Katie focuses on representing Indian tribes, tribal governmental instrumentalities and tribally owned enterprises. She has worked on a number of highly significant tribal issues, including one of the largest Indian water rights settlements in U.S. history and the largest tribal trust claim settlement.

Katie has also represented tribal clients on a variety of matters, including issues regarding:

Indian water law, including Congressional enactment and implementation of Indian water settlements
Water management and marketing
United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services funding opportunities
Tribal trust accounting litigation and settlement
Withdrawal of trust assets pursuant to the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act
Federal appropriations and Congressional representation
Bureau of Indian Education school construction and financing
Process for replacement of state statues in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol
Federal, state and tribal tax laws
Indian gaming law
Land into trust and restricted fee land matters
Economic development initiatives
Environmental regulation
Contract support costs under the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Act
Tribal sovereign immunity.

"Katie is always professional and provides a top-level service. She is timely, diligent and extremely knowledgeable of her work and the law generally."

Chambers USA, 2021

Education
J.D., Columbia Law School, 2005
B.A., University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 2001

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Nebraska

Recognitions

The Legal 500 US, Native American Law, 2022.
Diversity Journal, Native American Indigenous Leaders Worth Watching, 2021.
Chambers USA, Government Relations: Federal, 2019-2023.
Chambers USA, Native American Law, 2022 to 2023.
Law360, 2018 Native American Advisory Board Member
Stark Ritchie Senior Counsel Award, 2018
Law360, Rising Stars, 2017.
NABA-DC Excellence in Mentoring, 2017.
Alpha Chi Omega REAL. STRONG. WOMEN. OF DISTINCTION AWARD, 2017.
Bisnow, Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, 2016.
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Native American 40 Under 40, 2015.

Affiliations and Public Service

Board Member, National Park Trust
Member, Akin Gump Inclusion Council, Washington, D.C.
Board Member, Notah Begay III Foundation.
Past President, Native American Bar Association, D.C.

Speeches and Publications

Speaker, “Settlement Implementation: Next Steps After You Reach a Settlement,” Tribal Water in the Southwest, March 8, 2019.
Speaker, “Federal Administrative Policy Towards Tribal Water Rights and Settlements,” Tribal Water in California, January 28, 2019.
Speaker, “Tribal Water Rights Settlements,” Tribal Water in the Southwest
Speaker, Big Red Talks: Success Beyond the Classroom, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nov. 8, 2017.
Speaker, “Recent Federal Court Decisions,” National Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow & Convention, April 11, 2017.