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 Spencer, Quanah M.
Practice Areas: Law, Legislative & Government Affairs Quanah Spencer is Of Counsel in the Seattle office. His practice is focused on public policy in both the local and national arenas. Prior to joining Williams Kastner, Mr. Spencer, an enrolled Yakama tribal member, worked as a public policy lawyer for the Yakama Nation, Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the National Congress of American Indians. While employed with the National Congress of American Indians, Mr. Spencer successfully represented the organization’s constituent tribal governments on a vast array of legal and policy issues including: trust reform, legislative settlement of the Cobell litigation, homeland security, law enforcement, natural resources, gaming and other issues. He successfully provided strategic advice and counsel to tribal governments on the Energy Policy Act of 2005, including policy papers submitted to Congress that supported tribal sovereignty in approving tribal consent to rights of way. Mr. Spencer successfully assisted the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana in securing—the second granted in this country—self governance annual funding agreement in the United States to manage and operate the National Bison Range, located within the tribes’ home reservation. In addition, Mr. Spencer provided support and coordination for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s relationship with United States Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. Mr. Spencer assisted the Secretary and Interior Department legal counsel by advising on Native American issues in preparation for Mr. Kempthorne’s appointment. Mr. Spencer has represented tribal clients before congressional committees considering proposed legislation that would have settled the Cobell litigation, the McCain-sponsored gaming legislation in the 109th Congress, and other matters of significance. Mr. Spencer has also provided advice and representation to tribes at the state legislative level in Washington and Idaho. He successfully lobbied and received a favorable result for tribes in the Idaho state legislature when Idaho considered restricting gaming on Indian lands. Additionally, Mr. Spencer was able to build a coalition of tribal and petroleum industry representatives in order to defeat tax legislation that would have raised taxes in Idaho and, more specifically, would have subjected tribal wholesalers to the imposition of state tax authority. Mr. Spencer is fully accomplished and experienced in supporting tribal appropriation requests and leads efforts to maximize congressional support for these requests. He is also experienced in negotiating federal budget issues and accessing federal agencies to secure funding for housing, education, agriculture, environmental remediation, financing energy projects, law enforcement, construction of jail facilities, health care and other issues. Mr. Spencer has represented tribal governments and businesses in regulatory matters, taxation, land into trust, gaming, self determination, and self governance. He has also worked proactively with tribal corporations and small businesses to secure government contracts under the Small Business Administration's Native 8(a) contracting program. Mr. Spencer has substantial experience providing advice to tribal corporations and small businesses to ensure that they fully leverage business opportunities. University of Colorado School of Law, J.D., 2003 Washington State Memberships: Washington State Bar Association Northwest Indian Bar Association United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Media Coverage: "Washington Tribes Investing In New Ways," Puget Sound Business Journal, May 21, 2010. "Higher Aspirations for Higher Learning Among Yakamas," Yakima Herald-Republic, January 30, 2010. "Law Firm Aids Tribal Entrepreneurs," Indian Country Today, December 8, 2009. "Stimulus Grants for Tribes Are Also Stimulating Legal Work," Puget Sound Business Journal, August 28, 2009. Seminars and Presentations: “There’s No Business Like Show Business: Film, TV & Music,” Reservation Economic Summit 2010, Las Vegas, NV, February 23, 2010. "Legislative Update Regarding Tribal Justice & Law Enforcement Issues," Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Winter Conference, Grand Mound, WA, February 11, 2010. Co-Presenter, "National & Northwest Gaming Legislation Update," 7th Annual Northwest Gaming Law Summit, Seattle, WA, January 7, 2010. Speaker, North Idaho Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, Worley, ID, November 13, 2009. Panelist, "Native to Native (N2N) Business Today," National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development INPRO Conference, Tulsa, OK, September 17, 2009. "Tribal Lobbying and Advocacy," Picture This!, Williams Kastner, Seattle, WA, September 15, 2009. Panelist, "Re-Establishing Inter-Tribal Trade Ties," Nez Perce Economic Summit, Lewiston, ID, September 10, 2009. Co-Presenter, "Federal Appropriations Process: How Congress Can Aid Tribal Economic Development Efforts," 5th Annual Emerging Northwest Tribal Economies, Tulalip, WA, August 13, 2009. |
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