Michael G. Rossetti, partner and co-leader of Lippes Mathias’ Indian law and government & corporate investigations practice team, participated in a panel discussion as part of the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA) Hill Week in Washington, D.C. 

The program, The Legislative Landscape, featured a bipartisan discussion on effective advocacy before the Trump Administration and the 119th Congress. Rossetti was one of two panelists—one Republican and one Democrat—who shared insights on best practices and strategies for success when engaging with policymakers in Washington. 

About Michael G. Rossetti 

Michael G. Rossetti, the firm's government & corporate investigations practice team co-leader and Indian law practice team co-leader, focuses on advising tribal clients on economic development and Indian gaming, tribal governance matters, litigation matters, and the settlement of Indian water rights. Rossetti also serves as co-leader of the firm's lobbying & public policy practice team, lobbying in Washington on a broad range of tribal concerns and advising clients on land use and other issues before the Department of the Interior, including the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. Additionally, Rossetti advises clients regarding state attorneys general issues and federal investigations. 

Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Rossetti was a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington, D.C. 

Rossetti previously served for three years as personal counselor to the secretary of the Department of the Interior in Washington, where he assisted the secretary in formulating and implementing policies regarding Indian economic development, Indian gaming, land acquisition, law enforcement, and homeland security. Among the decisions made during his tenure were the approval of gaming compacts submitted by Indian tribes in the states of New York, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wisconsin, and a positive two-part determination by the secretary regarding a gaming facility proposed by the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana. He also served on the federal committee charged with negotiating the implementation of regulations for certain Indian schools under the No Child Left Behind Act, a presidential education initiative. In addition, he spearheaded the secretary’s review and implementation of department-wide law enforcement recommendations made by the inspector general, resulting in the adoption of significant departmental reform. 

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, on behalf of the secretary, he coordinated the national law enforcement and security response to national July 4 celebrations on Interior lands, including the National Mall, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. 

Rossetti served as an assistant county attorney in Buffalo, New York, and as the executive deputy and general counsel to New York State’s Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with more than 220 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Year after year, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.