Experience

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
• Government Administration
• 200 - 300 Employee
• Attorney

  • Nov 2021 - Present

United States Attorneys'​ Offices
• United States
• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee
• Assistant US Attorney

  • Jan 2021 - Dec 2021


Montana State Attorney General's Office

• Deputy Attorney General

  • Nov 2013 - Jan 2021

  Handling all Native American and Indian law related matters at the Attorney General's Office. Handling all Native American and Indian law related matters at the Attorney General's Office.



National Indian Gaming Commission

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Attorney

  • May 2009 - Oct 2013

  Federal government agency responsible for regulating Indian gaming pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) – headquartered in Washington DC; Advise region staff on enforcement and regulatory compliance issues. • Provide training and technical assistance to Indian tribes engaged in gaming. • Review and make recommendations regarding the approval of gaming ordinances and management contracts as required by IGRA. • Draft Agency regulations, policies, and other guidance. • Represent the Chair and the Commission in administrative proceedings and appeals of enforcement actions. • Work with Department of Justice attorneys to defend the Agency in litigation.



Karshmer & Associates

• Senior Associate Attorney

  • Mar 2003 - Apr 2009

  Provide general legal services and serve as general counsel for small and large California tribes, both gaming and non-gaming, on a wide range of issues from multi-million dollar bond financing to tribal-state gaming compacts, and development of tribal ordinances and regulations to strengthen tribal government. • General representation of the California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc. and its 17 member tribes and tribal clinics on Indian health matters, including drafting language for the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, IHS regulations, and tribal epi-centers. • General legal counsel for the Utah Navajo Health Systems, Inc. and Tuba City Regional Health Center, Inc. on all matters relating to incorporation as tribal non-profit entity as well as a tribal organization under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, healthcare compliance, and federal contracts for health services from IHS, Medicare (CMS), and various State Medicaid agencies. • Indian Child Welfare Specialist including experience with Title IV-E and transfer of ICWA cases to tribal court. • Assisted tribal clients in successfully thwarting the energy industry’s attempt to take away a tribe’s right to negotiate for rights-of-way across tribal lands (Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005). • General representation of D-Q University, a tribally-controlled community college, including federal educational land grants and accreditation issues. • Negotiated several 638 contracts on behalf of tribes and tribal organizations seeking to directly administer and provide IHS and BIA services and programs.



McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth

• United States
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Associate Attorney

  • Oct 2001 - Mar 2003

  Drafted legal opinions on insurance coverage issues including insurance provided to tribes and tribal organizations. • General litigation experience in defense of insurance companies & their insureds. • Drafted 9th Circuit appellate briefs regarding jurisdictional and federal pre-emption issues. Drafted legal opinions on insurance coverage issues including insurance provided to tribes and tribal organizations. • General litigation experience in defense of insurance companies & their insureds. • Drafted 9th Circuit appellate briefs regarding jurisdictional and federal pre-emption issues.