Varnum offers legal representation and consulting services related to fundamental tribal organization and governance issues. These services are provided by a mix of attorneys in our corporate, regulatory and trial practice areas and by Varnum Consulting personnel.

We have experience and qualifications to serve your tribal entity in the following areas:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution within tribal structures/instrumentalities and with outside resolution services.
  Cross-deputization and cooperative law enforcement agreements between tribes and local, state and Federal agencies.
• General counsel to tribal agencies and instrumentalities governing housing, education, health services, environmental matters, substance abuse, strategic planning, land development and community development.
• Human resources planning and management.
• Jurisdictional issues.
• Labor and employment issues in Indian Country.
• Litigation and counseling related to sovereignty, jurisdiction, zoning, tax, regulatory authority and other issues related to indigenous integrity and primacy.
• Lobbying and public relations at the local, state and Federal level.
• Local cooperation agreements and other government-to-government agreements between tribes and local governments regarding taxation, zoning, utilities, public services and similar matters.
• Establishing and enforcing repatriation rights.
• Sovereignty issues.
• Tax law matters related to jurisdiction and sovereignty and state/local tax negotiations.
• Protecting tribal trademarks, logos, designs, copyrights and other intellectual property.
• Establishing and enforcing treaty rights.
• Tribal constitutions, bylaws, ordinances, regulations and policies.
• Tribal courts structure, procedures and implementation.