Philip "Phil" Baker-Shenk - Lawyer in Washington, DC

Philip Baker-Shenk is a partner in ourfirm's Indian Law Practice Group and our Entertainment Law Practice Group. Heprovides legal and policy representation to dozens of Native American IndianTribal governments as well as Tribal organizations and companies doing businesswith Indian Tribes. Mr. Baker-Shenk began working on behalf of Indian Tribes inour Nation's capital in 1976. For half a decade, he served as staff in the U.S.Senate, including two years as Majority General Counsel to Indian AffairsCommittee Chairman and U.S. Senator John McCain. He has drafted legislation andregulations, written committee reports, advocated before federal agencies,negotiated agreements with government officials, and actively litigated cases onbehalf of clients. Mr. Baker-Shenk has extensive experience in forging practicalsolutions to client problems and securing goals of benefit to clients, and apersonal reputation for effective advocacy.

Mr. Baker-Shenk advisesTribal and other clients on federal relations advocacy, economic developmentstrategies, and self-governance matters. Many of these issues involve complexcommercial and political transactions, including the transfer of land into trustor restricted status, and the exercise of governmental jurisdiction over people,land and other resources. He also maintains an entertainment law practice,representing music artist/industry clients.

During Mr. Baker-Shenk'syears on Capitol Hill, he assisted in the drafting and enactment of legislationdealing with Indian gaming, housing, economic development, taxation, Tribalstatus, child welfare, education, self-governance, and many other issues.

Mr. Baker-Shenk works closely with members and staff in the House andSenate, and with officials in the Administration. In early 2001, he wasappointed to serve on the President's Transition Advisory Committee for theDepartment of the Interior. Between 2000 and 2010, Mr. Baker-Shenk served as anactive member of, and past Chairman of, the Washington County (MD) RepublicanCentral Committee. He also is an ordained elder in the Shepherdstown (WV)Presbyterian Church and is pursuing his general aviation private pilot'slicense.

Mr. Baker-Shenk has been involved in a variety of aspects ofthe development of Federal-Indian law, including litigating in the Federal,State and Tribal courts, crafting Federal and State legislation, providingadvice and counsel to Tribal governments and their enterprises, negotiating withfederal and state administrative agencies, and resolving problems as generalcounsel for Tribal clients.

Immediately after graduating from lawschool, Mr. Baker-Shenk clerked for a Senate-confirmed trial court judge and asa lawyer in a private general practice based in Washington, D.C. Prior toentering law school in 1982, Mr. Baker-Shenk worked as a journalist, an FM radiodisc jockey, a refrigeration mechanic, a maintenance repairman, a potato-pickerand grader on his Pennsylvania family's farm, and, for one day, as a golf caddy.