Smith, Shelton & Ragona Adds Indian Gaming Authority Andrea Lord Goldstein
Written by: Lisa R. Shellenberger of Smith, Shelton & Ragona
Smith, Shelton & Ragona continues to grow – even in the economy’s bad times. Indian Gaming authority, Andrea Lord Goldstein, was chosen in September to join the team at Smith, Shelton & Ragona as a Senior Associate.
Smith, Shelton & Ragona is one of the few law firms in Colorado dedicated to representing American Indian interests. The firm partners were asked why Goldstein was the right choice for an addition to the law firm. Partner Don Ragona stated, “Andrea is a clear, precise technical thinker. Our clients, and especially our gaming clients, deserve an attorney who can navigate the technicalities of the law as well as National Indian Gaming Commission rules and regulations. She operates with the confidence and precision that it takes to protect the interests of our Tribal gaming clients.”
For nearly five years, Goldstein was a Staff Attorney for the National Indian Gaming Commission (“NIGC”), where she ensured compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA”). She litigated key gaming cases, including the Colorado River Indian Tribes v. NIGC case on Class III regulations, as well as several cases on the gaming status of Indian lands and a Jack Abramoff matter. Goldstein stated, “While at the NIGC, I created a model gaming ordinance based on best practices used by Tribes, designed an Indian lands database and drafted a variety of regulations, including the facility license regulations.” She spent a year on special assignment as Counselor to Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Carl Artman, specializing in gaming matters.
While many consider her an expert in Indian Gaming practice, Goldstein is a front runner in other areas of Indian law as well. She explained, “I’ve worked with many aspects of Indian law, from the federal acknowledgment process through placing land into trust status. As Counselor to the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, I coordinated the team that reviewed what was slowing up the process for placing land into trust and created a handbook for quicker and more consistent processing of fee to trust applications.” Goldstein also worked with the Native American Rights Fund and the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs to repatriate remains under the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act.
The partners of Smith, Shelton & Ragona continually checked in with Goldstein as her experience in Gaming and Indian law grew. Finally this fall, both Smith, Shelton & Ragona and Goldstein felt that it was an appropriate time for Goldstein to come on board.
Goldstein was asked what she would be focusing on in her work at Smith, Shelton & Ragona. She stated, “[a]t SSR, I’m creating strong regulations, ensuring that contracts favor Tribal interests, and advising on potential business opportunities to bolster economic growth. In my experience, Tribes with strong regulatory policies and well-functioning court systems are able to attract business partners and encourage reservation development.”
Many Tribes are presently facing new issues in addition to old ones. New opportunities are arising as well. As a result, tribes and tribally-related clients are continuously looking to Smith, Shelton & Ragona for legal advice and guidance. Goldstein explained, “Tribes are expanding into many more areas of economic development. For example, they are creating their own oil and gas leases rather than allowing the Department of the Interior to negotiate for them. Here at SSR, we provide not only legal advice, but practical suggestions on ways to maximize revenue, create tourism, or expand business opportunities. Tribes must create an impression of stability and reliability for their reservations, encouraging entrepreneurs to take advantage of the lower taxes and partner with tribes to promote unique business development opportunities.”
Smith, Shelton & Ragona’s attorney roster will be expanding even more this month. On October 24, Lisa R. Shellenberger, who has been with SSR since June of 2010 as a Law Clerk, will be sworn in as an attorney by the Justices of the Colorado Supreme Court.