After practicing Indian law in-house for the Seneca Nation and at law firms big and small, Shawn joined the firm in 2002, became a Shareholder in 2003, and has served as Managing Shareholder since 2019. Shawn is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians from the Allegany Territory.

Fostering connections with clients and tribal communities is important to Shawn’s practice because strong relationships within and responsibility to Indian Country serve as personal and professional philosophies. While some may find day-to-day tribal governance work mundane, Shawn enjoys helping Tribes exercise their governance authority through code and ordinance development, constitutional reform, gaming regulation, housing, administrative agency proceedings, and tribal governance issues – particularly membership-related issues. A jack-of-all-trades practice has allowed Shawn to develop a breadth of experience that incorporates both litigation and transactional skills focuses to meet each clients’ particular needs.

American University, Washington College of Law, cum laude, 1994

Admitted to practice:

Minnesota

New Mexico

New York

Ho-Chunk Tribal Court

Lower Sioux Tribal Court

Menominee Tribal Court

Oneida Appeals Commission

Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Court

Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Court

Tribal Court of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan

Seneca Nation of Indians Peacemaker’s Court