Boies Schiller Flexner is launching a new tribal affairs task force, led by partner John Kucera, a former assistant U.S. attorney in California. The firm will partner with Tyler Burtis, former special agent in charge at the California Department of Justice, in this new initiative.
“We look forward to working with Tyler on a variety of tribal affairs issues, including Native American rights, sovereignty and gaming,’’ Kucera said. “Boies Schiller has a long track record of working on tribal issues, including representing the Cherokee nation and other tribes on compliance issues and complex relationships between them and the state of California when it comes to gaming issues.”
Before retiring in 2020, Burtis spent six years overseeing compliance programs of tribal casinos and card rooms across Southern California under the Bureau of Gambling Control. He is a nationally recognized speaker on tribal issues and has deep relationships both with tribal executives and state and federal regulators.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering exclusively with Boies Schiller Flexner, working again with John Kucera, and launching this initiative to utilize our vast expertise in state and federal regulatory and legal issues to help tribes manage their most complex regulatory problems,’’ Burtis said.
While at the Justice Department, Kucera served as coordinator of the High Intensity Financial Crime Area Task Force, where he worked with Burtis on joint federal-state investigations.
Burtis has won praise for his work from tribal leaders and others in the gaming industry. “Tyler has distinguished himself in the tribal gaming business by building training programs, bringing organizations together, leading by example and mentoring those who seek it,’’ said Lester Stanley, executive director of the Rincon Gaming Commission.
“Boies Schiller Flexner has a long history of advising companies and senior executives in the gaming, financial services, real estate, and cryptocurrency sectors, among others, on their compliance and anti-money laundering needs,’’ said Managing Partner Matthew Schwartz. “We are delighted to be working with Tyler Burtis as we expand our relationships in this important space with new and existing Native American clients.’’