Ninth Circuit recognizes Tribal authority over non-Indians
June 14, 2011 - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday provided a sweeping victory for Indian tribes over non-Indian interests, concluding that Indian tribes have inherent power to regulate the activities of a non-Indian trespasser on tribal lands, and to maintain an eviction action in Tribal Court against the non-Indian and his business.
Ater Wynne Indian Law attorney Rob Roy Smith represented a number of Indian tribes and the National Congress of American Indians before the Ninth Circuit. He writes about the opinion, Water Wheel Recreation Area, Inc. v. LaRance, in the firm's Northwest Business Litigation Blog.
Jeld-Wen receives a 2010 Award for Innovation in Sustainability
November 18, 2010 - Jeld-Wen Inc. has been recognized for it's years of effort and innovation in creating products that are energy efficient and good for the environment with a Sustainable Business Oregon 2010 Award for Innovation in Sustainability.
Claudia Powers, chair of Ater Wynne's Environmental Group, presented the award to Jeld-Wen's Executive Vice President Ron Saxton, at the November 18 Sustainable Business Oregon Awards Luncheon. Ater Wynne is a sponsor of Sustainable Business Oregon.
An article in the Portland Business Journal's Sustainable Business Oregon supplement details Jeld-Wen's sustainability initiatives.
Banished tribal members win civil rights victory
May 1, 2009 - In a first-of-a-kind civil rights ruling, a federal court judge set aside the full banishment of nine Snoqualmie tribal members. Ater Wynne Indian Law attorney Rob Roy Smith represented the banished members.
The ruling is significant, Smith says, because "it is a wake up call for Indian Country. The civil rights of tribal members must be protected.
"Tribal sovereignty and Indian civil rights can and should co-exist. The ruling presents a real opportunity for tribes to develop internal tribal processes that enable members to express their opinions and protect their interests," he says.
EPA permits allow Desert Rock Energy Facility construction to begin
July 31, 2008 - The Navajo Nation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the issuance of long-awaited final air permits for the new 1,500 megawatt Desert Rock Energy Facility being jointly developed by Ater Wynne client Diné Power Authority and Sithe Global Energy LLC. Ater Wynne has served as lead counsel in lease, tax and water agreements for the $3 billion project, and represents the Navajo enterprise on renewable energy and transmission projects.
“This project is not just about energy. It is about tribal sovereignty, independence and quality of life for an entire nation,” explains Doug MacCourt, Ater Wynne energy attorney and chair of the firm’s Indian Law Group. Ater Wynne has represented the Navajo Nation for the last 20 years.
The permits, under consideration by the EPA since 2004, enable the Navajo Nation to begin construction on the clean coal power plant located on the Navajo Nation, approximately 25 miles southwest of Farmington, New Mexico, in the Four Corners area.
Kodiak electric utility expands plans for wind generation
May 30, 2008 - The rising cost of diesel fuel has prompted Ater Wynne energy client Kodiak Electric Association to expand its plans to increase wind as a power generator. The electric utility, part of the Four Dam Pool, voted last week to add a third wind generator to its Pillar Mountain wind power project. Ater Wynne negotiated the project procurement contract.
“This installation works well with Kodiak’s Terror Lake Hydroelectric Dam,” according to Ater Wynne energy attorney Joel Paisner, who represents Four Dam Pool. “It puts Kodiak on track to be 95 percent renewable in the coming years.”
Tribal port project signals new chapter in economic diversification
February 27, 2008 - Marine View Ventures, Inc., the economic development corporation of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, recently entered into agreements with the world’s largest privately held marine terminal operator, SSA Containers, Inc., for the construction and operation of an international marine container terminal located on Puyallup tribal lands on the Blair Waterway in Tacoma.
The terminal will be the first of its kind in tribal lands and signals a new chapter in tribal economic diversification, according to Ater Wynne attorneys Pete Haller and Joel Paisner, who served as counsel to Marine View Ventures. The project is expected to add significantly to the marine terminal capacity of the West Coast of North America.
Prometheus Energy delivers on liquified natural gas promise
January 3, 2008 - Prometheus Energy Company's Bowerman Landfill project is now up and running and delivering Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to its customer. Wallace Glausi, partner in Ater Wynne's Emerging Business and Energy Groups, serves as counsel to Prometheus. "This will be the first of many projects for them and is the fruit of a lot of work on the part of many people here and at Prometheus," he says.
Venture Northwest investors like startups
November 2, 2007 - Venture capitalists at the annual Venture Northwest conference were impressed with the business plans of several startup companies, including that of Ater Wynne client Avnera. Emerging Business attorney Bill Campbell discusses the outlook for startups in the Oregonian's coverage of the event.
Avnera releases new audio chip
October 22, 2007 - Avnera is profiled in the Oregonian as it plans to unveil a new computer chip that sits inside wireless speakers and headphones. Ater Wynne has worked with Avnera recently on preferred stock financings and other matters.
Client nabs OEN entrepreneurship award
September 2007 - Ater Wynne client Innovation Asset Group, Inc. was named 2007 Development Stage Company of the Year at the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network 14th Annual Entrepreneurship Awards, held Sept. 20, 2007 at the Oregon Convention Center. The honor recognizes the best performance by an early-stage company.
Innovation Asset Group develops and markets Web-based applications to manage and monetize businesses’ intellectual assets such as patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as related contracts. The Wilsonville-based company was founded in 2002 by Peter Ackerman.
New software company tackles restaurant training
September 2007 - A new local software developer and Ater Wynne client is tackling what founders consider one of the most difficult tasks for restaurants: training and educating wait staff. Waitrainer, which expects to turn a profit by the end of 2008, was featured in the Oregonian's Startup column.
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"At Ater Wynne, we bring a team-oriented focus to a client's issues. We're set up to provide the client with the particular expertise it needs without layers of red tape. We do the work with a high level of integrity. We're agile and deft in our responses and confident in our collective abilities."
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