Education
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Columbia Law School, J.D., 1988
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Tufts University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1983
Bar Admissions
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District of Columbia
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Virginia
Awards and Honors
2002 Distinguished Service Award, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior 2001 Patton Boggs Pro Bono Partner of the Year Award 2000 Commendation from U.S. Attorney, Western District of Michigan, for work related to
settlement of U.S. v. Michigan treaty rights dispute 1999 U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
Special Commendation for work related to treaty-based land claim and fishing rights cases
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V. Heather Sibbison, chair of the Native American Affairs practice group and a member of the firm’s management committee, practices Federal Indian Law. She concentrates particularly in all matters related to fee-to-trust land acquisition (gaming and non-gaming), Indian lands, and compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Ms. Sibbison provides clients with extensive knowledge of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s “Acquisition of Title to Land in Trust” (pursuant to authority granted by the Indian Reorganization Act and other federal statutes) and how it can benefit Indians (25 C.F.R. Part 151).
Ms. Sibbison’s clients further benefit from her familiarity with all aspects of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, coupled with her extensive experience working with the Department of the Interior and the National Indian Gaming Commission. She counsels clients regarding tribal-state gaming compacts, management contracts, tribal gaming ordinances, and other matters related to the development of Indian gaming facilities.
In addition, Ms. Sibbison is actively engaged in land claim and federal recognition issues. Working closely with other members of Patton Boggs’ Federal Indian practice group, she evaluates the merits of potential claims and petitions, and, where appropriate, negotiates and constructs workable settlements for clients. Her experience in these areas includes the legislative drafting necessary to settle claims and/or provide federal recognition.
Together, her understanding of the land acquisition regulations (25 C.F.R. Part 151), strong grasp of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance issues, and thorough familiarity with all aspects of Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act enable Ms. Sibbison to assist clients in developing and implementing workable land-into-trust strategies.
Before rejoining Patton Boggs in 2001, Ms. Sibbison served for nearly seven years in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of the Interior and at the Department of Justice (DOJ) as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Environment and Natural Resources, where her duties included management of settlement negotiations involving Indian land claims, treaty fishing rights, Indian gaming, and Indian water rights.
Representative Matters:
- Works with various tribes in multiple areas of the country with all aspects of fee-to-trust applications filed pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act and other statutory land acquisition authorities, including drafting of the petition, management and advocacy related to the petition, and management of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
- Assisted a northern California tribe obtain from the National Indian Gaming Commission the first positive "Restored Lands" opinion under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act issued by either NIGC or the Department of the Interior outside the context of litigation.
- Assisted a Louisiana tribe obtain from the Secretary of the Interior the first positive “Two-Part” determination under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act issued in the current administration.
- Assisted a Federal Acknowledgement Process-recognized tribe in petitioning for designation of an "initial reservation" pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
- Works with a Michigan tribe in efforts to obtain federal ratification of the settlement of its land claim, involving Trade and Intercourse Act and Indian Gaming Regulatory Act issues.
- Assists several terminated tribes with legislative and administrative efforts to obtain restoration of their federally recognized status.
- Assists tribes in multiple states to negotiate tribal-state gaming compacts and assists with the Department of the Interior’s tribal-state compact approval process.
- Assists tribes to negotiate and draft Memoranda of Understanding with local governments for the provision of municipal and other services.
- Helps tribes negotiate and draft business arrangements with non-Indian partners, including gaming and non-gaming economic development.
Professional Affiliations:
American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section; Chair, Environment and Natural Resources Section
Federal Bar Association
Native American Bar Association
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