Andrew Adams III

  • Member
Andrew Adams III is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and member of the TvlahasseWvkokaye Ceremonial Grounds. Andrew has experience in the areas of federal Indian law, tribal constitutional law, tribal governance, litigation, gaming law, complex financial transactions, tax issues related to Tribal governments and individual tribal members, business law, employment law, treaty hunting, fishing, and gathering law, and government relations.

Contact Information

  • (651) 842-9100 Main
  • (651) 842-9102 Direct
  • (651) 842-9101 Fax

Andrew Adams III

Andrew Adams III is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and member of the TvlahasseWvkokaye Ceremonial Grounds. Andrew has experience in the areas of federal Indian law, tribal constitutional law, tribal governance, litigation, gaming law, complex financial transactions, tax issues related to Tribal governments and individual tribal members, business law, employment law, treaty hunting, fishing, and gathering law, and government relations.

Andrew currently serves as Justice of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court and Justice on the Gun Lake Tribal Supreme Court. Andrew currently serves as a Board Member for the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, and previously served on the Board for the Federal Bar Association Indian Law Section and State Bar of Wisconsin Indian Law Section. Andrew has regularly lectured on Indian-law issues at seminars and conferences nationally.

When Andrew is not at the office, he enjoys spending time with his children, visiting with family & friends, golf, being outside, coaching youth sports, hunting, traveling, playing flag football, watching football, stomp dances, pow wows, chilling on a beach, and running on a treadmill & outside.

Bar Admissions

Minnesota
Oklahoma
Wisconsin
U.S. Supreme Court
1st Circuit Court of Appeals
6th Circuit Court of Appeals
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Ho-Chunk Nation
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Lower Sioux Indian Community
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
Stockbridge-Munsee Community

Education

J.D., University of Wisconsin, 2006
M.A., University of Michigan, 1999
B.A., University of Michigan, 1996.

Honors & Awards

Best Lawyers
2015-present
Ranked by Chambers
2019-2024
Minnesota Super Lawyers
2020-2024
Rising Star, Minnesota Super Lawyers
2015-2016

Presentations

The Shifting Jurisdictional Landscape in Indian Country: SCOTUS’s Decision in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta
Minnesota State Bar Association; Saint Paul, MN
2022
Expanding the Market: Moving Beyond Tribal Government Gaming
Global Gaming Expo, Las Vegas, NV
2022
Treaties, Reservation Boundaries, and Territorial Power
Wisconsin Law Review Symposium, Madison, WI
2021
Tribal Court Attorney Regulation: Nation- Building Concerns
50th Annual National American Indian Court Judges Association Conference, Prior Lake, MN
2019
Sports Betting in the Black & Blue Division: Tribes v. States
8th Annual Indian Law Conference, State Bar of Wisconsin Indian Law Section, Wisconsin Dells, WI
2019
Tribal Treaty Rights: Reservation Boundaries, Hunting and Fishing, and the U.S. Supreme Court
Mitchell Hamline School of Law Tribal Courts and Treaty Rights Conference, Saint Paul, MN
2018
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act at 30: The Future of Lands Eligible for Gaming, Compacts and Indian Gaming
National Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, Las Vegas, NV
2018
Off-Reservation Fee to Trust Acquisitions: Litigation Update
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association / MINNCLE Indian Law Conference, Prior Lake, MN
2018
Nuts & Bolts: Being a Tribal Appellate Justice
49th Annual National American Indian Court Judges Association Conference, Pueblo of Isleta, NM
2018
State Online Lotteries vs. Tribal Casinos
14th Annual Northwest Gaming Law Summit, Seattle, WA
2016
Regulating Attorneys in Tribal Courts Ethics Panel
Federal Bar Association Indian Law Conference, Phoenix, AZ
2016
Understanding Diverse Cultures and Working with Diverse Lawyers and Clients
MINNCLE Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN
2015
Cultural Competence for Business Lawyers
MINNCLE Business Law Institute, Minneapolis, MN
2015
Tribal Sports/Boxing Commissions
Tribal Boxing Regulators Conference, Hinckley, MN
2014
Major Recent Cases on Tribal Sovereignty: Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community
Law Seminars International, Prior Lake, MN
2014
Employment Law in Indian Country: A Case of Competing Sovereigns
Law Seminars International, Prior Lake, MN
2014
Developing an Effective Organizational Structure and Strategic Economic Development Plan
Law Seminars International, Prior Lake, MN
2014
Tribal Sports Commissions
Wisconsin Gaming Regulators Conference, Lac du Flambeau, WI
2013
Tribal Gaming Regulatory Challenges
Wisconsin Gaming Regulators Conference, Lac du Flambeau, WI
2103
Unions in Indian Countryand the Role of Tribal Gaming Regulators
Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association Conference, Thackerville, OK
2013
FMLA: Caselaw Update and Topics of Interest
National Native American Human Resources Association, Quapaw, OK
2013
Internet Gaming, State Lotteries, & Jurisdiction
Minnesota CLE Indian Law Conference, Welch, MN
2012
Digital Mapping—Internet Gaming (Moderator)
Federal Bar Association Indian Law Conference, Pueblo of Pojoaque
2012
Trans-Boundary Resolutions: the Saginaw Chippewa Model for Inter-Governmental Jurisdictional Agreements (Moderator)
Federal Bar Association Indian Law Conference, Pueblo of Pojoaque
2012
Internet Gaming and Tribal Casinos
Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association Conference, Thackerville, OK
2011
Ethical Issues Facing the In-House Attorney (Moderator)
Minnesota CLE Indian Law Conference, Hinckley, MN
2011
Internet Gaming and Tribal Casinos
Midwest Tribal Internet Gaming Summit, Danbury, WI
2011
Internet Gambling, Indian Casinos, & Tribal Implications
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Doing Business in Indian Country, Tulsa, OK
2011
Protecting Player Data
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Conference & Tradeshow, Tulsa, OK
2011
Future of Off-Reservation Gaming
University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, WI
2010
Gaming Commission Administrative Hearings
National Tribal Gaming Commissioners/Regulators Conference, Green Bay, WI
2010
Off-Reservation Gaming: Commutable Distance v. Self Sufficiency
Federal Bar Association Indian Law Conference, Pueblo of Pojoaque
2009
Taxing Tribal Corporations or LLC’s (On and Off Reservations), Tax Management for Tribes
Law Seminars International, Minneapolis, MN
2009

Indian Law Experience

Lead counsel and negotiator for Wisconsin tribe in successfully obtaining an amendment to their gaming compact with the State of Wisconsin to allow for class III retail and mobile/internet sports betting across the Tribe’s entire treaty defined reservation.
Jacobs v. Creapeau and Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department (EDWI, case no 2:24-cv-00212-WCG). Lead counsel in case before Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court where Tribe prevailed in motion to dismiss case based on sovereign immunity.
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians et al. v. Coughlin (U.S., case no. 22-227). Lead federal Indian law counsel on briefs before U.S. Supreme Court in case dealing with the question of whether the Bankruptcy Code unequivocally abrogates tribal sovereign immunity.
Mestek v. Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center, No. 22-2077 (7th Cir., 2023).  Argued Tribe’s case before the Seventh Circuit that lower court correctly dismissed case since sovereign immunity bars False Claims Act lawsuit.
Pollard et. al. v. Johnson et al., No. 3:23-cv-135 (W.D. Wisconsin 2023).  Representing all Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council Members in lawsuit brought by individual landowners over expired roadway easements on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation.
Mestek v. Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center, No. 21-cv-5412-wmc, 2022 WL 1568881 (W.D. Wisconsin 2022).  Secured dismissal of False Claims Act suit against tribally-owned health clinic and officials on sovereign immunitygrounds.
St. Croix Chippewa Indians v. Stuart Bearheart; Carmen Bugg; Duane Emery; Elmer Emery; Lawrence Larsen; Leva Oustigoff; Crystal Peterson; Jeff Taylor;  and Kate Wolfe Taylor, No. 20-CV-200-211 (St. Croix Tribal Court, (2020 – present).  Representing tribal government in civil actions seeking restitution for the misapplication of casino & tribal funds by past elected officials and employees.
Coughlin v. Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians et al., 33 F.4th 600 (1st Cir., 2022).  Argued Tribe’s case before First Circuit that bankruptcy court correctly dismissed case upon holding that the Bankruptcy Act does not abrogate tribal sovereign immunity.
Represent Tribal government in negotiations with multiple internet gaming vendors for implementation of online casino & sports book under recent Michigan laws.
Successful representation of multiple Tribal governments in compact amendment and MOU negotiations with the State of Wisconsin.
Fitzgerald v. Wildcat, et al., No. 3:20CV00044 (W.D. Virginia 2020 – present).  Representing tribal official in civil action under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and state usury laws.
In re Coughlin, No. 19-14142-FJB, 2020 WL 6140388 (Bank. D. Mass. 2020 – 2021). Successfully urged federal bankruptcy court to dismiss claim for violation of the automatic stay in a bankruptcy proceeding, arguing that the Bankruptcy Code does not abrogate tribal sovereign immunity.
Miller v. Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Case No. 2017-AA-0004 (Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Court 2017-2021).  Defending the Tribe in alleged wrongful termination action brought by ex-casino employee.
Jones v. Wildcat et al., No. 19-CV-2493-JS (E.D. Penn. 2019 – 2021). Representing tribal official in civil action under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and state usury laws.
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Governor Evers et al. (W.D. Wisc., Case No. 18-CV-0992; 2018 – present). Representing the tribes in action to stop the unlawful taxation of fee lands owned by the tribes and individual tribal members within the exterior boundaries of their respective reservations as protected by the 1854 Treaty with the Chippewa.
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. McKesson Corporation et al.(W.D. Wisc. Case No. 18-cv-00228; 2018 – present). Indian law and local counsel to Tribe’s lawsuit against major pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors of opioid-based products which have had a disparate & negative impact on Tribe’s Reservation and Tribal Members.
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. McKesson Corporation et al.(W.D. Wisc. Case No. 18-cv-00286; 2018- present).  Indian law and local counsel to Tribe’s efforts to keep lawsuit in State court against major pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors of opioid-based efforts to remove to federal court.
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. McKesson Corporation et al.(Sawyer County Circuit Court Case No. 2018CV000040;  2018 – present).  Indian law and local counsel to Tribe’s lawsuit against major pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors of opioid-based products which have had a disparate & negative impact on Tribe’s Reservation and Tribal Members.
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians v. Snyder (W.D. Mich. 2015 – 2019). Representing the Tribe in suit for recognition of treaty-defined reservation boundaries.
Bruguier v. Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Secured dismissal of Title VII suit against tribe on immunity, applicability, and administrative-exhaustion grounds. 2017 WL 684230 (W.D. Wis. Feb. 21, 2017).
Harris v. Lake of the Torches Resort & Casino. Represented the tribal corporation in successfully arguing for vacatur of judgment against tribal casino because the casino was immune from suit, and in protecting the sovereign-immunity win on appeal. Vacatur affirmed at 2015 WL 1014778 (Wis. Ct. App. March 10, 2015).
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan v. Coastal Wine Merchants (Opposition No. 91210751, USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, 2013).  Represented Tribe in successful opposition and termination of corporation’s applied for mark that infringed on Tribe’s registered mark.
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan v. Hebei Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd.  (Cancellation No. 92057445, USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, 2013).  Represented Tribe in successful termination of Chinese corporation’s mark that infringed on Tribe’s registered mark.
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan v. UAW (NLRB).  Representing Tribe in administrative action challenging the NLRB’s application of the National Labor Relations Act to tribe’s casino.
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan v. National Labor Relations Board (Federal District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2011).  Represented Tribe in suit challenging the NLRB’s application of the National Labor Relations Act to tribe’s casino.
St. Croix Casino – Danbury. Represented Tribe in $60M DOI guaranteed financing, construction, federal and state regulatory compliance, and all other legal issues related to building and opening new casino. (2010)
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin v. Kempthorne et al. (United States District Court, District of Columbia, 2008).  Represented Tribe in dispute with the federal government over changes made to regulations governing the application and approval process for tribal off-reservation casinos.

Publications

An Introduction: American Indian Tribes and Law in Wisconsin Wisconsin Lawyer, May 2015, Volume 88, Number 5