Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP is thrilled to announce the opening of its Southwest office. The new office is located in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico and emphasizes Native Law Group’s dedication to providing comprehensive legal services to Indian tribes, tribal entities, and individuals throughout the Southwest. This is the firm’s fifth office with locations in Colorado, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Washington D.C.
The firm welcomes attorney Carrie Frias, who joined Native Law Group as its newest partner, and is managing the Southwest office. Carrie brings over 14 years of experience in federal Indian law, tribal law, and Intellectual Property. She has counseled clients in all areas of tribal and federal Indian law including Supplemental Security Income, gaming, housing, tribal court development, special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction, code drafting, trademarks, and copyrights. Prior to joining Native Law Group, Carrie was Chief General Counsel at the Pueblo of Pojoaque, where she was deeply involved in bad faith litigation against the State of New Mexico.
Carrie is a strong advocate for tribal rights, notably representing tribes before Congress, and she pushed for the passage of tribal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization which restored tribal criminal jurisdiction to prosecute domestic violence crimes against non-Indians on their reservations. She is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law with a Certificate in Indian Law and Clinical Honors. Carrie is licensed to practice law in State and Federal courts in New Mexico and in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.