Biography

Ryan C. Rusche joined the firm as a partner in 2022. Mr. Rusche has spent his career advancing the interests and goals of Indian tribes and will work in all areas of the firm’s practice. Prior to joining the firm Mr. Rusche worked in house for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) of the Flathead Reservation where he focused on the federal ratification of the Tribes’ water rights compact and settlement of the Tribes’ water-related claims against the federal government. His efforts resulted in enactment of a landmark $1.9 billion water rights settlement in December 2021, that comprehensively secures water rights for the Tribes and address decades of environmental and natural resources damages caused by the federal government on the Reservation. Prior to his work at CSKT, Mr. Rusche worked for his own Tribe, Ft. Peck serving as both in-house and outside counsel. Mr. Rusche also successfully ran and was elected as the County Attorney of Roosevelt County. Mr. Rusche advises tribal clients on complex matters including protection of treaty rights, taxation, environmental law, water, energy, business, and infrastructure development, as well general counsel matters and Indian Child Welfare Act issues.

Ryan grew up on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana and graduated from Wolf Point High School. Ryan then graduated from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and the University of Montana School of Law.

Ryan has served as the Chair of the Montana Human Rights Commission, as well as on the board of trustees of the State Bar of Montana, the Montana Judicial Nomination Commission, the Advisory Council to the Montana Attorney General on Prescription Drug Abuse, the Montana Department of Revenue Local Government Working Group, and various other boards and commissions.