United Tribes ) Michigan - Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

INDIAN NATIONS
Overview
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. is a general practice business law firm of approximately 190 attorneys with offices in
Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, Green Bay and Appleton, WI; and Washington, DC. The mission of the firm's
Indian Nations Law Team is to support tribal governments and their attorneys in protecting tribal sovereignty,
enhancing tribal self-government and promoting the welfare of tribal members. The firm supports organizations
dedicated to improving the quality of life in Indian country and avoids asserting legal positions that might diminish
tribal sovereignty.
The Indian Nations Law Team provides a full range of legal services to Indian nations, tribal housing authorities,
tribal corporations and other Indian country entities, with a focus on (1) business and economic development, (2)
energy and environmental protection, and (3) housing development. Tribal practice areas include:
• Business and Economic Development, including advice to tribes and tribal enterprises relating to legal
infrastructure (corporate and LLC codes, commercial codes, corporate articles and bylaws, etc.), evaluation of
business opportunities (business plans, due diligence investigations, negotiation of acquisitions, etc.)
formation of tribal development corporations, and establishment of Community Development Financial
Institutions (CDFIs) and other programs for housing and small business loans to members, and state and
federal government contracting under 8(a) status
• Housing, especially development of new housing for rental or ownership by tribal members, leveraging of
NAHASDA block grants with private and public finance sources, establishment of programs to encourage
home ownership and development of tribal realty codes, and land records codes and other laws to support
home ownership on tribal trust lands
• Environmental Law, including assistance in connection with development of tribal codes and ordinances to
protect tribal natural resources, applications for treatment as state status under the Clean Water Act and Clean
Air Act, Clean Air Act Class I status, and preparation of environmental assessments and environmental
impact statements
• Energy Law, including for-profit energy generation opportunities, green energy development (wind, forest
waste, landfill methane, etc.), financing, structuring joint ventures and other development entities,
maximizing opportunities under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act
• Finance, including assistance in connection with conventional bank financing and taxable and tax-exempt
bonds issued under the Indian Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act of 1982 for government facilities; health
clinics; land acquisition; water, sewer, and other infrastructure; gaming facilities; and other government,
public and economic improvements
• Inter-Governmental Affairs, including advice in connection with state and federal legislative process; federal
and state administrative agencies; and federal and state campaign finance, ethics, election and lobbying laws
• Intra-Governmental Affairs, including advice on separation of powers; government structure; administrative
organization and assistance in development of tribal laws that advance self-determination; improve stability
and enhance sovereignty and confidential internal audits
• Health Law, including advice to tribal clinics on operations, professional contracting, risk management and
issues arising under the Self-Determination and Indian Health Care Improvement Acts
• Taxation, including advice with respect to applicability of, and compliance with, federal and state tax laws;
advice on structuring ventures as tribal enterprises as well as structuring ventures with non-tribal entities to
take advantage of favorable tax treatment for Indian country enterprises; and representation in disputes with
state taxation authorities and advice relating to the structuring of tribal benefit programs under the 'general
welfare doctrine' to avoid adverse tax consequences