Indian Legal Alert!

Washington State Indian leaders and community members will be rallying in the State Capitol Rotunda in Olympia on January 29, 2007 at 12:00 noon, in support of greater education and awareness about the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, 25 U.S.C.A. 1901, et seq. (ICWA). Starting in July 2007, the Washington State bar exam will include ICWA, meaning every new lawyer will need to understand federal and state Indian child welfare law in order to practice in Washington. Governor Christine Gregoire, Senator Claudia Kauffman (Nez Perce) and Representative John McCoy (Tulalip), among others, will be speaking. WK&G Tribal Practice Team members will be attending the rally in support of our Indian children and urge your attendance too. More information about the rally.

WK&G in the News

WK&G Of Counsel and leader of the Tribal Practice Team, Debora Juarez was profiled in Seattle Magazine as one of three Indian law attorneys among the Seattle’s 155 Top Lawyers. In her featured article she is quoted as saying: “The thing I’m most proud of is mentoring Indian law students. Over 20 years many Indian students have clerked for me or worked an associates for me. It’s been really gratifying to watch them grow up and become excellent lawyers.”

WK&G Senior Associate Gabe Galanda was recently featured in a Washington Law & Politics article, “Tribal Counsel,” regarding lawyers who practice in Washington's tribal courts. He was also quoted by the Los Angeles Times in “ Tribes place bets outside the casino,” an article about tribal international business practice.

WK&G Senior Associate Claire Hur was recently honored as a Rising Star by Washington Law & Politics magazine, for the second time. Her practice focuses on Indian gaming, particularly advocacy before the Washington State Gambling Commission, and general corporate work for tribal governments and businesses.

WK&G welcomes new Associate Julio Carranza, who recently graduated from BYU law school and passed the Washington State bar exam, as the newest member of the Tribal Practice Team. During law school, Julio served as editor-in-chief for the BYU Education and Law Journal. He has already begun practicing in the arenas of gaming litigation and tribal labor and employment.

WK&G Gaming Attorneys Prompt State Rule Change – Seattle Member Dave Wiley, Debora Juarez, Gabe Galanda and Claire Hur represented Bally Technologies in a successful effort to change Washington gaming law, specifically WAC 230-02-205, which now exempts intellectual property providers from licensure by the Washington State Gambling Commission. The rule change was also supported by the Washington Indian Gaming Association.

Recent Articles/Publications

“Are We in Good Hands?” (Three-Part Series), Indian Country Today, by Gabe Galanda and Debora Juarez

Tribal Insurance Procurement Checklist, by Gabe Galanda and Debora Juarez

“Washington Supreme Court Gets it ‘Wright’: Upholds Immunity for Tribal Corporations,” by Gabe Galanda

Upcoming WK&G Events

WK&G Cultural Resource Protection Seminar – Tulalip Tribes’ Quil Ceda Conference Center, near Marysville, WA (April 6, 2007) - You are invited to join a panel of WK&G Tribal Practice Team members for a free informational seminar to help tribal governments protect sacred sites, off-reservation cultural property, Indian graves and other historic properties.

Seminars

ATNI Winter Conference – Holiday Inn Portland Airport Hotel, Portland, OR (February 12-15, 2007) – Sharon Haensly will be speaking about strategies for tribal cultural resource protection on February 13, and Gabe Galanda will be presenting about the significant sovereignty implications of tribal insurance procurement and tort claims handling on February 12.

RES 2007 – Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV (March 12-15, 2007) – WK&G will be co-sponsoring the American Indian Business Achievement Awards Banquet with KeyBank on March 14. Gabe Galanda will be speaking on a program titled “Removing Barriers: Understanding Tribal Sovereignty,” on March 13.

ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting – Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC (March 15-17, 2007) – Gabe Galanda will be chairing three programs, including “Commercial Financing in Indian Country in the Era of Tribal Gaming” and "Federal Morality Enforcement Through Payment Systems Regulation: Redux.”

Notice

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