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Aaron J. Harkins is an associate in the firm's Indian/tribal law and finance and restructuring practices. Aaron has an active Indian finance practice with experience representing both tribes and financial institutions in connection with bond offerings, bank loans and a broad range of other financing transactions. Aaron also represents clients throughout the United States on matters involving tribal, state and federal gaming laws, including management, development and consulting agreements for tribal gaming operations, gaming machine and equipment leases, tribal-state gaming compacts and matters before the National Indian Gaming Commission and tribal and state gaming commissions. Prior to joining Faegre & Benson, Aaron was an associate in the New York office of Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP, where he worked on many large public and private securities offerings.
Aaron's legal experience includes representing tribes and investment banks in connection with all aspects of bond offerings related to Indian casino developments, including the following recent transactions:
Representing the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma (O-Gah-Pah) and the Downstream Development Authority in the issuance of $197,000,000 of senior notes and $52,000,000 of senior subordinated notes in October 2007
Representing the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Shingle Springs Tribal Gaming Authority in the issuance of $450,000,000 of senior notes in June 2007
Representing the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and the Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority in the issuance of $330,000,000 of senior notes in January 2007
Representing Merrill Lynch & Co. in connection with the issuance of $70,000,000 of bonds by the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians in October 2006
Representing the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Pokagon Gaming Authority in connection with the issuance of $305,000,000 of senior notes in June 2006
Representing the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in connection with the issuance of $122,000,000 of senior notes in February 2006
Representing the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority in connection with the issuance of $150,000,000 of senior notes in November 2005
Additional experience includes:
Representing tribes and lenders in connection with numerous bank loans and credit facilities
Representing tribes and lenders with respect to granting security interests in tribal assets and revenues and with respect to compliance with tribal and federal laws and regulations applicable to trust lands
Representing tribes and lenders with respect to the licensing of financial sources by tribal and state gaming commissions, including the "short form" licensing procedures applicable under California gaming compacts
Representing managers and developers in connection with management, development and consulting agreements for tribal gaming operations, including the submission of management contracts for approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission and "proprietary interest" considerations
Representing gaming machine and equipment suppliers in connection with leasing and financing agreements with tribal gaming operations, including compliance with tribal, state and federal licensing requirements
Representing both issuers and underwriters in connection with structured finance transactions, including the issuance of over $15 billion of mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Professional Recognition
Minnesota Rising Stars, Native American Law, 2008
Presentations
Project Financing In Indian Country - From Casinos to Clinics (2007)
Due Diligence When Financing With Bonds (2007)
Bonds 101 and Due Diligence (2006)
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