Brendan P. Keenan, Jr.

Brendan Keenan is an associate in Best Best & Krieger’s Environmental Law and Natural Resources Practice Group and specializes in Federal Indian Law. He advises tribal clients on a variety of matters, with a particular focus on treaty rights and the protection of natural and cultural resources. Brendan provides diligent representation that respects the unique interests and cultures of each of his clients.
 
Before joining BB&K, Brendan worked as in-house counsel and interned for Native American governments in the Pacific Northwest. He also interned at a legal aid office of the Navajo Nation. Brendan has experience representing tribes on administrative, litigation, and transactional matters, such as:

• Drafting an eligibility application and water quality standards for tribal assumption of authority under Sections 303(c) and 401 of the Clean Water Act
• Representing a tribe, as amicus curiae, in litigation concerning treaty rights to hunt bison outside of Yellowstone National Park
• Representing a tribe in high-level intergovernmental meetings regarding housing development, fish and wildlife management and water quality regulation
• Drafting comment letters on behalf of tribes regarding proposed federal, state and local agency rulemaking, permitting, land use and environmental review processes
• Drafting, reviewing and/or negotiating contracts for tribal business transactions, funding awards, easements and other land use licenses and natural and cultural resource protection
• Advising a tribe on formation of educational non-profit organization

Brendan is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, and the Yakama Nation Tribal Court.
 
Brendan enjoys hiking and camping with his fiancée Laura and their dog Buddy, reading books about space, and traveling to new places.