Lenor A. Scheffler
612/349.5687
lscheffler@bestlaw.com

Lenor Scheffler is a member of and Chair of Best & Flanagan's Native American Law Practice Group.   She practices in the areas of federal Indian law, tax, tribal election representation, governance, gaming law, tribal financing and business law. Born and raised on the Lower Sioux Reservation near Morton, Minnesota, Scheffler is an enrolled member of the Lower Sioux Dakota Community in Minnesota—and the first member of the Mdewakanton Dakota Community to become an attorney.   In October 2001, she was sworn in as chief judge of the Upper Sioux Community Tribal Court.  

Scheffler brings a wide range of experience in gaming and regulatory matters, complex business transactions, finance, tax, governance and other areas critical to tribal clients. These areas require special understanding of tribal immunity and law principles as applied to a sovereign nation. Along with the other members of the firm's Native American Law Practice Group, she serves as general and special counsel to tribes and tribal entities, represent tribes in gaming-related matters and provides advice and support to in-house counsel.

Scheffler and her partners have been on the cutting edge of obtaining favorable tax solutions for beneficiaries of tribal minors' trusts and for tribal members participating in tribal housing and other social benefit programs.   In one significant case, Scheffler and her partners successfully argued on behalf of a tribal minor's trust fund, receiving a very substantial monetary award.   She has also assisted in developing programs for investing tribal funds, educational assistance for tribal members and sophisticated financing for tribal projects.

In 2003, Scheffler was appointed to the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection as an at-large member. She teaches Indian taxation and jurisdiction classes across the country for the Falmouth Institute, including classes for tribal tax commissions, tribal councils and other tribal government departments.   The Internal Revenue Service appointed Scheffler to its Advisory Committee for Tax Exempt and Government Entities in 2004.

Scheffler contributes her time and expertise to the community in multiple ways and recently received the Turtle Award from the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce for volunteering time, energy and services to support and promote the American Indian business community. She is a founding member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association and a member of the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce.   Her past contributions to the community have included serving with Minnesota Women Lawyers, the William Mitchell Alumni/ae Board, the Children's Law Center and the Minneapolis Council of Churches Division of Indian Work.

Scheffler has been named a “Super Lawyer” by the publisher of Minnesota Law & Politics, Twin Cities Business Monthly, and Mpls/St. Paul Magazine in 2004, 2005 and 2006. She was also one of The Business Journal 's “Forty Under Forty” business leaders. She frequently lectures on federal Indian law topics.   Demonstrating a strong commitment to education, she has been a volunteer tutor and mentor to numerous Indian students.   She currently serves as a mentor to students at the University of St. Thomas Law School.

When she isn't practicing law, Scheffler enjoys golfing, hiking, biking, cooking, writing and spending time with her family.

TRIBAL AFFILIATION
Enrolled member of the Lower Sioux Dakota Community

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association - Founding Member
Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Woman Lawyers
Minnesota Private Colleges Council, Vice Chair

IRS Advisory Committee for Tax Exempt and Government Entities

Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection - At-Large Attorney Member

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2004
Chief Judge of the Upper Sioux Community Tribal Court (2001 - 2006)
Adjunct Law Professor, Spring 2001, William Mitchell College of Law, Federal Indian Law
Adjunct Law Professor, Fall 2001, Hamline University School of Law, Unincorporated Business Entities
Named one of the "40 under 40" Next Generation of Business and Community Leaders by CityBusiness (1997)
Named one of William Mitchell College of Law's "100 Who Made a Difference" in the history of the College (2001)