Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP Attorneys


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SACRAMENTO OFFICE 1001 Second Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916-441-2700 Fax 916-441-2067 OMAHA OFFICE 3610 North 163rd Plaza Omaha, NE 68116 Phone 402-333-4053 Fax: 402-333-4761 SIOUX FALLS OFFICE 3817 Slaten Park Drive Sioux Falls, SD 57103 Phone 605-338-9147 Fax 605-339-1769 COLORADO OFFICE 1900 Plaza Drive Louisville, CO 80027 Phone 303-673-9600 Fax: 303-673-9155 NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE 3730 29th Ave. Mandan, ND 58554 Phone: 303-673-9600 Fax: 701-663-5103 MICHIGAN OFFICE 2848 Setterbo Road Peshawbestown, MI 49682 Phone: 231-631-8558

LEONIKA R. CHARGING – Attorney at Law
Omaha , Nebraska
phone: 402.333.4053
fax: 402.333.4761
email: email me

Ms. Charging joined the firm in 2007.

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Ms. Charging is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara).

PRACTICE AREAS: Tribal governance; tribal economic development; administrative law; and Indian gaming.

ADMISSIONS: State Courts of South Dakota; State Courts of Nebraska; Federal District Court for the District of Nebraska; Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

EDUCATION: University of South Dakota School of Law (J.D., 2003); University of Kansas (B.A., Political Science and Crime & Delinquency Studies, 1997)

PRIOR LEGAL EXPERIENCE: Previously, Ms. Charging was an Associate Attorney in Omaha, Nebraska with a law firm specializing in Indian law. She also served as a legal analyst to the Santee Sioux Tribal Court, assisting with the implementation of the Tribe’s court system. Ms. Charging also served as a Law Clerk for Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker in Washington, D.C. While in law school, Leonika had the opportunity to serve as the research assistant to Professor Frank Pommersheim. She assisted with his work involving the revision of Cohen’s Handbook on Federal Indian Law, which was re-issued in 2007.

LEGAL AUTHORSHIP: “Practicing in Tribal Courts: A Rewarding Opportunity,” The Nebraska Lawyer, July 2005; “Atkinson v. Shirley: A Taxing Decision on Tribal Sovereign Power,” Volume 47 South Dakota Law Review, 2002.

HONORS: South Dakota Law Review; Symposium Editor; Best Brief Award, 2001 Sam Masten Moot Court Tournament; 3rd Place Brief Honors at 2003 National Native American Law Students Moot Court Competition; C.A.L.I. Awards for Highest Grades in Torts, Criminal Procedure, Indian Law, Administrative Law, Trial Techniques & Selected Topics in Indian Law. Recipient of three law school foundation scholarships, the EPA Tribal Lands Environmental Scholarship and the National Indian Education Association Alice Tonemah Scholarship.

ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS: Presenter, “Tribal Constitutional Reform”, Minnesota Indian Business Conference, October 2008; Presenter, “School to Prison Pipeline”, Sioux City Community Schools School Law Seminar, September 2006; Presenter, “Tribal Constitutional Revisions”, Bureau of Indian Affairs Economic Development Conference, April 2006; Presenter, “Legal Updates Concerning Indian Child Welfare Act”, North Dakota Tribal Foster Care Conference, October 2005; Presenter, “Tribal Sovereignty in the Era of Self Determination”, Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission Native American Symposium, September 2005.

In serving as general and special counsel to a number of tribes, Ms. Charging gained significant experience relating to reservation economic development and tribal governance. She has developed and drafted numerous tribal policies, and tribal codes. She has experience in the areas of election and enrollment issues, including the drafting of election ordinances and regulations, as well as the representation of tribal election boards. Her work has also focused on providing advice and counsel regarding Secretarial elections and tribal constitutional reform. She is experienced in negotiating and drafting agreements and memorandums of understanding between tribal governments and other governmental entities, such as cross-deputization agreements and cooperative agreements. Her experience also includes contract drafting and negotiation, in the areas of commercial and entertainment contracts, as well as PL-638 contract matters. She primarily works with tribal commercial enterprises concerning business transaction matters, entity formation, taxation issues, tribal corporate code development and contracting, including providing assistance regarding the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Contracting Program.