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Loretta A. Tuell

Of Counsel /

Loretta A. Tuell serves as “Of Counsel” to Capitol Counsel, LLC. She brings to the firm a rich career in federal Indian law and policy, government affairs, and politics. Loretta is the founder of Tuell Law, P.C., specializing in American Indian Law, Government Law & Policy, and Gaming. In the private legal sector, Tuell was most recently a Shareholder at the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, L.L.P. Her public service includes serving as the Majority Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Loretta has held several senior positions at the Department of Interior and was appointed by President Clinton as the Director of the Office of American Indian Trust. In 2009, Loretta was recognized as one of five women — and the first American Indian woman in history — to receive the prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association. Tuell is admitted to practice law in California and the District of Columbia. Ms. Tuell is a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe and grew up on the reservation in Lapwai, Idaho.

Education

  • Harvard Kennedy School of Government – Senior Executive Fellows
  • University of California, Los Angeles – School of Law – J.D.
    UCLA Environmental Law & Policy Journal
  • Washington State University – B.A.

Positions Held

  • Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C. – Majority Staff Director & Chief Counsel for Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI). In that role, she advised the Committee Members on all matters dealing with Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, focusing on policy formulation, hearings, strategic planning, congressional relations, floor strategy, Senate procedure, legislative and budget process. Tuell also formerly served as Committee Staff Counsel for former Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D–HI).
  • Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary – Director of the Office of American Indian Trust. Appointed by President Clinton and managed and advised the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs on decisions, actions, and procedures relating to the Department’s responsibilities affecting American Indian trust assets, international Indigenous rights, and trust evaluations for tribes’ self-governance compacts pursuant to the Tribal Self-Governance Act. In her role, she testified before the United Nations on Indigenous rights and the environment.
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Tribal Services – Acting Director of the largest service program provider for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including social services programs, child protection activities, housing improvement programs, and self-determination policies, tribal government relations & elections, enrollment appeals, tribal courts, federal acknowledgment of new tribes and security systems. Testified before the U.S. Congress on the federal recognition process. Directed two rulemaking processes for the General Assistance Program regulations and Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood Quantum (CDIB) regulations.

Memberships / Recognition

  • United National Indian Tribal Youth – Chair of the Board of Trustees
  • International Association of Gaming Advisors – Board of Trustees
  • American Bar Association – Member
  • Federal Bar Association – Member
  • California Indian Law Association – Member
  • National Native American Bar Association – Member
  • Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) – Former member of the Board of Trustees
    American Bar Association – Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award
  • UCLA School of Law – Native American Alumni Award
  • The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys in Law & Business – Leading Women Award
  • United National Indian Tribal Youth – Alumni Award
  • National Indian Gaming Association Chairman’s Leadership Award

Publications

  • Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters, Strategies for Success from Multicultural Women Attorneys, American Bar Association, August 16, 2009.
  • The Obama Administration and Indian Law – A Pledge to Build a True Nation-to-Nation Relationship, The Federal Lawyer, April 2016.

Success

  • Co-Chair for the Joint Federal–Tribal Task Force for the 2000 Bureau of Indian Affairs Consultation Policy instituted pursuant to E.O. 13175.
  • Member of the congressionally mandated Federal Task Force for Native Hawaiians and the published report, Mauka to Makai, on the Native Hawaiian Reconciliation Process.
  • Member of President Clinton’s White House Domestic Policy Indian Working Group.
  • White House Fellows Regional Selection Panelist under President Biden Administration.