Ms. Thompson is a member of Sonnenschein’s Public Law & Policy Strategies Practice. She focuses on the representation of governmental entities, and has worked for local, state, tribal, and foreign governments, and the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

Within Indian law she focuses on a broad range of legislative and policy issues, including tribal sovereignty, economic development, law enforcement, energy, telecom, and homeland security. In addition, she has experience in governmental and election matters, and has played significant roles in efforts to reform the process of adopting tribal constitutions, the judicial process, health care policy and election laws.

Prior to joining Sonnenschein, Ms. Thompson served as Director of Government Affairs with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), where she was responsible for managing the legislative staff and coordinating outreach to Congress and the Administration.

In the Public Policy arena, Ms. Thompson has also served as a Deputy Director for the Appleseed Foundation, a legal organization which utilizes pro bono resources to tackle systemic public policy problems. Ms. Thompson was Policy Advisor and Counsel to United States Senator and

Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) on judiciary issues and Native American affairs. Ms. Thompson was also a policy advisor on border issues with the Department of Justice (Immigration and Naturalization Service). She began her legal career at Patton Boggs LLP.

Ms. Thompson has also worked on political campaigns at the national, local, state, and tribal level. She has international experience in South and Central America and the Middle East.

Ms. Thompson is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

(Mnicoujou/Itazipco).

Organizations

• Immediate Past President, National Native American Bar
• Association (NNABA)
• National Native Vote Election Protection Coordinator
• Co-Chair, Annual DC Federal Bar Indian Law Conference
• Past President, DC Native American Bar Association
• Past Deputy Chair, Federal Bar Association-Indian Law Section
• Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations
• Ideas Festival Fellow, Aspen Institute
• Board Member, Phelps Stokes
• Advisory Board, Cheyenne River Youth Project

Practice Areas

• Energy
• Public Law & Policy Strategies
• Indian Law & Tribal Representation
• International

Education

• Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude
• University of Florida, M.A., Public Policy, honors
• Carnegie Mellon University, B.A., International Studies, Honors