes are beginning to smooth over the rough edges of federal Indian law — jurisdictional confusion, historical animosity between states and Indian tribes, competition between sovereigns for tax revenue, economic development opportunities, and regulatory authority — through cooperative agreements. In effect, a new political relationship is springing up all over the nation between states, local units of government, and Indian tribes.

Washington tribal/state relations and the new political relationship between our state’s sovereigns are indeed evolving. Still, based on the Washington Supreme Court’s three most recent three Indian law decisions, more progress is required to achieve tribal/state congruity throughout official state policy. In particular, the increasingly cooperative relationship between the Tribes and State must be better appreciated when the Court next evaluates regulatory power or adjudicatory jurisdiction in Washington Indian Country.

Gabriel "Gabe" Galanda is a partner at Galanda Broadman PLLC, of Seattle, an American Indian owned law firm. He is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, California. Gabe can be reached at 206.300.7801 or gabe@galandabroadman.com.

Galanda Broadman Adds Two More Tribal Lawyers

Galanda Broadman has deepened its bench by adding two lawyers experienced in advancing the interests of powerful tribal governments. Scott Wheat, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation and the current general counsel for the Spokane Tribe of Indians, joins the firm as Of Counsel.

Joe Sexton also joins the firm as Of Counsel after serving as an associate in-house counsel for the Yakama Nation.

“We’re thrilled to add Scott and Joe to our squad,” said Gabe Galanda, the firm’s managing partner.  “Not only are both of these guys excellent tribal lawyers, but they have the high ethics and character necessary to do first-rate legal work in Indian Country.”

Scott has worked for tribal governments for over a decade.  He has extensive litigation experience in tribal, state and federal courts, having litigated controversies involving gaming, taxation, Treaty fishing rights, natural resource protection, land use, federal recognition, and ancient land claims.

Joe practice focuses on complex land and environmental issues, multi-party litigation involving tribal sovereignty issues, torts and contract disputes.  At Yakama, he assisted with fish habitat restoration work, the protection of archaeological and cultural resources, and the establishment of a tribal motor vehicle licensing program.  Joe served in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2003.

Scott is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law (magna cum laude), and The Evergreen State College.  Joe graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law, and The Citadel.

Galanda Broadman was recently named to the 2014 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms,” in the arena of Native American Law.  The firm, which styles itself  “An Indian Country Law Firm,” is dedicated to advancing tribal legal rights and Indian business interests.  With offices in Seattle, Washington and Bend, Oregon, the firm represents tribal governments, businesses and members in critical litigation, business and regulatory matters, especially in matters of Indian Treaty rights, tribal sovereignty and taxation.

Round Valley Lawyer Gabe Galanda Named Indian Country "Visionary"

Richard Walker of the Indian Country Today Media Network published an article titled, "5 Visionaries Who See a Brighter Future for Indian Country," naming Gabe Galanda as one of "five people are rocking the world with their forward thinking, innovation and commitment to social justice."

3. Gabe Galanda, Round Valley Indian Tribes: Paving the Red Road to Recovery for Inmates

The efforts of this Seattle-based lawyer are helping Native Americans in prison to walk the red road to recovery. Galanda formed the nonprofit organization Huy (pronounced “Hoyt”) essentially meaning “I’ll see you later.” (Coast Salish people do not have a word for “goodbye.”) In Washington state, Huy won changes in policies that blocked Native American inmates’ access to traditional religious practices and sacred items.

Huy is lobbying for similar changes nationwide. The organization asked the U.N. Human Rights Committee for an inquiry into restrictions upon Native inmates’ religious freedoms, and appeared as a friend of the court in support of those freedoms. Galanda argues that restricting such freedoms violates federal, state and international law. For some Native inmates, walking the red road while behind bars is the only road to rehabilitation and survival.

“Today’s powwow, everything that we do is to give back, to show our kids and our families that we’re going to work on getting back to those ways, getting back to spirituality and things that matter,” inmate Seymour Ruben told the Cheney Free Press during an August 1 powwow at Airway Heights Corrections Center.

Gabriel "Gabe" Galanda is a partner at Galanda Broadman PLLC, of Seattle, an American Indian owned law firm.  He is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, California.  Gabe can be reached at 206.300.7801 or gabe@galandabroadman.com.

Galanda Broadman Named Washington Gaming Law Firm Of The Year

Galanda Broadman has been named "Boutique - Gaming Law Firm of the Year in Washington" by Global Law Experts. The award follows several recent honors for Galanda Broadman and its lawyers. Galanda Broadman recently received a prestigious Tier 1 ranking in the 2013 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms,” in the arena of Native American Law.

Gabe Galanda was also just named to The Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of both Gaming Law and Native American Law, for the eighth straight year. He was named a “Difference Maker” by the American Bar Association in November as well. Also, Gabe and Anthony Broadman, as well as firm associate, Ryan Dreveskracht were each honored by Super Lawyers magazine for 2013; Gabe as a Washington "Super Lawyer" and Anthony and Ryan as "Rising Stars."

In December 2012, Lawyers of Color listed the firm in its Big Book of the Best Boutiques, an exclusive, national listing of the top minority law firms in each state. In January 2013, Seattle Business Magazine honored Gabe as one of “the Puget Sound Region’s Best Lawyers for 2013,” in both the arenas of Native American Law and Gaming Law. Last year Corporate INTL magazine named Galanda Broadman as the Boutique winner of the 2013 Corporate Intl Magazine Legal Award for "Gaming Law Firm of the Year in Washington."

Galanda Broadman, “An Indian Country Law Firm,” is dedicated to advancing tribal legal rights and Indian business interests.  The firm, with offices in Seattle, Washington and Bend, Oregon, represents tribal governments, businesses and members in critical litigation, business and regulatory matters, especially in matters of Indian Treaty rights, tribal sovereignty and taxation.

Gabe is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of California. He currently sits on the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) Board of Directors, chairing the group’s “Include Indian Law on State Bar Exams” Initiative, and co-chairing its “Increase Natives and Tribal Court Judges in the Judiciary” Initiative. Gabe is a past President of the Northwest Indian Bar Association and past Chair of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Indian Law Section.

Anthony is the immediate past Chair of the WSBA Administrative Law Section, and author of “Administrative Law in Washington Indian Country.”  In September 2012, Anthony was specially honored for his outstanding service as Chair of the Administrative Law Section.  He is a former Trustee of the WSBA Indian Law Section, and also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Section’s Indian Law Newsletter.

Prior to joining Galanda Broadman, Ryan was a law clerk to the Honorable Kathleen Kay, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Ryan has published ten journal and law review articles in 2011-12 alone, on issues like tribal renewable energy, and has served as the Managing Editor for the National Lawyer’s Guild Review since 2010.

Gabe Galanda Named Arizona IPLP Alumni Association Chair

Gabe Galanda has been named the inaugural Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program (IPLP)'s Alumni Association. The Association will be launched at the University of Arizona College of Law's Homecoming Celebration on November 9, 2013.

Arizona Law has long been renowned for its expertise in Indigenous Peoples law. Over the last decade, the IPLP Program has built upon that foundation, and Arizona Law is now the only school offering all three law degrees (JD, LLM, and SJD) with a concentration in Indigenous Peoples law. Together, these programs provide the world's most advanced training in the field. The program's reputation and the work of IPLP faculty, staff, alumni and students reach around the globe and make a difference in the lives of Indigenous Peoples in the United States and across the world.

Gabriel "Gabe" Galanda is a partner at Galanda Broadman PLLC, of Seattle, an American Indian owned law firm.  He is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, California.  Gabe can be reached at 206.691.3631 or gabe@galandabroadman.com.

Indian Lawyer Gabe Galanda Again Named Among America's Best Lawyers

Gabriel “Gabe” Galanda has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice areas of Gaming Law and Native American Law, for the eighth consecutive year. Gabe, an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, owns Galanda Broadman, PLLC, a boutique Seattle law firm that he co-founded in 2010. He has now been selected to The Best Lawyers in America® from 2007 to 2014.

Gabe’s practice focuses on complex, multi-party litigation and crisis management, representing tribal governments and businesses. He is skilled at defending tribes and Indian-owned enterprises from legal attacks by local, state and federal governments, and representing plaintiffs and defendants in catastrophic personal injury lawsuits. Gabe also mediates and arbitrates disputes between tribal and non-tribal parties, including personal injury matters and conflicts between tribal and local, state or federal governments, as well as tribal intramural disputes.

Best Lawyers is regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. 

Gabe’s selection to Best Lawyers was based on a peer-review survey, which all told comprises more than 4.9 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys throughout the country.

Galanda Broadman is a majority Indian-owned law firm that represents tribal governments, businesses and members in critical litigation, business and regulatory matters. For additional information about Gabe or Galanda Broadman, visit galandabroadman.com.

Rising Indian Legal Star Ryan Dreveskracht Honored By Hometown Newspaper

Longview, Washington's The Daily News has honored Ryan Dreveskracht by publishing the news of his honoring as a Rising Star. Ryan received that accolade last month from SuperLawyers, a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Ryan is a Galanda Broadman associate. Prior to joining the firm he was a law clerk to the Honorable Kathleen Kay, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Ryan has published ten journal and law review articles in 2011-12 alone, on issues like tribal renewable energy, and has served as the Managing Editor for the National Lawyer’s Guild Review since 2010.

Ryan Dreveskracht is an Associate at Galanda Broadman, PLLC.  His practice focuses on representing businesses and tribal governments in public affairs, energy, gaming, taxation, and general economic development.  He can be reached at 206.909.3842 or ryan @galandabroadman.com.