Brendan Ludwick

About Brendan Ludwick

I represent tribal governments and businesses in matters involving federal Indian law, economic development, and gaming. I have served as in-house and outside counsel to tribes throughout the United States, including as senior counsel to the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, general counsel to the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, and general counsel to my own tribe, the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. I advise tribal economic development corporations, including startups, joint ventures and tribal 8a companies. I negotiate tribal business transactions including financings, joint ventures, casino development and management contracts, local government MOUs and tribal-state gaming compacts. I advise tribal clients on new forms of gaming including online sports wagering and i-gaming. I managed a $350M bond debt restructure for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians that settled litigation and reduced the tribe\'s debt by 70%. I represent tribes in commercial litigation and cases involving indigenous rights and sovereignty. I represented the Havasupai Tribe in a successful lawsuit against the State of Arizona involving unauthorized genetic research on tribal blood samples. I represented the Wilton Rancheria in litigation against the United States and negotiated a multi-lateral settlement to restore the Tribe\'s federal recognition. I represented the Muscogee Nation, Mekko George Thompson and Hickory Ground Tribal Town in federal litigation to protect a sacred ceremonial and burial ground known as Ocevpofv or “Hickory Ground,” and I defended Muscogee citizens who were criminally prosecuted for accessing Hickory Ground and obtained a jury verdict of not guilty at trial. I\'m a member of the State Bar of California, the State Bar of Oklahoma and the DC Bar. I\'m a graduate of UC Berkeley (Class of and UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law)(Class of 2004), and an M.B.A. Candidate at UC Davis Graduate School of Management (4.0 G.P.A.).

Experience

1. of Counsel

   Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, Llp

   Jan 2024 — Present

   Focusing on Indian gaming matters including Class gaming compact negotiations and related litigation; research, analysis, and drafting tribal amicus briefs in prediction markets litigations on behalf of the National Congress of the American Indians, several Indian gaming associations, and 60 federally recognized Indian tribes; negotiated agreements for $1 billion casino development and other tribal economic development projects.

Education

• University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings)

  Doctor of Law (J.D.), American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence

  2001 — 2004

• University of California, Berkeley

  B.A., Political Science

  1996 — 2000

• University of California, Davis - Graduate School of Management

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2023 — 2025

Skills

• Economic Development
• Courts
• Policy Analysis
• Gaming Law
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Legal Research
• Legislation
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Civil Litigation
• Public Relations
• Policy
• Governmental Affairs
• Public Policy
• Administrative Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Federal Government Contracts
• Contract Negotiation
• Corporate Law
• Dispute Resolution
• Transactional Law
• Intellectual Property
• Legislative Issues