The Washington DC-based team at Van Ness Feldman LLP routinely represents tribal governments and businesses with a range of contentious, regulatory, and energy project development mandates. The group is jointly led by Andrew VanderJack, who specializes in the resolution of aboriginal land claims, Indigenous land management, and resource development projects, as well as the defense of Indigenous hunting and fishing rights, and of counsel Laura Jones, who handles economic development mandates, federal regulatory issues, federal-tribal consultation, and civil litigation. Experienced litigator Patrick Daugherty is well-versed in representing tribes and tribally-owned businesses before tribal, state, and federal courts, and has additional expertise advising companies doing business with tribes facing civil and administrative inquiries.
Key clients
- 777 Partners
- Alaska Federation of Natives
- Cherokee Nation
- Doyon, LTD
- Huna Totem Corporation
- Kiowa Nation
- NANA Regional Corporation
- Native American Financial Services Association
- The Osage Nation
- War Medicine
Work highlights
- Represented the Native American Financial Services Association in numerous amicus briefs filed at the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the First, Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Ninth Circuits, and in U.S. District Court litigation in Virginia, Montana, and Kansas.
- Represented the Cherokee Nation in its breach of trust action against the United States seeking an accounting and appropriate restitution from the United States of the Cherokee Nation’s assets held in trust by the United States.
- Assisted NANA Corporation with a range of federal government affairs services including outreach to Congress and to federal agencies on matters relating to mineral resource development, broadband deployment in the Northwest Arctic region, and federal funding related matters.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Andrew VanderJack, Laura Jones