Bio
Klint Cowan is a civil litigator and a member of the firm’s Indian Law Practice Team. He focuses his practice in the areas of federal Indian Law, gaming, election law, and business law. Klint has handled numerous gaming matters and has represented clients before federal agencies such as the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Office of Indian Gaming. In addition, he works with tribal entities to procure financing for gaming facilities and related developments through various methods, including tax-exempt bond issuance, vendor financing, and bank loans.
Klint currently serves as a Justice for the Wyandotte Nation, and formerly as Special Municipal Judge for the City of Oklahoma City.
Representative Matters
Financing for tribal projects:
- Assisting a tribal gaming entity in obtaining financing for construction and development of a new casino.
- Counseling a tribe on refinancing debt for the construction and development of casino projects.
- Drafting and negotiating contracts between lenders and tribes.
- Developing request for proposal (RFP) materials for hotel financing, as well as reviewing and advising on submitted proposals.
Additional matters:
- Comanche Nation v. U.S. (W.D. Okla. 2008) – Resulted in an injunction protecting a tribal sacred site.
- Berry v. Comanche Nation Casino, (W.D. Okla. 2010) – Successfully removed tort claims arising in Indian country to federal court.
- Muhammad v. Comanche Nation Casino (W.D. Okla. 2010) – Obtained an order prohibiting the state court from exercising jurisdiction over an Indian country tort.
- Osage Nation v. Oklahoma (W.D. Okla. 2010) – Secured a permanent injunction prohibiting Oklahoma courts from exercising jurisdiction over Indian country torts.
- Advised on tribal elections
Articles & Publications
- Author, “Gavel to Gavel: Marijuana and Tribes,” Journal Record, February 25, 2015
- Author, “Diversity Requires More American Indian Lawyers and Judges," Oklahoma Bar Journal, May 17, 2014
- Author, “Gavel to Gavel: Making the Grade for the Public Good,” Journal Record, March 6, 2014
- Author, “Gavel to Gavel: IRS May Spur Renewable Energy Development in Indian Country,” Journal Record, July 15, 2013
- Author, “Gavel to Gavel: Rules of Gaming,” Journal Record, January 4, 2012
- Author, “Native American Resources Annual Report,” American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Law, 2006-2010
- 2010 Annual Report, Year in Review 239 (2011) (with C. Rogers et al.)
- 2009 Annual Report, Year in Review 250 (2010) (with D. Pensley et al.)
- 2008 Annual Report, Year in Review 255 (2009) (with D. Suagee and D. Pensley)
- 2007 Annual Report, Year in Review 252 (2008) (with D. Suagee)
- 2006 Annual Report, Year in Review 266 (2007) (with D. Suagee)
- Tribal Sovereignty v. State Court Jurisdiction, 81 Okla. B.J. 351, February 13, 2010
- Author, "International Responsibility for Human Rights Violations by American Indian Tribes," 9 Yale Human Rights & Dev. L.J. 1, 2006
- Author, "Note, Transmission Agency of Northern California v. Sierra Pacific Power Co.," Energy L.J., Vol. 24, 365, 2003
- Co-author, "Mass Equivalence and Brecciation in the Mt. Padbury Mesosiderite," Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX, 1194, with T. McCoy, 1998
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