Lenny Powell is an experienced litigator and advocate. Prior to becoming an attorney, Lenny served for three years on the Tribal council of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indian. Driven by his dedication to advancing tribal sovereignty, Lenny now provides specialized legal support to Tribal Nations in high impact cases, such as Haaland v. Brackeen, the landmark Supreme Court case upholding the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act, and McGirt v. Oklahoma, the case recognizing the continued existence of the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, which The New York Times called “potentially one of the most consequential legal victories for Native Americans in decades.” At NARF, much of his work is focused on protecting Native American voting rights, which provide the underpinnings for all other legal rights.

Lenny was recognized in 2023 by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Native American 40 Under 40. He also earned the Outstanding Young Attorney Award from the California Indian Law Association in 2022.

Media experience includes “Should Trump Get Kicked Off the Ballot? Plus Indian Law Cases with Lenny Powell,” Law of the Land with Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, WBAI Radio (Nov. 21, 2023); TV Interview, Supreme Court to Hear Case on Navajo Nation Water Rights, GRAY TV (Mar. 17, 2023); Supreme Court Hears Case on Native Americans and Adoption, GRAY TV (Dec. 2, 2022); Native American Cases To Watch In 2nd Half Of 2022, Law360 (July 18, 2022); Biggest Native American Rulings From The 1st Half Of 2022, Law360 (July 15, 2022); and Experts Split on Gorsuch’s Power to Uphold Tribal Rights, Law360 (July 8, 2022)

Find him on LinkedIn.

Tribal Affiliation

• Hopland Band of Pomo Indians

Education

• Harvard Law School, J.D.
  • Articles Editor, Harvard Law Review
  • Research Assistant to Professor Larry Tribe
• UC Berkeley, B.A., English;
  • Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar

Admissions to Practice

• U.S. Supreme Court;
• U.S. Courts of Appeal: D.C. Circuit; Eighth Circuit; Ninth Circuit; Tenth Circuit
• U.S. District Courts: District of Columbia; Southern District of California.
• Bars: California; Washington, D.C.

Publications

• After Chevron: Impact On Indian Law May Be Muted, Law360 (July 5, 2024); The Supreme Court and Tribal Water Rights, American Bar Association, HUMAN RIGHTS (2024)
• Letter to the Editor, Justice for and by Native Americans, WASH. POST (Aug. 4, 2023)
• A Former Tribal Leader’s Thoughts on Serving Tribal Clients, FED. LAWYER (Apr. 2018)