Glossary of Indian Tribal Finance Terminology (Second Edition)
This glossary is intended as a handy reference guide for tribal leaders and finance officers and for those who work closely with them.
Indian Tribal Finance
Orrick's Indian Tribal Finance Group has unmatched experience in financings by or on behalf of Native American tribes and enterprises.
We represent Indian tribal governments and enterprises, Alaska native villages and native corporations and major financial institutions (including investment and commercial banking firms and credit enhancement providers), as well as others doing business in Indian country. Over the last 20 years, Orrick lawyers have served as counsel in dozens of successful tribal financings (both taxable and tax-exempt) for a wide range of projects. Orrick is also the nation's leading bond counsel firm, ranked number one for more than a decade.
Our lawyers are known for innovation in the field, having served as bond counsel on the first publicly offered tribal governmental bonds and having developed borrowing programs for tribal entities that have no recourse or limited recourse to the tribe itself. Our lawyers have also served on advisory committees for the IRS's Tax Exempt/Government Entities division.
We have accumulated our expertise through years of direct experience. Our Indian Tribal Finance Group is nationwide and comprises lawyers from our Public Finance, Banking and Tax departments.
Tribal Economic Development Bonds (in Plain English)
By now, you’ve probably seen dozens of articles about Tribal Economic Development Bonds (“TED Bonds”). Most of the commentary seems to focus on dry technical and legal requirements, in particular IRS administrative procedures for TED Bonds.
Ten Questions Tribal Council Should Ask Before Borrowing Money
Borrowing money for tribal projects can be confusing. It’s a challenge to sort through the numbers and financial jargon and understand the fine print. But the task becomes more manageable if you stay focused on the basics. Following is a list of ten very fundamental questions that Tribal Council may want to think about as it embarks on the borrowing process.
