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

Arizona State Court Refuses to Expand Holding in Strate v. A-1 Contractors

On October 5, 2023, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a decision upholding tribal jurisdiction and refusing to expand U.S. Supreme Court’s holding...

Senators Introduce Indian Buffalo Management Act

On September 22, 2023, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), introduced S. 2908, the Indian Buffalo Management Act. ...

Supreme Court Refuses to Rehear Western Water Case Targeting Tribal Sovereign Immunity, but the Fight Continues

On October 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Klamath Irrigation District’s (KID) petition for certiorari of the Klamath Irrigation...

Interior Grant for Collection of Boarding School Oral Histories

On September 26, 2023, the Department of the Interior awarded a $3.7 million dollar grant to the National Native American Boarding School Healing...

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