Jenner & Block offices in Washington, D.C. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Fresh off its historic victory before the U.S. Supreme Court, Jenner & Block on Thursday announced it was expanding its Native American law practice with a team it has poached from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.

The team consists of six lawyers and two government relations specialists. Leading the team is a trio of partners—Keith Harper, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council; Charles Galbraith, a former Obama administration staff member; and Robert Harmala, a 12-year veteran of Kilpatrick Townsend. With the exception of Harmala, everyone on the team is a Native American.

"Cases like McGirt are emblematic of the practice that's existing already at Jenner," said Harper, who will chair the firm's Native American law practice.

Lawyers from Jenner represented Jimcy McGirt, who argued that Oklahoma lacked jurisdiction to prosecute him of sex crimes because the land that was reserved for the Creek Nation is still an Indian reservation. The high court agreed, essentially finding that nearly half of the state is still a reservation in terms of federal criminal law.

"That commitment to that type of work is a natural reason for why this is such a great fit for us, the perfect timing on top of it," Galbraith said. "It's a case of generational importance to Indian Country. I've been on calls over the past week with tribal leaders who get choked up even talking about the case."

Galbraith will serve as the co-chair of the Native American law practice while Harmala will serve as the chair of the firm's new government relations practice. Although other lawyers at Jenner have done government relations work, the firm is now forming a practice group around it, a Jenner spokeswoman said.

The group has a significant practice representing tribal nations and enterprises across the United States. Harmala described the practice as being exclusively catered to those clients—they will not represent non-tribal clients in disputes involving Native American law.

Harper said he expects more litigation to follow McGirt v. Oklahoma decision, as the U.S. Supreme Court wiped away legal rationale that was used in other cases.

"I think that generally speaking, McGirt is a watershed decision," Harper said.

Already one client is coming with the group—the Navajo Nation, of which Galbraith is a citizen. Galbraith said it was a dream of his in law school to represent his tribe.

The three partners have already started at Jenner, with the rest of them starting later this month. The rest of the team includes senior counsel Lawrence Roberts; associates Krystalyn Kinsel and Julian SpearChief-Morris; and government relations specialists Craig Williams and Joshua Bertalotto.

Harper is the third U.S. ambassador Jenner has recruited this year, the others being David Pressman and Lee Wolosky, both of Jenner poached from Boies Schiller Flexner. Between Harper, Galbraith and Harmala, the Chicago-based firm has added 11 partners to its ranks this year.

Read More

Gorsuch, Native American History Meld for Major Tribal Rights Ruling