NATIVE LAW GROUP

OUR MISSION

Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP is a majority native-owned law firm. As tribal advocates, there could be no greater honor or privilege than having the opportunity to directly serve tribes in promoting economic development, addressing pressing infrastructure issues, protecting tribal water rights, and advancing the sovereignty and jurisdiction of tribal nations.

Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP is dedicated to the representation of American Indian tribes, tribal entities, and individual Indians across the United States. Our mission is to provide superior legal services specifically tailored to meet the needs of our clients — while also honoring the sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and self-governance of those clients. 

OUR WORK

We serve as General Counsel and Special Counsel to Indian tribal governments and their enterprises to implement their laws, regulations, policies and priorities for their tribes and members. We work as true partners with every level of tribal governments and their staff to effectuate a plan for the delivery of legal services that is appropriate to meet the challenges and demands of the client.

We also work to prevent attacks on tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction, and ensure that the Federal government upholds its treaty and trust responsibilities to Indian tribes. We resolve issues on the local level, in collaboration with national tribal organizations and through advocacy with law makers in Washington, D.C.

NEWS & INSIGHTS

EPA Proposes Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations

On May 5, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Proposed Rule to establish baseline federal water quality standards for Indian...

GAO Report on Management of Indian Trust Accounts

On April 27, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled “Actions Needed to Improve Interior’s Management of Trust...

UNLOCKED Act Provides 99-Year Leasing Authority

As a part of permitting reforms in Congress, on April 26, 2023, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Brian...

States Pass Bills in Support of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978

While the United States Supreme Court considers whether to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the Haaland v. Brackeen case, a number of...

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