Professional Profile

Randi Gardner Hardin

Of Counsel

Randi Gardner Hardin is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and also of Comanche descent, and a lifelong resident of central Oklahoma.  Randi joined Hobbs Straus as of counsel in June 2026 and previously worked for the firm first as an intern, and later as an associate attorney.  Her prior experience includes time as in-house counsel for the Chickasaw Nation where she focused on a wide variety of transactional matters involving banking, gaming, health, grant management, and regulatory compliance.  Her work alongside the Chickasaw Nation’s COVID-19 Response Team earned special recognition during the 2022 Chickasaw Nation State of the Nation address as the Team worked to develop programs and distribute resources to south-central Oklahoma in response to the global pandemic.

Randi received her Juris Doctor, with honors, a Master of Arts in Native American Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies, all from the University of Oklahoma.  While completing a dual-degree program, she also served as Executive Editor of the American Indian Law Review, vice-president of her local Native American Law Student Association chapter, and placed in the top eight for the National NALSA Moot Court Competition.  Her thesis focuses on the Choctaw Nation’s history and resistance to termination during the 1950s-1970s.

Outside of work, Randi enjoys writing, beading, and spending time with her family and her dogs.  Her interest in working with Tribes comes from her family history and the dedication shown by her grandfather, the late Chief C. David Gardner, to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in furtherance of good Tribal governance.

Education

University of Oklahoma, Juris Doctor, with honors
University of Oklahoma, Master of Arts in Native American Studies
University of Oklahoma, Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies

Bar Admissions

Oklahoma
Western District of Oklahoma
The 10th Circuit
Various Tribal Courts