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The Circle Law Group, P.C.

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United States
Sacramento, CA
The Circle Law Group, P.C.

The Circle Law Group specializes in Indian law, Tribal Governmental and Economic Development Issues.

We are experienced in counseling on all matters relating to tribal governmental operations; fee-to-trust and related issues; tribal-local consultation; cultural resource protection; financing of tribal development projects; establishing and counseling tribal gaming commissions; preparation of tribal codes and constitutions; Indian law litigation including environmental issues, contract disputes, Indian child welfare, gaming; and many other Indian law matters.

06/04/2026

Congratulations Viola LeBeau, The Circle Law Group’s Land Acquisition Specialist, on graduating from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe! Viola’s body of work was featured at the opening for Be Held // IAIA MFA Thesis Exhibition ’26 and engages the relation of Tule and Stone, centering on ancestral practices that continue within conditions shaped by restriction, displacement and return. The exhibition will be open for viewing through June 7th at the Center of Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe.

tówááyéé // grinding stones
Cement, perlite, dirt, sphagnum moss, acorn shell dust, speaker wire, transducer, volcanic rock, asphalt from the west berkeley shellmound

slháátáác̓umá // we gather
Tule, barbed wire, beads (abalone, pine nuts, olivella shells, dentalium, clam shell disks, seed beads), sinew, California State Parks Native Gathering Permit

05/22/2026

The Circle Law Group would like to welcome Michael Potter to our 2026 Summer Fellowship. Michael is a rising 3L at UC Davis School of Law, with a focus on federal Indian law, tribal sovereignty, and economic development. He is an enrolled member of the Redding Rancheria, of Wintu descent, and was born and raised in Redding, California, in the ancestral territory of the Wintun peoples.

At UC Davis, Michael serves as Co-President of the Native American Law Students Association and as student co-chair of the Native American and Indigenous Advisory Committee to the Chancellor. He has competed twice in the National NALSA Moot Court Competition and is a two-time recipient of the California Indian Law Association scholarship.

Before law school, Michael worked as a cultural monitor on construction sites and as administrative assistant for his tribe's Cultural Resources Department while earning his B.A. in Philosophy from California State University, Chico.

05/14/2026

On June 2nd, The Circle Law Group Founder, Michelle Lee, will be featured in the California Humanities podcast “Reclaiming Our Stories: Voices of Indigenous Peoples of California”. This six-episode podcast series, which premiered on May 5th, is a platform for California Native people to discuss lived experiences rooted in sovereignty, culture, and community. Michelle was interviewed for the podcast on topics including federal recognition, tribal gaming and other related issues. Visit https://bit.ly/4nrmcCm for episodes, streaming services and more information.

Victorio L. Shaw, Esq. is the amazing story weaver for Reclaiming Our Stories. Victorio is a citizen of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and Chief Judge for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Robinson Rancheria Tribal Courts. Other featured guests include Judge Abby Abinanti (Yurok), Georgiana Sanchez (Chumash, O’odham), Cristina Gonzales (Chumash), Terria Smith (Cahuilla), Cindi Alvitre (Tongva), and Nicole Myers-Lim (Pomo).

Reclaiming Our Stories is available wherever you listen to podcasts and provides insight into contemporary California Indian life and issues impacting the tribal community.

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05/11/2026

On May 5th, 2026, The Circle Law Group’s Founder, Michelle Lee, attended a ceremonial removal of asphalt at the West Berkeley Shellmound. This historic event marks the start of uncapping the West Berkeley Shellmound and daylighting Strawberry Creek. Strawberry Creek was located adjacent to the Shellmound which is a place of tremendous significance to the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation and other local tribes. The land was returned to the Tribe in 2024, after many years of litigation and settlement negotiations. Preservation of what remains of the historic West Berkeley Shellmound finally secures the sacred place for the future generations.

The ceremony included representatives of many different faith communities, who have stood together in solidarity with the Tribe. It’s truly amazing when people work together to protect traditional tribal cultural places. The Circle is honored to be a part of this important effort.

05/01/2026

On April 28th, Dry Creek Rancheria was presented with the Native American Finance Officer Association’s Business Deal of the Year Award for a complex financing package to redevelop River Rock Casino into a new Caesars Republic Sonoma County. The development will provide a first-class resort experience, with a new hotel, entertainment, restaurants, and an upgraded casino floor. The casino resort is expected to open in September 2027. This deal is a first of its kind because it brought together Citizens Bank, two California Tribes, and institutional investors including Met Life and Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI) under a single credit facility.

The Circle Law Group’s Founder, Michelle Lee, who participated with a stellar team of legal counsel for this project, joined Dry Creek Rancheria Chairman Chris Wright, members of the Board of Directors, and representatives of Citizens Bank and GLPI to celebrate and accept this award on behalf of the Tribe. Visit https://newsroom.caesars.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Dry-Creek-Rancheria-and-Caesars-Entertainment-Break-Ground-on-Caesars-Republic-Sonoma-County/default.aspx for more information about the Caesar’s Republic Sonoma County!

04/30/2026

The Circle Law Group, P.C. is hiring a qualified Land Acquisition and Project Specialist to work at our Sacramento office. Responsibilities include review of tribal governmental documents to prepare fee-to-trust applications, analyze title documents, land maps and easements, and support grant applications and tribal projects. An ideal candidate would be curious, creative and seek to work on projects that transform the lives of Native people.

To apply, please send your resume, cover letter, writing sample, and if applicable, Paralegal Certification to [email protected].

Visit www.thecirclelaw.com/Careers.html to find the overview and requirements to apply for the position.

04/24/2026

On Monday, April 13th, Mooretown Rancheria Chairman Benjamin Clark, and The Circle Founder, Michelle Lee testified at a hearing held by the California State Assembly of Taxation and Revenue regarding AB 2167. This bill is an extension of AB 1485, which established property and documentary tax exemptions for federally recognized tribes and subsidiaries owned by tribes. AB 2167 would further amend the Revenue and Taxation Code to include both wholly-owned subsidiaries and corporations chartered pursuant to tribal law as tax exempt for the purposes of tribal land return acquisitions. This is hoped to fix an oversight in AB 1485 and better align the statute with tribal laws.

Thank you Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians for sponsoring AB 2167 so we can continue to press for tax equity for California tribes. Visit https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB2167/id/3381925 to learn more about AB 2167.

04/14/2026

The Circle Law Group’s Founder, Michelle Lee, was honored to attend Governor Newsom’s final Tribal Nation’s Summit yesterday. This is Governor Newsom’s seventh Tribal Leader Summit, and it included a meaningful opportunity for state agencies to collaborate with California tribal leaders on priorities that affect tribal nations. Each year the bar gets raised a little higher for the next!

Also pictured are Dry Creek Rancheria Chairman Chris Wright, Dry Creek Rancheria Vice Chairman, Rolando Cardona, and Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari.

03/05/2026

The Circle Law Group is excited to announce that on February 10, 2026, AB 1485 was signed into law. This bill establishes property tax exemptions and documentary transfer tax exemptions for federally recognized tribes, and subsidiaries owned by tribes, by utilizing the existing welfare tax exemption. While the tax exemptions are not automatic, California tribes now may seek a tax exemption for certain “land return” transactions. This is a positive step towards tax equity for property that is returned to tribal ownership for stewardship purposes. Thank you, Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians, for sponsoring this bill!

Visit https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1485 for more information about AB 1485.

02/20/2026

On Wednesday February 25th, Michelle Lee, Founder of The Circle Law Group, will be presenting at the 29th Annual Western Indian Gaming Conference at Pechanga Resort Casino. Michelle’s presentation, “Tribal Land Return: Taxation Issues” will focus on tribal land acquisition, new state tax exemptions and other tax concerns in reacquiring tribal lands. The panel begins at 3:30 and will be moderated by Kerry K. Patterson, Partner at Procopio and also include Gabriella McGee, Senior Associate at Procopio. Visit https://cniga.com/wigc/conference/ for the full agenda. Hope to see you all there!

Address

930 F Street
Sacramento, CA
95814

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19168098900

Website

http://www.thecirclelaw.com/

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