For the ninth year in a row, Galanda Broadman — an American Indian owned law firm dedicated to advancing Tribal legal rights and Indian business interests — has been named the “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers when it comes to Native American law and gaming law.
The firm’s national ranking was determined through an overall evaluation, which comes from a combination of “clients’ impressive feedback” and “the high regard that lawyers in other firms in the same practice area have for [the] firm,” reports U.S. News – Best Lawyers.
Galanda Broadman has eight lawyers and offices in Seattle and Yakima, Washington and Bend, Oregon. The firm represents Tribal governments, businesses, and citizens.
One of those eight lawyers is Gabe Galanda, a partner at Galanda Broadman, who has been sounding the horn about the need for Tribes to diversify for awhile now.
“Gaming is the only industry that has brought economic prosperity across Indian country,” Galanda told Native Business. “But Indian gaming is not forever. While gaming is still on the rise, it will stagnate at some point and will then start to taper off.”
Unlike gaming, there is no other industry that can be a panacea for Tribes’ economic needs. Some Tribes may thus find the answers in industries like renewable energy or fossil fuel development. Others may find that hospitality or technology make the most sense. The important thing, though, is that Tribes should start taking an inventory of their assets, including physical capital, human capital, land, and resources.
“They have to do that inventory and think beyond their current cash flow,” he said. “It is very rare that one industry will serve the needs of all 573 Tribes.”
READ MORE: The Need for Indian Country to Diversify Beyond Gaming
