Aaron J. Harkins is a partner in the firm's Indian tribes team and finance & restructuring practice group. Aaron has an active Indian finance practice with experience representing both tribes and financial institutions in connection with bond offerings, bank loans and a broad range of other financing transactions. Aaron also represents clients throughout the United States on matters involving tribal, state and federal gaming laws, including management, development and consulting agreements for tribal gaming operations, gaming machine and equipment leases, tribal-state gaming compacts and matters before the National Indian Gaming Commission and tribal and state gaming commissions.

Aaron's legal experience includes representing tribes and financial institutions in connection with all aspects of financing projects in Indian country, including the following recent transactions:

• Representing Jefferies & Company, Inc. in connection with the initial purchase of approximately $41 million of taxable and tax-exempt bonds issued by the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma Economic Development Authority in August 2011
• Representing Jefferies & Company, Inc. in connection with a tender offer of approximately $256 million of existing notes and the initial purchase of $295 million of senior notes issued by the Downstream Development Authority of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma (O-Gah-Pah) in June 2011
• Representing Bank of America Merrill Lynch in connection with a tender offer of approximately $500 million of existing notes, the initial purchase of $325 million of senior notes and an approximately $225 million senior secured credit facility for the Seneca Gaming Corporation in November 2010
• Representing an ad hoc committee of noteholders in connection with an exchange offer of $200 million of senior notes of the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in November 2010
• Representing the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut in connection with a transaction involving a loan guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture and the issuance of Build America Bonds in August 2010
• Representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in connection with a large syndicated credit facility in February 2009
• Representing the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and the FireKeepers Development Authority in the issuance of $340 million of senior notes and a $35 million equipment financing in April 2008
• Representing the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma (O-Gah-Pah) and the Downstream Development Authority in the issuance of $197 million of senior notes and $52 million of senior subordinated notes in October 2007 and a $25 million equipment financing in November 2007
• Representing the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Shingle Springs Tribal Gaming Authority in the issuance of $450 million of senior notes in June 2007
• Representing the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and the Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority in the issuance of $330 million of senior notes in January 2007
• Representing Merrill Lynch & Co. in connection with the issuance of $70 million of bonds by the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians in October 2006
• Representing the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Pokagon Gaming Authority in connection with the issuance of $305 million of senior notes in June 2006
• Representing the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in connection with the issuance of $122 million of senior notes in February 2006
• Representing the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority in connection with the issuance of $150 million of senior notes in November 2005

Additional experience includes:

• Representing tribes and lenders in connection with numerous bank loans and credit facilities
• Representing tribes and lenders with respect to granting security interests in tribal assets and revenues and with respect to compliance with tribal and federal laws and regulations applicable to trust lands
• Representing tribes and lenders with respect to the licensing of financial sources by tribal and state gaming commissions, including the "short form" licensing procedures applicable under California gaming compacts
• Representing managers and developers in connection with management, development and consulting agreements for tribal gaming operations, including the submission of management contracts for approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission and "proprietary interest" considerations
• Representing gaming machine and equipment suppliers in connection with leasing and financing agreements with tribal gaming operations, including compliance with tribal, state and federal licensing requirements
• Representing both issuers and underwriters in connection with structured finance transactions, including the issuance of over $15 billion of mortgage- and asset-backed securities

Honors

• Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Native American Law, 2010–11
• Minnesota Rising Stars, Native American Law, 2008 and 2010

Presentations

• Risky Investments? Tribal Debt & Finance after Wells Fargo v. Lake of the Torches
  University of Wisconsin Law School's Coming Together of Peoples Conference, Madison (2011)
•  Lake of the Torches: Lessons Learned for Tribes and Lenders
  Minnesota CLE's 2011 Indian Law Conference, Hinckley (2011)
• Defining Economic Development in Indian Country
  Native American Finance Conference, Las Vegas (2009)
• Project Finance in Indian Country—A Case Study
  Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Court CLE, Okmulgee (2009)
• Wall Street, Main Street and Reservation Roads: The Financial Crisis and Indian Country
  Peoples Coming Together Conference, University of Wisconsin, Madison (2009)
• Your Project Development Team: Who Are the Key Players?
  Native American Finance Conference, Las Vegas (2008)
• Sovereignty, Governance and the Law: A Continued Discussion
  Finance Conference, Native American Finance Officers Association, San Diego (2008)
• Project Financing in Indian Country—From Casinos to Clinics
  Wall Street Summit, Native American Finance Officers Association, Jersey City (2007)
• Due Diligence When Financing With Bonds
  Native American Finance Conference, Las Vegas (2007)
• Bonds 101 and Due Diligence
  Native American Finance Conference, Uncasville (2006)