Tribal Lending

Over the past several years, Davis Wright Tremaine has acted as counsel for banks and other commercial lenders in financing on- and off-reservation economic development projects. Our work includes the following:

• Casino development: Our Indian law team represents agent banks and lenders in financing construction and development of Tribal casinos and gaming operations. We represent Indian Tribes in negotiating agreements between Tribes and gaming developers, including development contracts and consulting and management agreements.
• Construction loans: We represent lenders providing construction financing for Tribal casinos, hotels and resorts, government facilities, grocery stores, gas stations and other economic development structures.
• Operating loans: We represent lenders providing operating loans to Indian Tribes secured by gaming equipment, gaming revenues, hotel and entertainment and other economic development operations.
• Real estate: We represent lenders providing acquisition financing for real estate purchases secured by fee land and financing for projects secured by leases of Tribal trust lands. We represent Indian Tribes in land acquisition transactions and the federal regulatory framework to place land into federal trust status.
• Tribal economic development: We represent Indian Tribes in financing economic development projects, gaming equipment, casino expansions and hotel and conference center projects.
• Indian country: We represent lenders, lessors and other parties involved in transactions in Indian country, providing advice on issues involving the waiver of Tribal sovereign immunity, jurisdiction of state, federal and Tribal courts, taxation, licensing and qualification to do business, and related issues.