Holland & Knight Partner Kathleen Nilles Co-authors Handbook on Tribal Business Structure
February 19, 2009
Kathleen Nilles - Washington
WASHINGTON – Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that Kathleen M. Nilles, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office who practices in Indian Law, has co-authored a guidebook, Tribal Business Structure Handbook, which is a comprehensive resource on choosing a business structure for tribally owned enterprises, including joint ventures.
Hailed in Indian Country Today as offering "one-stop knowledge on business structuring," the Handbook reviews each type of tribal business entity currently in use from the perspective of sovereign immunity and legal liability, corporate formation and governance, federal tax consequences and eligibility for special financing.
The Handbook was originally funded by an economic development grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development to the Tulalip Tribes of Washington. After receiving the grant, the Tribes commissioned co-author Karen J. Atkinson and Nilles to create the Handbook for use by Tribal Council members, Tribal enterprise directors and executives, Finance officers, Tribal legal counsel, and those entering into business or lending relationships with Tribal governments.
Nilles focuses her practice on resolving critical tax and business organizational issues for tax-exempt and governmental entities. A growing part of her practice involves the representation of Indian tribal governments and non-profit organizations in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits and tax cases. A former Tax Counsel to the House Ways & Means Committee, Nilles also handles federal tax policy and legislative issues for a wide spectrum of organizations, companies and governmental units.
As President of Tribal Strategies, Inc., Atkinson has worked with several tribes on energy planning and development. Since 2005, she has served as the Executive Director of the Native American Contractors Association in Washington, D.C.
For more information or to purchase Tribal Business Structure Handbook, please visit the Native American Finance Officers Association Web site.
Contact: Aimee Steel, Holland & Knight LLP (202) 828-1895 or aimee.steel@hklaw.com
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