About Anela
Anela Summers works with public and private entities on a wide range of transactional and regulatory compliance matters. Although she supports clients across a variety of industries, her practice focuses on assisting tribal governments and tribal enterprises with economic development matters including tax, liquor, cannabis, gaming, real estate, and government and regulatory affairs. Anela regularly reviews and drafts corporate governance documents and other policies for tribal governments and their entities. She also has experience advising tribal clients in responding to public records requests. Additionally, Anela assists tribes in navigating their disputes or negotiations with various agencies, including the Washington State Gambling Commission, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, and the Washington Department of Revenue.
Anela began at Miller Nash through the firm’s diversity fellowship program in 2021 and continued working as a law clerk for the firm until joining the Seattle office as an associate in 2023. While in law school, Anela served as a judicial extern to Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis at the Washington State Supreme Court. As an extern, Anela supported the Justice in resolving a wide range of complex legal questions by completing various writing and legal research assignments. She also volunteered with the Rural Alaska Tax Assistance Program to help Alaska Native communities attain over a million dollars in tax refunds. Prior to law school, Anela spent three years working as a communications and strategy associate for a private operating foundation in Honolulu and volunteering with the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Hawaii Family Courts. She is a proud Native Hawaiian.
Anela’s unique personal and professional experiences enable her to provide thoughtful and thorough advice to clients. With her extensive background in real estate, business, and tribal law, Anela is skilled in resolving complex and multi-faceted legal issues with efficiency and attention to detail.
Representative Experience
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Real Estate Plus
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Assisted a variety of clients with real estate matters including acquisitions, lease amendments, assignments and assumptions, easement agreements, refinancing, historic research, and title review
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Assisted Washington tribe with the acquisition of approximately 500 acres of forestland located in their traditional territory
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Assisted various non-tribal lenders in navigating federal and tribal laws and applicability to collateral located in Indian Country.
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Tribal Cannabis & Liquor Plus
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Assisted Washington tribe with the implementation of tribal regulatory structure for commercial cannabis activities.
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Drafted tribal cannabis and liquor codes and advised on other regulatory and transactional issues related to tribal cannabis and liquor activities.
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Tribal Tax Compacts Plus
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Assisted with negotiating tribal fuel tax compacts between Washington tribes and the State of Washington.
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Tribal Gaming Plus
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Assisted various Washington tribes with a variety of gaming issues including gaming compact amendments, sports betting vendor agreements, and management contracts.
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Advised publicly traded non-tribal entities in license agreements and other transactions with tribal gaming enterprises across the United States.
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Assist tribes and advocacy groups in monitoring relevant legislative and regulatory activities
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Sports, Entertainment & Media Plus
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Assisted national sports organization with due diligence for real estate transaction with tribe.
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Assisted multiple Washington sports organizations with reviewing vendor agreements and investigating public relations issues.
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Assisted collegiate NIL collective and advocacy organizations with contract drafting and legislative efforts.
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Activities
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- Asian Bar Association of Washington, Member
- Native Hawaiian Bar Association, Member
- Native American Law Student Association, Mentor, 2023-present
- National CASA Program, Advocate
- Hawaii Innocence Project, Intern
Recognition
- National NALSA Writing Competition, 1st Place, 2022
Insights from Anela
Outside the Office
Anela enjoys spending her free time lounging at home with her family and Nalu (their spunky Portie pup). She can occasionally be convinced to leave home if it involves wine, tennis, or Disneyland.