Brie Coyle Jones

Representative Experience

• Tribal Cannabis Plus

  • Co-authored Washington State House Bill 2000, which authorized the state to enter into cannabis compacts with Washington tribes. Lobbied for passage of the bill, worked on drafts and amendments of the bill with tribal and state staff. Bill passed 46-0 in the Senate and 79-17 in the House.

  • Co-authored Washington’s inaugural tribal-state cannabis compact between the Suquamish Tribe and the State of Washington, and subsequently co-authored several other cannabis compacts in Washington. Prepared tribal member outreach communications, tribal code revisions, compliance documents and policies, operating plans, and other necessary documents for implementation.

  • Co-authored and negotiated one of the first tribal-state intergovernmental cannabis agreements in New Mexico. Prepared code amendments, vendor agreements, internal policies and procedures, and advised on all aspects of opening a retail cannabis store.

  • Counseled a Michigan tribe on entering lease with a commercial cannabis tenant on the tribe’s lands, including handling negotiations with the state, revisions to tribal code, lease review, and other compliance issues.

  • Counseled numerous tribal clients on cannabis compacts and implementation of tribal regulatory structure, drafted tribal commercial cannabis code, prepared formation documents for commercial cannabis entities, prepared vendor contracts, and advised on other regulatory and transactional issues related to tribal cannabis activities.

• Gaming Compacts and Ordinances Plus

  • Successfully negotiated tribal-state gaming compacts and amendments thereto, including negotiation of an amendment to Washington State’s Appendix X2.

  • Co-authored Washington State House Bill 2638 (2019-2020) to legalize sports wagering in tribal casinos.

  • Regularly advises on gaming compact compliance and represents clients in consultations with the Washington State Gambling Commission.

  • Prepared and revised gaming ordinances and successfully obtained federal approval.

• Tribal Financings Plus

  • Counseled a tribe on a $625 million revolving and term credit facility, secured with gaming revenue, for expansion of a gaming and hotel property.

  • Counseled a tribe on a $39 million construction loan facility for expansion of a gaming and hotel property secured with specific tax revenue.

  • Counseled a tribe on a $500 million revolving credit facility for the construction of gaming facility secured with gaming revenue.

  • Counseled a tribe on an $8.5 million construction loan facility for a sewer system secured with specific tax revenues and pledged revenues.

  • Counseled a bank on a $13 million loan to a tribal enterprise secured by specific tax revenues.

  • Counseled a bank on a $10 million reducing revolving loan secured by specific tax revenue.

  • In connection with tribal financings secured with gaming revenue, secured NIGC declination letters and worked with WSGC to secure licensing exemptions for lenders.

• Tribal Governance and Support of In-House Counsel Plus

  • Drafted numerous tribal code provisions and resolutions for more than half a dozen tribes.

  • Briefed and presented before, tribal councils and boards.

  • Advised on compliance with Tribal constitutions, bylaws, codes, and policies.

  • Completed three secondments for two tribal enterprises, serving as in-house attorney both on-site and remotely. Secondments ranged from three to twelve months.

  • Reviewed hundreds of contracts and advised on day-to-day operations of enterprises, including on issues related to advertising, procurement, property damage, employment, patron exclusion, and compliance with codes and policies.

  • Prepared communications to local and state government agencies on behalf of tribes and tribal enterprises.

  • Briefed enterprise management and elected tribal leadership.

• Taxation in Indian Country Plus

  • Analyzed various state taxes, including sales, excise, property, and business and occupations taxes, and their application to tribes and non-tribal enterprises doing business in Indian country in order to advise on optimal structures for tribal and non-tribal enterprises in Indian country.

  • Prepared property tax exemption applications on behalf of tribes.

  • Drafted an amicus curiae brief on behalf of a non-profit tribal organization in Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Riverside County.

• Liquor Agreements & Code Plus

  • Helped negotiate and draft memoranda of agreements (MOA) between Washington tribes and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board related to liquor licensing in Indian country and related tax issues.

  • Drafted liquor ordinances and advised on submittal for federal approval.

  • Regularly advise on compliance with MOAs and tribal liquor ordinances.

• Fuel Tax Compacts Plus

  • Negotiated tribal fuel tax compacts between Washington tribes and the State of Washington.

  • Drafted related fuel tax ordinances and advised on implementation.

  • Played a leading role in drafting the amicus curiae brief submitted on behalf of 15 tribes in Automotive United Trades Organization v. State of Washington (2015). In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court of Washington upheld the constitutionality of tribal-state fuel tax compacts.

• Litigation Plus

  • Successfully resolved a dram shop action against a tribe and tribal enterprise.

  • Successfully briefed and argued cross-motions for summary judgment on behalf of a governmental agency in a real estate case involving more than 50 property owners.

  • Represented a governmental agency in a condemnation case and helped arrive at a settlement amount that was $3.3 million less than purported in the property owner’s just compensation evidence.