Professional Profile

Michael D. McMahan

Partner

Michael McMahan joined the Firm in 2014 and was made a partner in 2020. Since 1997, Michael has spent the majority of his career representing Native American Tribal governments and their related business entities in various capacities. His background includes serving as a prosecuting attorney for various Tribes, assisting in the implementation of drug courts, developing Tribal codes and court procedures, assisting in Tribal elections, working on Indian child welfare matters, and assisting Tribes with day-to-day business and administrative matters. Michael has litigated at all levels of Tribal, state, and federal courts for both Tribal and non-Tribal clients, with matters ranging from construction disputes, commercial litigation, tort claims, and employment matters. Michael has also assisted Tribal clients through the process of preparing constitutional amendments and conducting secretarial elections, in one case, he helped create its own court system, including both trial and appellate courts, along with the development of related codes and procedures.

Michael’s experience includes numerous non-Tribal commercial matters, including work for banks, oil and gas companies, real estate developers, and various other commercial clients in transactional matters, bankruptcy, litigation, and commercial real estate matters. Michael’s extensive experience includes all aspects of complex civil litigation and bankruptcy/creditors’ rights and a history of representing both local and multinational companies in courts nationwide. Drawing upon this commercial experience, Michael has assisted Tribal clients in contract negotiations, providing advice regarding complex financing agreements, and preparation of construction and development agreements.

In addition, Michael has represented adoptive families, helping them through the process of finalizing adoptions conducted through agencies. In 2009, he was appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives to the Oklahoma State Legislature’s Adoption Review Task Force, which proposed numerous revisions to Oklahoma’s adoption statutes, all of which were subsequently enacted into law.

Education

The University of Oklahoma (B.A. in News Communication, 1994)
University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., 1996)

Bar Admissions

Oklahoma (1997)
Texas (2002) (Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization)
U.S. District Court for Western, Eastern & Northern Districts of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court for Northern, Eastern & Southern Districts of Texas
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Supreme Court
Multiple Tribal Courts

Professional Organizations

Oklahoma Indian Bar Association
Indian Law Section, Texas State Bar
American Bar Association

Selected Publications

Co-Editor, Year In Review, Native American Law Chapter (American Bar Association Section on Energy and Environmental Resources) (2014 -2023)