The firm received first-tier rankings in Phoenix in Native American Law and Gaming Law. The rankings in their entirety are posted online at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com.

According to U.S. News and Best Lawyers®, achieving a high ranking is a “special distinction that signals a unique combination of excellence and breadth of expertise.”  In the extensive survey, lawyers evaluated their peers on expertise, responsiveness, integrity, cost-effectiveness, whether they would refer a matter to a firm, and whether they would consider a firm a worthy competitor. Clients were asked to address expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, whether they would refer a matter to a firm, and whether they would refer a another client to the firm.

In addition to information from these surveys, the rankings incorporated the millions of evaluations of thousands of individual leading lawyers collected by Best Lawyers® in its most recent annual survey. All of the quantitative and qualitative data were combined into an overall “Best Law Firms” score for each firm. This data was then compared to other firms within the same metropolitan area and at the national level.

Best Lawyers in America®, is one of the oldest and most respected peer review publications in the legal profession. Earlier this year, Bradley Bledsoe Downes was chosen for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2012.  U.S. News & World Report has more than two decades of experience in providing the public with the most accurate and in-depth rankings of a wide range of institutions.

About Bledsoe Downes, PC.  Bledsoe Downes, PC is a law firm that offers our clients knowledgeable, cost-effective representation regarding federal Indian law matters. Bledsoe Downes, PC concentrates its practice in federal Indian law, gaming law, civil litigation, tribal government affairs, financial transactions; and economic development.

On October 31, 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) published an Announcement regarding the existing tribal economic development bond (“TEDB”) program.

The IRS is offering an optional three-month extension process for existing volume cap allocations. Under current IRS guidelines, existing allocations expire December 31, 2011. The new extension process requires written extension requests to be submitted by November 30, 2011.

In addition, the Announcement proposes certain changes to the existing IRS allocation methodology for TEDBs. The proposed changes would govern the reallocation of the national $2,000,000,000 volume cap for TEDBs, upon the expiration or forfeiture of existing allocations. The IRS estimates that up to 95% or more of the $2 billion in Volume Cap allocations for TEDBs may become available for reallocation as of January 1, 2012. The IRS is seeking public comment on its proposed reallocation process, and the deadline for submitting comments is December 12, 2011.

Contact: Shawn Pensoneau

(202) 632-7003

NIGC Notice of Inquiry Comment Period Closes

February 12, 2011

Washington, DC February 8, 2011 — On January 11, 2011 the Commission embarked on a 6-week government-to-government consultation throughout the country to hear tribal input on which regulations need to be revised, removed, or promulgated and how should the Commission prioritize the regulations to be addressed.  Comment period on the issues addressed in the Notice of Inquiry closes February 12, 2011.  Tribes are encouraged to submit their comments to reg.review@nigc.gov or by mail to 1441 L. Street, NW Suite 9100 Washington, DC  20005, or fax at (202) 632-7066.

NIGC Chairwoman, Tracie Stevens commented, “After the comment period closes, the Commission will thoroughly review and examine every comment received and create a regulatory review agenda.  We understand that there could be disagreements about our decisions and that disagreement is inevitable, but, we are committed to explaining our reasoning in reaching a particular decision in a transparent manner.”

All information on the regulatory review, including transcripts of consultations can be found by visiting our website at www.nigc.gov. ]]> http://www.bdrlaw.com/2011/02/09/nigc-notice-of-inquiry-comment-period-closes/feed/ 0 http://www.bdrlaw.com/2010/11/10/irs-extends-ted-bond-deadline/ http://www.bdrlaw.com/2010/11/10/irs-extends-ted-bond-deadline/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:01:58 +0000 admin http://www.bdrlaw.com/?p=173 The Internal Revenue Service extended the deadline for Indian tribes to issue Tribal Economic Development Bonds (“TED Bonds”) to June 30, 2011. The extension relates to TED Bonds authorized by the IRS in the first tranche of allocations under Notice 2009-51.  In addition, the recent announcement also provides an option for an additional six month extension to December 31, 2011 upon approval by the IRS of a written Tribal government request.

On July 12, 2010, the Department of the Treasury (“Department”) published in the Federal Register a notice and request (“Notice”) for comments regarding tribal economic development bonds (“TEDBs”).  The request was issued pursuant to a directive in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”) that the Department conduct a study and report to Congress with recommendations regarding the use of TEDBs.

The Notice requests comments from tribes regarding: (1) whether the state or local governmental standard for tax-exempt governmental bond status should replace the essential governmental function standard; (2) what types of projects and activities should be eligible for financing with private activity bonds; (3) whether and how to apply volume cap allocations to private activity bonds issued by tribes; (4) whether to modify the current restriction that projects funded by TEDBs must be located on reservations; and (5) whether to modify the current restriction against financing gaming facilities with TEDBs.

Other issues are raised in the Notice include a request for comments regarding the scope of tax exempt financing and the unique circumstances faced by tribes.

The deadline to submit comments is September 10, 2010.

At the end of June 2010, the National Indian Gaming Commission sent a letter to Tribal leaders seeking comments regarding: 1) how to improve the existing tribal consultation policy; 2) the NIGC’s draft NEPA manual; and 3) the NIGC records retention policy.

The NIGC is conducting consultations in California on July 29 and July 30 regarding the matters discussed above.

Some of the major provisions include:

• Evidence sharing by the federal government with tribal prosecutors
• Reports on declinations to prosecute by the DoJ
• Enhanced sentencing capability in tribal court
• Deputization of tribal police to enforce federal law
• Tribal police access to criminal history records
• Training to combat domestic and sexual violence

In addition, the legislation provides methods to appoint qualified tribal prosecutors to assist with prosecuting crimes in Indian country; appointment by U.S. Attorneys of tribal liaisons; authorization for cooperative law enforcement arrangements; changes in qualifications for BIA law enforcement officers; increased grant funding for various programs; and enhanced notification procedures regarding sex offenders.