Ian A. Shavitz and Matt Ferguson, partners at Lippes Mathias LLP and members of the firm’s environment and energy and Indian law teams, will speak on separate panels during the Tribal Energy Summit, part of the 2025 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention’s Mid-Year Conference & Expo in San Diego. The summit, taking place Wednesday, April 2, highlights tribal government and enterprise strategies around energy, economic development, and sovereignty. 

Shavitz, who leads the firm’s environment and energy team, will speak on a panel titled “Unlocking Opportunity: Building Tribal Policies and Structures to Attract Investment.” The discussion will address how tribes can develop governance frameworks and investment strategies to support infrastructure and energy development to further economic and energy independence. 

Ferguson, a member of the firm’s corporate, renewable energy, Indian law, and environment and energy teams, will participate in a panel titled “Energy as a Catalyst for Tribal Enterprise Growth.” The session will explore how renewable energy development and energy-focused policies can enhance tribal economic opportunity, lower operational costs, and expand enterprise initiatives. 

The Tribal Energy Summit is a full-day program within the broader Indian Gaming Association’s Mid-Year Conference, welcoming attendees to learn from tribal leaders, legal professionals, and energy stakeholders. 

About Ian A. Shavitz 

Ian A. Shavitz is the team leader of the firm’s environment and energy practice team and has more than 20 years of experience counseling and advocating for clients on environmental and land use issues associated with developing large-scale infrastructure, energy, and commercial projects; securing federal, state, and local governmental permits and approvals; advising sellers, purchasers, lenders, and investors on environmental issues associated with corporate, real estate, and energy transactions; and advocating for favorable policy decisions and legislation before Congress. Shavitz’s clients have included corporations, municipalities, developers, investors, state and local governments, private equity funds, and Indian tribes. 

While Shavitz’s practice is national in scope, he has particular experience advising clients on projects, transactions, and legal issues in New York state, where he has practiced for his entire career, and on federal issues in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, he practiced law at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington, D.C., in the environmental and public law and policy practice groups. 

About Matt Ferguson 

Matt Ferguson’s practice is focused on providing legal counsel to leaders on commercial matters and transactions that address organizational objectives. He has more than 20 years of experience advising and counseling clients on a wide range of corporate, project finance, governance, and tax issues. Ferguson has served in legal and advisory roles in law firms (including as outside general counsel); in-house for a Fortune 50 company and an international accounting, tax, and advisory firm; and in a federal government agency, with significant focuses on renewable energy projects, financing, and tax matters. His clients have included technology companies, project sponsors, energy developers, investment firms and funds, and tribal governments. He is a member of the firm’s corporate, renewable energy, Indian law, and environment and energy teams. 

Ferguson’s practice includes advising clients on transaction, deal, and corporate structuring; development and financing of renewable energy projects; mergers and acquisitions; project financing; fund formation; corporate tax issues; and general corporate law and transaction matters. He has also advised Indian tribes on economic development and investment matters and has served as special finance and tax counsel to law firms on energy matters. 

Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Ferguson served as a senior advisor with the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., leading the implementation of an energy infrastructure credit program for tribal nations. In this role, he regularly interacted with tribal leaders, tribal energy companies, and renewable energy developers, and spoke extensively on tribal energy opportunities throughout the country. 

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.