Meet Brian
Brian’s Indian law practice began over 30 years ago with his representation of Chippewa Indians in a successful federal court lawsuit to enjoin interference with treaty-reserved off-reservation fishing rights. Brian's primary objective is to draw on the knowledge and experience of Godfrey & Kahn's attorneys to assist tribes in formulating and implementing strategies that strengthen tribal sovereignty, with a particular focus on business development, environmental protection, renewable energy and housing development. Brian also frequently advises tribes on tribal constitutional, ordinance and governance matters. He has extensive experience representing developers, lenders and others who partner with tribes to pursue Indian country business opportunities.
Brian has worked on Indian land title records reform with the National Congress of American Indians and leasing reform with the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC). A frequent conference speaker and author on Indian law issues, Brian's recent articles on Indian country housing development and the Indian Nonintercourse Act were published in the American Bar Association's Affordable Housing Journal and the Federal Lawyer Magazine, respectively. He is the author of the NAIHC's Indian Country Housing Development Handbook.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School, 1983, cum laude
Activities
Chair of Wisconsin State Bar Indian Law Section
Board Member, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Board Member, Spotted Eagle, Inc.
Academic
Former Adjunct Professor, Marquette Law School
Honors
Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Native American Law, 2013 - 2024)
Recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer (2005 - 2017)
Wisconsin's Civil Libertarian of the Year award - American Civil Liberties Union
Service to Indian Country award - American Indian Chamber of Commerce Wisconsin
AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
The National Law Review Go-To Thought Leader Award (2019, 2021)
Admitted To Practice
WisconsinCourt Admissions
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Various tribal courts
News & Updates
February 17, 2023
Indian Nations Law Update - November/December 2022
January 5, 2023
Two Opportunities for up to $4 Million Tribal DOE Energy Grants
November 21, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2022
October 18, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2022
September 20, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2022
August 16, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2022
July 19, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - May/June 2022
June 21, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - April 2022
April 25, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2022
March 22, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2022
February 24, 2022
Indian Nations Law Update - January 2022
January 26, 2022
Clancy, Pierson and Cleary named Go-To Thought Leaders
January 4, 2022| The National Law Review
Indian Nations Law Update - December 2021
December 15, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2021
November 15, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2021
October 21, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2021
September 15, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2021
August 16, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2021
July 14, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2021
June 22, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - May 2021
May 13, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - April 2021
April 15, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2021
March 17, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2021
February 26, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - January 2021
January 29, 2021
Indian Nations Law Update - December 2020
December 31, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2020
November 24, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2020
October 27, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2020
September 24, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2020
August 31, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2020
July 29, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2020
June 24, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - May 2020
May 21, 2020
March 27, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2020
March 10, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2020
February 19, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - January 2020
January 23, 2020
Indian Nations Law Update - December 2019
December 20, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2019
November 20, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2019
October 15, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2019
September 23, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2019
August 20, 2019
Fifth Circuit Squarely Rejects Challenge to ICWA
August 12, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2019
July 25, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2019
June 18, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - May 2019
May 21, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - April 2019
April 25, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2019
March 29, 2019
What the Supreme Court's Cougar Den Decision Means
March 26, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2019
February 20, 2019
Indian Nations Overview - January 2019
January 23, 2019
Indian Nations Law Update - December 2018
December 20, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2018
November 29, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2018
October 16, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2018
September 12, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2018
August 7, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2018
July 23, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2018
June 11, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - May 2018
May 16, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update April 2018
April 20, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2018
March 20, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update – February 2018
February 7, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update – January 2018
January 10, 2018
Indian Nations Law Update – December 2017
December 5, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2017
November 7, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update – October 2017
October 11, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2017
September 13, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2017
August 23, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2017
July 21, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2017
June 12, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - May 2017
May 10, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - April 2017
April 19, 2017
Brian Pierson was quoted in "Seneca Nation’s Halt To Revenue Sharing Raises Questions"
April 5, 2017| Law 360
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2017
March 20, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2017
February 16, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - January 2017
January 24, 2017
Indian Nations Law Update - December 2016
December 15, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2016
November 18, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2016
October 19, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2016
September 12, 2016
4 Takeaways From DOI's Win In Calif. Tribal Casino Row
September 9, 2016| Law360
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2016
August 18, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2016
July 13, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - April 2016
April 12, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2016
March 14, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2016
February 8, 2016
Indian Nations Law Update - January 2016
January 7, 2016
Native American Cases to Watch in 2016
December 24, 2015| Law360
Native American Policymaking to Watch in 2016
December 24, 2015| Law360
The Biggest Native American Law Cases Of 2015
December 18, 2015| Law360
Indian Nationsl Law Update - December 2015
December 10, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - November 2015
November 2, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - October 2015
October 7, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - September 2015
September 10, 2015
Eleventh Circuit decides important tax case
September 1, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2015
August 18, 2015
Native American Cases To Watch In The 2nd Half Of 2015
July 20, 2015| Law360
The Biggest Native American Cases of 2015: Midyear Report
July 17, 2015| Law360
Indian Nations Law Update - July 2015
July 7, 2015
Bizarre Sixth Circuit decision further confuses NLRB's jurisdiction over tribal enterprises
July 2, 2015
Showdown Looms In 6th Circ. Over NLRB's Tribal Authority
July 2, 2015| Law360
The Supreme Court will hear the Dollar General Case
June 17, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2015
June 16, 2015
Saginaw Chippewa could have Anti-NLRB recipe for 6th Circ.
May 11, 2015| Law360
Indian Nations Law Update - May 2015
May 7, 2015
5 Tips For Negotiating Native American Land Leases
April 24, 2015| Law360
Indian Nations Law Update - April 2015
April 9, 2015
The Precarious Sovereign Immunity of Tribal Business Corporations
April 1, 2015| The Federal Lawyer
Indian Nations Law Update - March 2015
March 9, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - February 2015
February 11, 2015
Exploring Indian country marijuana
February 10, 2015
Indian Nations Law Update - January 2015
January 12, 2015
Big Lagoon Case Presents Key Test For Tribal Casino Deals
September 15, 2014| Law360
Indian Nations Law Update - August 2013
August 6, 2013
Indian Nations Law Update - June 2013
June 6, 2013
The Precarious Immunity of Tribal Corporations
June 4, 2012
Godfrey & Kahn Announces 2008 "Super Lawyers" and "Rising Stars
November 19, 2008
Events
The Political Minefield of Internal Investigations
October 26, 2017
September 29, 2017
Financing Solar Energy For Indian Housing
June 29, 2017
The Supreme Court’s Decision in Lewis v. Clarke and the Future of Tribal Sovereign Immunity
May 11, 2017
Environmental Protection in the Trump Era
March 22, 2017
Zinke, Gorsuch, Lewis v. Clarke, Lundgren, People v. Miami Tribe
February 23, 2017
December 6, 2016
Supreme Court’s 2015-16 Indian Law Decisions and Cases to Watch
September 23, 2016
Renewable Energy Finance Strategies
July 20, 2016
Legal Update and Federal Regulatory Developments
April 27, 2016
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act and Developments in the Courts
February 10, 2016
Financing Renewable Energy for Tribal Housing
July 29, 2015
Financing Renewable Energy for Tribal Housing
May 13, 2015
Penokee Mine and other Recent Developments
March 10, 2015
Financing Renewable Energy for Tribal Housing
June 4, 2014