Attorneys

Ryan joined the firm in 2022. Originally from Fairbanks, Ryan attended the University of Colorado School of Law and practiced commercial real estate law in the Lower 48 before returning to Alaska. In addition, Ryan has a breadth of experience working in project management in academic and non-profit settings, and he also worked for the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources. Ryan’s practice includes real estate transactions, business law, working with Alaska Native corporations and other transactional work.

Originally from Utqiaġvik, Richard brings diverse experience to resolving his client’s legal issues, thoughtfully and effectively. Richard works with Alaska Native corporations, Tribes, municipalities, businesses, and non-profit organizations. His work includes advice and support in corporate affairs, internal governance, contracting, business transactions, real estate transactions, grant compliance, municipal law, and Alaska Native law and Arctic Policy issues.

Prior to returning to Alaska, Richard practiced as a litigator and supervising attorney at the trial and appellate levels for the New York City Administration for Children. In 2016, Richard worked in the Obama Administration’s White House Council for Environmental Quality for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Oversight. Richard was selected as a Human Rights Campaign McCleary Law Fellow and handled municipal and corporate legal issues. On two occasions, Richard studied and worked in Italy, including interning with an Italian law firm in 2015.

Before becoming an attorney, Richard worked in local and state government. He has over eight years of experience in public administration and policy with the North Slope Borough, most recently as the Chief Advisor to the Borough Mayor. Richard enjoys spending time with family and friends, often cooking for them, and traveling whenever he can. Richard is also a member of Makalik whaling crew in Utqiaġvik.

Before joining the firm, Casey served as a law clerk to Anchorage Superior Court judge Peter Ramgren.  In addition to the general litigation matters Casey worked on at the court, she has experience in municipal matters and utilities representation.  Before obtaining her joint law and business degree, Casey worked at an Alaska public policy research and consulting firm for several years.  Born and raised in Anchorage, Casey enjoys her family’s cabin, playing ice hockey, baking, and seeking out adventures with her loyal Newfoundland pup. 

Alex joined the firm in 2019 and works in all areas of the firm’s practice. Prior to joining the firm, Alex served as a law clerk to the Honorable Yvonne Lamoureux of the Alaska Superior Court in Anchorage. While in law school Alex also interned for the Honorable Gregory Miller of the Alaska Superior Court in Anchorage, interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage, and worked as a summer law clerk at Landye Bennet Blumstein, LLP. Before pursuing a career in the law, Alex worked as a legislative aide in the Alaska State Legislature.

A member of the Washington and Alaska bars, Ben Spiess represents clients across the Pacific Northwest. Ben is a member of the real estate practice group. With a background in corporate law, he represents clients in all aspects of real estate transactions, including business formation, deal structuring, real estate purchase and sales, development, leasing, financing, business formation and structuring, mergers, equity and asset transactions, corporate reorganizations, and corporate governance.

Ben is experienced in structuring real estate investment partnerships, development joint ventures, syndications and all aspects of related securities law matters, including Rule 506 private placements. Ben also practices in the areas of land use and zoning, ANCSA, and public lands.

Ben is active in Arctic policy and development.

Michelle has been practicing in Alaska since 1986 and focuses on commercial litigation, lender representation, and creditor’s rights in complex bankruptcy matters. Before entering private practice, she clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Herbert A. Ross from 1986 – 1988, and served as head of FDIC’s Alaska legal department for four years (1989 – 1993). Michelle has represented creditors and bank creditors in Alaska’s largest bankruptcy cases, and has also served as trustee counsel. She is currently representing creditors in Alaska’s first “mega” Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, actively defending of preference claims and other complex issues.

Jennifer focuses her practice on business litigation and employment cases. Her recent commercial case experience includes an arbitration on behalf of a royalty owner that resulted in a $245 million award, an administrative hearing and subsequent appeals involving a significant state income tax dispute, and a variety of contract disputes and real property litigation. She has defended a range of employment law cases representing and counseling employers on discrimination and wage and hour issues in state and federal court, and before administrative agencies.

Jennifer has also been involved in class actions from both the plaintiffs’ and the defendants’ side, and has taken part in more than twenty trials, preliminary injunction hearings or complex administrative proceedings. In addition, she has successfully argued cases before the Ninth Circuit, and the state Supreme Courts in both Washington and Alaska.

Whether in natural resource or appellate law, Andy answers questions about the law to solve client’s legal issues. His ability to research and understand matters in depth is key to helping his clients understand complex problems and their solutions.

His extensive experience analyzing natural resource issues throughout Alaska and the western U.S. provides a foundation his clients know they can rely on. Andy focuses his practice on Alaska Native law, litigation, municipal law, bankruptcy, natural resource and appellate law.

Before moving to Alaska to clerk for the Alaska Supreme Court, Andy worked as a policy fellow in the U.S. Senate, focusing on natural resource issues. He is a 2007 Harry S. Truman Scholar from Montana.

Sky litigates in the federal district courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Alaska Superior Courts and the Alaska Supreme Court, and appears before state and federal administrative regulatory boards and agencies. He advocates before the Alaska Legislature and the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch.

He has decades of experience representing Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations, local rural governments and Native corporations on a wide variety of issues, including tribal and subsistence rights, Indian Child Welfare Act cases, natural resource protection and allocation, state and federal political and legislative actions, Native allotments and co-management opportunities.

Sky is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Tribe, Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

Lauren works with Alaska Native corporations, private entities, and other businesses in managing their corporate affairs, real estate transactions, Alaska Native law issues, mergers and acquisitions, and other transactional work. Lauren also works with tribes, municipalities, and individuals on a regular basis to meet their business and transactional needs.

Lauren has handled real estate transactions involving the purchase and sale, lease, and management of commercial and residential properties, medical office space, commercial condominiums, mixed-use properties, warehouses, and undeveloped land in rural Alaska. She also works on property matters involving lease-backs, trust lands, government-owned property, and the sale of real estate in conjunction with asset sales.

Prior to joining the firm, Lauren was a law clerk for the Honorable Deputy Presiding Judge Vanessa White of the Alaska Superior Court.

Matt guides clients through the challenges of business, government, and litigation in Alaska. He has a general civil litigation and general counsel practice, representing clients on various commercial, land, and corporate matters.

Matt’s practice focuses on Alaska Native, municipal, and land-related issues. He delivers both consistent litigation results and insightful and practical general counsel advice. His clients appreciate that he provides the highest quality legal advice on an efficient and cost-effective basis.

His practice frequently involves traveling to remote villages to assist his Alaska Native clients. He is devoted to clients and has the experience and foresight to help them through a variety of challenges common in Alaska.

Matt is a regular presenter on Alaska land and municipal law issues.

In Memoriam

Tom was with the firm from 1968 to 2019.  He represented clients in business transactions, securities regulations, corporate reorganizations, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act matters, seafood processing enterprises, and mergers and acquisitions of domestic businesses. Tom was a graduate of Reed College and received his law degree from the University of Chicago in 1968.

Outside his legal practice, Tom was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.  He was part of the management team for timber, fishing, and barge businesses, and was an owner or investor in real estate and exploratory mining ventures.  He was also part owner of a fishing vessel in Alaska.

We at Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP are grateful for Tom’s years of leadership at the firm and for his enduring legacy.

Karl’s practice emphasizes tax planning and advice, wills, trusts and probate administration, tax-exempt organizations, and Alaska Native law. 

Karl is a past president of the Anchorage Estate Planning Council, and he is a frequent speaker on federal and state tax issues, estate planning and probate, and other topics.

He entered private practice in 2010 in Portland, Oregon, after receiving his LL.M. in taxation from New York University.  Before attending NYU, Karl clerked for the Hon. Walter Edmonds on the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Bob focuses on representing local, regional, and national businesses respecting sales and acquisitions, security, lending, and other contractual relationships and commercial transactions; real estate sales, leasing, financing and development; corporate, LLC and partnership organization and operation; and bankruptcy. Many of his clients are Alaska Native corporations facing issues unique to Native corporations.

Bob has presented continuing education programs on ANCSA, commercial real estate leasing, secured transactions, and bankruptcy matters.

Bob created and maintains, as a primary resource for information about Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (“ANCSA”), the ANCSA Resource Center.

Josh works collaboratively with his clients to structure, negotiate and close commercial transactions, from the complex to the simple, in a practical and cost-effective manner geared to achieve his clients’ goals.

Josh advises his corporate and individual clients through all facets of commercial real estate, business and private equity transactions, including entity formation and organization, purchases and sales, and lending arrangements. He also works with Alaska Native corporations on their unique range of legal needs, including commercial and government contracting, land use, and shareholder issues.

Keeping an open mind to unique solutions, Anna approaches legal issues with logic and focus, whether in Alaska Native law, labor and employment law or in litigation. Anna’s practice focuses on Alaska Native, Tribal, and Municipal Law, Business Litigation, and Labor and Employment Law.

Anna is experienced in defending clients against liability claims. She has also represented Alaska tribes protecting fishing rights in federal court; represented local business in small claims actions, seeking full remuneration for their services; and assisted organizations in eviction and detainer cases.

Anna clerked for the Honorable Anna M. Moran of the Alaska Superior Court and worked in the Tulalip Tribal Court in Tulalip, Washington, defending tribal members against misdemeanor criminal charges.

With more than 30 years of experience, Bruce gets tremendous satisfaction from sharing success and accomplishment even in the most difficult cases. He takes pride in understanding, communicating and representing his clients’ interests with clarity and economy. 

Bruce’s practice includes commercial litigation, creditor bankruptcy, appeals, banking, Alaska Native law, and real property litigation.

Kim focuses her practice on employment, labor, housing, and nonprofit organization law. 

Kim serves as general counsel to a number of nonprofit and public institutions, including clinics, social service agencies, housing authorities, municipalities and tribes. She serves as litigation defense and arbitration counsel for a variety of Alaska employers and project owners.

Kim also provides continuing education presentations in areas of employment, risk management, fiduciary duties of directors, and federal housing programs.

Phil works primarily with Alaska Native corporations, and other private businesses, on corporate affairs, real estate transactions, Alaska Native law issues, and mergers and acquisitions. His ability to quickly analyze issues and identify legal solutions across a broad range of practice areas is unique.

He serves as general counsel to numerous private and public entities in the state of Alaska and represents clients in multimillion-dollar commercial and real estate transactions. In addition, Phil handles litigation related to government contracts, environmental law, antitrust and municipal law matters.

Leslie enjoys practicing law because it is a helping profession. She strives to get to know her clients and understand their legal needs so she can provide thorough and thoughtful solutions. 

She has extensive litigation experience, including complex litigation, and a knack for conflict resolution.

Leslie previously worked as a law clerk for U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Roberts, The Alaska Attorney General’s Office, and Alaska Superior Court Judge Vanessa White. Leslie focuses her practice on Civil Litigation, Municipal Law, Alaska Native Law, and Business Law.