Page 29 - Tribal Court Law and Justice Booklet

Office of Reservation Attorney

The mission of the Office of Reservation Attorney (ORA) is to support,
defend and advance the interests of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington by
providing quality legal services to tribal policy makers and staff.
The Tulalip ORA serves as chief legal representative and advisor to the
Tulalip Board of Directors. Under the policy direction of the Board, the
ORA provides timely and efficient legal services to directors, officers,
employees and staff of tribal government and tribal business enterprises,
including subordinate tribal entities. The ORA also acts as liaison to
federal, other tribal, state and local governments, court systems,
officials, professional associations, and interest groups on matters
of interest to the Tulalip Tribes.

Under the technical supervision of the Reservation Attorney, the
ORA provides legal services on a wide range of issues. Practice areas
include natural and cultural resources, land use, child support/welfare,
real property, treaty rights, procurement, preference, tort, contract,
constitutional, gaming, municipal, environmental, intellectual property,
natural resources and employment law and litigation. The major
functions of the Office are to:
• Represent the Tulalip Tribes and its representatives in Judicial, Legislative,
Executive and Administrative proceedings.
• Provide legal advice to tribal policy makers, executives, managers and staff
on issues of concern to the Tulalip Tribes.
• Provide information, referral and legal assistance to Tulalip Tribal members
on minor matters where the assistance does not present an apparent conflict
with the ORA’s primary duty to provide legal counsel to the Tulalip Tribes.
• Coordinate with federal agencies that have responsibilities in Indian
country, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the
Departments of Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture,
Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and the Indian Health Service.
The ORA is staffed by attorneys:
Tim Brewer, Lisa Koop Gunn (Delaware Nation-Moravian of the Thames
Band), Lisa Vanderford-Anderson (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma), Khia
Grinnell (Jamestown S’Klallam/Lummi), Saza Osawa (Makah), Anthony
Jones (Port Gamble S’Klallam), Lee Shannon (Cowichan), Sarah Colleen
Sotomish (Quinault Nation). Prosecutors: Sharon Jones-Hayden, Brian
Kilgore and Megan James (Quinault Nation). Paralegals: BethAnn
Lucas, Jennifer Cristofani, and Lori Stewart. Legal Assistant: Echo
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