Michael P. O'Connell
Experience
Partner
Seattle, WA
Education

University of Denver College of Law,
J.D., 1977
Editor, Denver Law Review
Order of St. Ives

Brockport State College, B.A., Political
Science, 1969
Admissions

Washington

Colorado

Arizona

U.S. District Courts of Washington,
Arizona and Colorado

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. Supreme Court

Puyallup Tribal Court

Tulalip Tribal Court
Michael P. O'Connell
As of January 1, 2015, Michael P. O’Connell is a Retired Partner of Stoel Rives LLP. Please send all client, event and media inquiries
to partner Krista K. McIntyre at krista.mcintyre@stoel.com.
Michael O'Connell's Native American Business practice focuses on energy, environmental permitting and transactional issues for major
projects on and outside Indian reservations and Alaska Native Corporation lands. He advises clients negotiating leases, easem ents and
other agreements relating to use of tribal and Alaska Native Corporation lands; due diligence for business transactions with Indian
tribes and tribal business entities; Indian water rights; tribal taxation and employment issues; cultural resource protection; fossils on
Indian land; and waivers of tribal sovereign immunity and arbitration agreements.
In energy and environmental matters, Michael advises clients on National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and
National Historic Preservation Act compliance; wetlands, stormwater and wastewater permits; water quality certifications; water
rights; and litigation involving tribal issues before federal, state and tribal courts and administrative agencies. In 2012, Michael
assisted an Alaska Native Corporation client to obtain an order from the Alaska federal district court preliminarily enjoining tribal
court proceedings against our client. In 2011, Michael negotiated a favorable outcome for a client in a Montana tribal court
construction dispute. In 2005, the Washington Supreme Court upheld action by the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission
allowing PacifiCorp to recover in rates costs of a tax by the Yakama Nation. Michael argued that case for PacifiCorp.
Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Michael served as General Counsel to the Hopi Tribe and in the Office of Reservation Attorney for the
Quinault Indian Nation and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation.
Professional Honors and Activities

Selected by Best Lawyers® as Seattle Native American Law Lawyer of the Year, 2013

Listed in Best Lawyers in America® (currently: Environmental Law, Native American Law), 2007-2015

Member of Native American Law practice rated National Tier 1 by U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firms in America," 2011

Editor, Washington State Bar Association Environmental and Land Use Law Newsletter, 2008-2012

Former chair, Indian Law Section, WSBA

Former chair, Native American Resources Committee, Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, American
Bar Association
Presentations

"Linear Project Permitting," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on Public Land Law, Regulation and
Management, Santa Fe, NM, May 9, 2014

"Sovereign Immunity, Forum Selection and Enforceability," Tribal Energy in the Southwest Conference, Albuquerque, NM, Dec.
10, 2013

"Handling and Resolving Water Rights Disputes: Adjudication Procedures and Litigation Tips," Water Rights in Washington
Conference, Seattle, WA, Oct. 30, 2013
Michael P. O'Connell

"Taxation and Tribal Energy Development," Tribal Rights, Sovereignty & Economic Development Conference, Las Vegas, NV, Oct.
10, 2013

"Tribal-State Tax Sharing Equity Act -- A Modest Proposal," 2nd Annual Tribal Tax & Business Development, Portland, OR, Nov. 7,
2012

"Tribal Cultural Resources and Energy Projects on Public Lands," Stoel Rives Renewable Energy WebEx, Portland, Oregon, Mar.
30, 2011; San Diego, California, Mar. 31, 2011

"Fundamentals of Contracting with Indian Tribes," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation CLE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mar.
3-4, 2011

"Deal Structures and Enforceability, Waivers of Sovereign Immunity, Forum Selection, Tribal Energy in the Southwest," May 3 -4,
2010

"Tax Issues Associated with Energy Development on Tribal Lands, Tribal Tax Planning and Partnership Structure," Feb. 22, 2010

"Hydrokinetic Energy Projects: FERC and MMS," Jan. 15, 2010

"Business Activity and Taxation: Issues in Indian Country," 22nd Annual University of Washington Indian Law Symposium, 2009

"Energy Projects on Tribal Lands," Energy Resource Development and Litigation in Tribal Lands, American Bar Association
Webinar, 2009

"Renewable Energy Development and Indian Tribes," Renewable Energy in the Pacific Northwest Conference, 2009

"Structuring and Financing Tribal Renewable Energy Projects," Federal Bar Association, 2009

"Doing Business with Indian Tribes," Stoel Rives LLP Webinar, 2009

"Tax Neutrality Agreements and Business Development on Indian Reservations," Tax Management for Indian Tribes, 2008

"New Opportunities for Windpower on Tribal Lands," AWEA National Conference, 2007

"Basics of Successful Natural Resource Development Projects in Indian Country," Natural Resources Development in Indian
Country, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 2005

"Shopping Center Development and Leases on Indian Reservations," U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, 2005

"Easements on Indian Reservations," University of Washington Law School, Indian Law Conference, 2005

"Tax Considerations in Natural Resource Development Projects on Indian Lands," Natural Resources Development in Indian
Country, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 1999
Publications

"Indian Tribes and Chinese Investments in Energy Projects in the United States," Stoel Rives Abstract, March 2013. English
version and Chinese version

"Hearth Act: Indian Tribes Can Lease Tribal Land Without BIA Approval," Environmental and Land Use Law Newsletter,
Washington State Bar Association, 2012
Michael P. O'Connell

Chapter, "Tribal Energy: Wind Energy Projects on Tribal Land," The Law of Wind: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel
Rives LLP, 2008

"Construction Contracts with Indian Tribes," Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland, Oregon, 2007

"Indian Tribes and Project Development Outside Indian Country," 21 Natural Resources & Environment 54, 2007

"Labor Board Extends Jurisdiction to Indian Tribes," Indian Law Newsletter, Washington State Bar, 2004

"Citizen Suits Against Tribal Governments and Tribal Officials Under Federal Environmental Laws," 36 Tulsa Law Journal 335,
2000