BUFFALO, NEW YORK – Hon. Carol E. Heckman (Ret.), Lippes Mathias partner, Indian law practice team co-leader, and alternate dispute resolution team leader, moderated a panel titled “Exploring Barriers to the Use of Arbitration by Tribal Governments,” at the 2023 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention in San Diego, California.

The panel discussed the challenges tribal governments face when selecting arbitration over traditional court litigation in commercial transactions with third parties. The lack of experienced arbitrators in Indian tribal law and the representation of Native Americans on panels will be among the topics discussed. The panel comprised experienced Indian law practitioners who explored unique legal concepts central to arbitrating or litigating commercial disputes involving tribal governments.

With more than 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer and judge, Judge Heckman (Ret.) has an active practice as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and conducts arbitrations in most major metropolitan areas with a particular concentration in New York City.  In addition to arbitrations and mediations, Judge Heckman was selected as a Fellow to the College of Commercial Arbitrators, an exclusive group of commercial arbitrators representing the best in the United States, where she serves as co-chair of the Education Committee Judge Heckman also engages in litigation counseling and trial work for American Indian tribes and a group of business clients, providing representation in government investigations, complex commercial matters, taxation, and gaming. She has tried numerous cases as a lawyer, a judge, and an arbitrator in a broad range of disputes. Judge Heckman served as a Magistrate Judge in the Western District of New York for eight years where she was selected to sit on the Federal Judicial Conference’s Education Committee for Magistrate Judges and served as an Officer in the Federal Magistrate Judges Association.  She has also served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Buffalo, New York, and as a law clerk for Hon. John T. Curtin, former Chief Judge of the Western District of New York.

About the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention

The largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention delivers the insight and strategies you need to rise to the top of the competitive gaming industry landscape. Meet industry leaders, access cutting-edge trends and celebrate a proud tradition of success.

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 170 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Long Island, and New York, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.