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Williams Kastner Hosts Tribal Sports and Business Law Seminar Seattle, WA. (May 15, 2009) – Tribal leaders, business executives and aspiring Indian athletes attended Williams Kastner’s inaugural tribal sports law and business seminar, “Indian Country Goes Pro!” The seminar, hosted by the firm’s Tribal Practice Group, focused on the duel emergence of Indian athletes in professional sports and sports markets on Indian reservations, and the resulting need for tribal athletic commissions and franchise and talent agreements. The highlight of the event was the keynote speaker, Tex Hall, Chairman of the InterTribal Economic Alliance, who told the crowd of attendees,”the door has never been opened wide enough for Indian athletes.” Chairman Hall urged the support of Indian athletes nationwide, noting that “Indians can't get to the pros competing in places like Bismarck, North Dakota. Unless our youth have financial backing, they won't make it.” Responding to Chairman Hall’s call, Williams Kastner donated all proceeds from the seminar to the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI), the country’s sole national basketball tournament featuring Indian athletes. The event concluded with a trip to Safeco Field to watch one of the country’s most recognizable professional Indian athletes, Boston Red Sox Centerfielder and Navajo Indian, Jacoby Ellsbury, in action against the Seattle Mariners.
From left to right: Williams Kastner Member Debora Juarez, Gabe Galanda, Inter-Tribal Economic Alliance Chairman Tex Hall, NABI Co-Founder GinaMarie Scarpa, and Gyasi Ross, Port Madison Enterprises, pictured after Williams Kastner's donation to the Native American Basketball
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