Indian Tribal Finance

Orrick's Indian Tribal Finance Group has unmatched experience in financings by or on behalf of Native American tribes and enterprises. We represent Indian tribal governments and enterprises, Alaska native villages and native corporations and major financial institutions (including investment and commercial banking firms and credit enhancement providers), as well as others doing business in Indian country. Over the last 20 years, Orrick lawyers have served as counsel in dozens of successful tribal financings (both taxable and tax-exempt) for a wide range of projects. Orrick is also the nation's leading bond counsel firm, ranked number one for more than a decade.

Our lawyers are known for innovation in the field, having served as bond counsel on the first publicly offered tribal governmental bonds and having developed borrowing programs for tribal entities that have no recourse or limited recourse to the tribe itself. Our lawyers have also served on advisory committees for the IRS's Tax Exempt/Government Entities division.

We have accumulated our expertise through years of direct experience. Our Indian Tribal Finance Group is nationwide and comprises lawyers from our Public Finance, Banking and Tax departments.

Representative Financings

Orrick attorneys have served as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, lender's counsel, special tax counsel, bond insurer's counsel, or otherwise for financings in Indian country that include:

Tribal Casinos, Hotels, and Resorts

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Spa Casino)
• Barona Band of Mission Indians (Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino)
• Cabazon Band of Mission Indians (Fantasy Springs Hotel and Resort)
• Coquille Economic Development Corporation (The Mill Casino & Hotel)
• Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians (Seven Feathers Casino & Hotel)
• Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel)
• Klamath Tribes (Kla-Mo-Ya Casino)
• Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation (Silver Reef Resort)
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribe (Foxwoods Casino)
• Oneida Indian Nation (Turning Stone Casino Resort)
• Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona (Casino of the Sun)
• Pueblo of Santa Ana (Santa Ana Star Casino)
• Quinault Indian Nation (Quinault Beach Resort)
• Rincon San Luisano Band of Mission Indians (Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort)
• Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California (Robinson Rancheria Casino & Bingo)
• San Carlos Apache Tribe (Apache Gold Casino)
• San Pasqual Band of Digueno Mission Indians (Valley View Casino)
• Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe (Palace Indian Gaming Center)
• Seminole Tribe of Florida (Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
• Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians (Angel of the Winds Casino)
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (Swinomish Casino & Bingo)
• Sycuan Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Sycuan Reservation, California (Sycuan Casino)
• Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians/Twenty-Nine Palms Enterprises Corporation (Trump 29 Casino)
• Upper Skagit Indian Tribe (Skagit Valley Casino Resort)
• White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians (Shooting Star Casino & Hotel)
• Yavapai-Apache Nation (Cliff Castle Casino)

Government Administration Buildings and Infrastructure

• The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Reservation of Oregon
• Yavapai-Apache Nation
• Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
• Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona
• Coquille Indian Tribe
• Klamath Tribes
• Navajo Nation

Health Clinics and Childcare Centers

• The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Health and Wellness Center and Early Childhood Center)
• The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Reservation of Oregon (Health Clinic and Drug/Alcohol Treatment Center)
• Yavapai-Apache Nation (Dental Clinic)

Land Acquisitions

• Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho
• Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Reservation of Oregon
• Klamath Tribes
• White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians
• Yavapai-Apache Nation
• Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
• Susanville Indian Rancheria

Transportation Projects

• Various Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Financings for Navajo Nation

Tribal Housing Developments

• Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe
• Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority

Tribal Museums

• Navajo Nation Museum

Golf Courses

• The San Carlos Apache Tribe
• Las Vegas Paiute Tribe
• Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
• Oneida Indian Nation of New York

Manufacturing Facilities

• The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation (Yakama Forest Products Sawmill)
• Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Warm Springs Forest Products Sawmill)

Commercial Fisheries

• St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin (St. Croix Enterprises Aquaculture Facility)

Telecommunications Systems

• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (Saddleback Communications)

Utilities

• The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Warm Springs Power Hydro-Electric Dam Acquisition)
• Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

Publications

Financing Renewable Energy Development on Native American Lands (2009)

New Economic Stimulus Bonds for Indian Tribes (2009)

Tax-Exempt Bonds and Borrowing for Indian Tribes (2009)

Ten Questions Tribal Council Should Ask Before Borrowing Money (2007)

An Introduction to Indian Tribal Finance (2005)

Contact Us

Orrick provides innovative and practical legal advice to help our clients meet their objectives. For more information about our firm, our Indian Tribal Finance lawyers, or for copies of our Tribal Finance publications, please contact publicfinance@orrick.com.