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 practice focuses on energy, environmental, natural resources, Native American law and water rights. Michael has
assisted wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, ethanol, hydrokinetic and conventional hydropower, gas-fired generation, and electric
transmission and gas pipeline clients. Michael has assisted these energy clients in federal, state and tribal processes for licensing,
siting and development of energy and power projects, including NEPA, endangered species, essential fish habitat and historic
properties consultations, 401 water quality certifications, wetlands, wastewater and stormwater permitting, coastal zone
management consistency.
Michael's energy law practice draws upon more than 34 years of experience in Native American law to assist clients developing
energy and other projects on and outside Indian reservations and Alaska Native Corporation lands, including new and renewed
leases, rights of way and other real estate transactions, treaty and executive order fishing right and ceded lands issues, cultural
resources (historic properties, traditional cultural properties, human remains), taxation, employment agreements, negotiating
waivers of tribal sovereign immunity, litigation and settlements. In 2005, the Washington Supreme Court upheld action by the
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission allowing PacifiCorp to recover in rates costs of a tax by the Yakama Indian
Nation. Michael argued that case for PacifiCorp.
Prior to joining the firm, Michael was General Counsel to the Hopi Tribe and served in the Office of Reservation Attorney for the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation and Quinault Indian Nation.
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 & Land Use Newsletter, 2008-2012

Former chair, Indian Law Section, WSBA

Former chair, Native American Resources Committee, Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, American Bar Association

Vice chair (2008-2009), Hydro Committee, Section on Energy, Environment and Resources, 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

"Fundamentals of Contracting By and With Indian Tribes," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
Mar. 2011

"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

"Getting Projects Built and Operational – A Boost for Tidal/Wave Power," Buying & Selling Electric Power (Law Seminars
International), Seattle, Washington, Jan. 13-14, 2011

"Current Siting Issues under NEPA and Other Significant Federal Legislation," EUCI Webinar, May 19, 2010

"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

"Energy Projects on Tribal Lands," Energy Resource Development and Litigation on Tribal Lands, American Bar Association
Webinar, 2009

"Structuring and Financing Tribal Renewable Energy Projects," Federal Bar Association, 2009

"Siting and Permitting Ocean and Tidal Energy Projects," Ocean Use, Development and Permitting Conference, 2008

"New Opportunities for Windpower on Tribal Lands," AWEA National Conference, 2007

"Basics of Successful Natural Resource Development Projects 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 School of Law, 2005
Publications

"Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Lease Agreements" and "Siting and Permitting Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Projects," The
Law of Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Vol. 4, 2011 (formerly The Law of
Ocean and Tidal Energy)

"Indian Tribes and Project Development Outside Indian Country," 21 Natural Resources & Environment 54, 2007

"Construction Contracts with Indian Tribes," Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland, Oregon, 2007

"Tribes, Unions and the NLRB," Indian Law Newsletter, Washington State Bar Association, 2005

"Tax Considerations in Natural Resource Development Projects on Indian Lands," Natural Resources Development in Indian
Country, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 1999
Michael P. O'Connell