Biography

Frank S. Holleman joined the firm in 2012 and became a partner in 2017. He works in all areas of the firm's practice. He graduated from the Columbia Law School in 2012, where he was a managing editor on the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, Head Editor of the Native American Law Student Association moot court team, and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He also interned at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Holleman has experience in federal and tribal court litigation and has experience working on issues related to federal labor law, water rights and riverbed ownership, cultural resource protection, environmental regulation, gaming, and tribal jurisdiction. 

Reported Decisions

• Working with the partners and associates at the firm and outside counsel, Mr. Holleman has contributed to the following achievements for clients:
• Decisions
• Cherokee Nation v. Stitt, 475 F. Supp. 3d 1277 (W.D. Okla. 2020).  Obtained judgment that Oklahoma Model Compact renewed and preserved all Oklahoma gaming Tribes' right to conduct Class III under the Model Compact in Oklahoma from 2020-2035.
• In re NorthMet Project Permit to Mine, 940 N.W.2d 216 (Minn. App. 2020), aff’d in part, 959 N.W.2d 731 (Minn. 2021). Obtained reversal and remand of state-issued permit to mine that threatened to violate downstream tribal water quality standards and tribal treaty fishing and gathering rights.
• FMC Corp. v. Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, 942 F.3d 916. (9th Cir. 2019), aff'g No. 4:14-CV-489-BLW, 2017 WL 4322393 (D. Idaho Sept. 28, 2017), cert. denied (Jan. 11, 2021). Obtained $21 million judgment for client to remediate environmental harms caused by toxic waste dump on Reservation.
• Douglas Indian Association v. Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indians of Alaska, 403 P.3d 1172 (Alaska 2017). Successfully asserted tribal sovereign immunity against subpoenas.
• Chickasaw Nation, 362 NLRB No. 109 (2015).  Obtained judgment that federal labor relations law does not govern employment relationship between Chickasaw Nation and its employees at gaming enterprises.
• Pueblo of Isleta v. Lujan Grisham, Civ. No. 17-654 KG/KK, 2019 WL 1436023 (D.N.M. Mar. 30, 2019).  Defeated demand from State of New Mexico to tribal clients for gaming revenue sharing payments of over $20 million and obtained declaratory judgment that revenue sharing payments made under New Mexico 2015 Model Compact do not include value of free play at Class III gaming machines.
• Amicus Briefing
• McGirt v. Oklahoma, 140 S. Ct. 2452 (2020) and Sharp v. Murphy, 140 S. Ct. 2412 (2020) (per curiam).  Co-authored amicus briefs on the merits on behalf of current and former Oklahoma federal and state officials and tribal clients that were relied on by majority opinion in McGirt to overcome objections by State of Oklahoma to recognition of continued existence of Muscogee (Creek) Reservation or other Reservations in Oklahoma.
• “Bosse v. State, 2021 OK CR 3, 483 P.3d 286 – Co-author of amicus briefs on behalf of Chickasaw Nation at state district court and Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, explaining how the Chickasaw Reservation was established by treaty with the Chickasaw Nation and has never been disestablished by Congress.  Historical evidence and legal arguments were relied on by courts to recognize continuing existence of Chickasaw Reservation, the existence of which the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals subsequently reaffirmed after the Bosse decision was withdrawn on other grounds.
• Stitt v. Treat, 2024 OK 21 – Co-author of amicus brief for tribal clients before Oklahoma Supreme Court on Oklahoma Governor’s authority under Oklahoma Constitution and statute to negotiate and enter into compacts on behalf of the State with Indian tribes.
• Haaland v. Brackeen, 143 S. Ct. 1609 (2023) – Co-author of amicus brief on behalf of former foster children explaining how the application of Indian Child Welfare Act to them benefitted them personally.”