Attorneys

Alex practices in the areas of Alaska Native law, corporate and tribal, and government relations and advocacy. Alex was born and raised in Alaska. He is a tribal citizen of Tangirnaq Native Village and a shareholder of Natives of Kodiak, Koniag Inc., and Cook Inlet Region Inc.

His experience includes advocacy in intergovernmental relations, cross-jurisdictional matters, tribal justice systems, and complex legal issues involving tribal, state, and federal law. Alex returns to private practice after building and leading legal practices serving Alaska Native communities across nonprofit, governmental, and corporate contexts over more than twenty years.

Alex assists Alaska Tribes, tribal organizations, and Alaska Native Corporations in board governance, shareholder matters, corporate compliance, and strategic legal matters. He advises clients on business transactions, entity formation, economic development, and commercial contracts. Clients benefit from his extensive experience navigating the unique legal and regulatory landscape facing Alaska Native entities, including work on tribal court development, ANCSA corporate governance, ISDEAA contracting, and tribal-state-federal relations. He has worked closely with tribal governments, ANCSA corporations, tribal health organizations, and Alaska Native communities throughout the state.

Alex serves as Judge Pro Tem for the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and on the Board of Directors of Koniag, Inc., an ANCSA Regional Corporation where he has served since 2015. He is also a member of the Woody Island Tribal Council. This combination of ANCSA, tribal judicial, and board experience provides practical, firsthand insight into the governance challenges and legal obligations facing Alaska Native entities.

Prior to joining Landye Bennett Blumstein, Kyla clerked for the Honorable Judge Adolf Zeman at the Alaska Superior Court. She graduated from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 2024. While studying at Catholic, Kyla spent time abroad working on international human-rights issues in Iraq. Her work was later published by the International Association of Genocide Scholars. In addition, Kyla was published by the Catholic University’s Journal of Law and Technology on her research about the uses of artificial intelligence in marine protected and conserved areas.

Michael’s practice is focused on business law, estate planning, real estate, tax, and general civil litigation. Prior to joining LBB, Michael clerked for the honorable Judge Wheeles at the Alaska Superior Court at Anchorage. In Law School, Michael was the student director of the business planning practicum and an article editor on the Editorial Board of the University of Wyoming’s Law Review. He graduated with honors in May 2024 and was awarded the Order of the Coif.

Jed is a longtime Alaskan who is focused on Fisheries, Subsistence, Land Use and Development, Labor and Employment, and Alaska Native Law. He brings a wealth of life experience to his legal practice including in construction, fishing, hunting, as well as fabrication and manufacturing. Jed thrives on finding pragmatic solutions to complex problems and helping clients achieve their goals.

Dezi represents clients in employment law, business litigation, and labor matters, offering strategic counsel to both employers and individuals. Her practice encompasses a broad range of employment-related issues, including workplace investigations, non-compete and employment agreements, EEO matters, and separation negotiations. In addition to her employment law practice, Dezi defends clients in liability and tort-based claims, bringing a comprehensive and pragmatic approach to resolving legal challenges. Her work is marked by a strong commitment to practical solutions and proactive legal guidance.

Prior to joining LBB, Dezi gained significant litigation experience across both public and private sectors in Oregon and Alaska. She has successfully handled complex employment disputes and regularly advises clients on compliance, policy development, disability accommodations, and risk management related to hiring, discipline, and termination.

Larry enjoys the practice of law as it provides a vehicle for creative problem-solving on behalf of his clients. He is an accomplished and seasoned trial litigator with over 20 years of courtroom experience, conducting over 150 criminal jury trials and delivering winning verdicts through well-planned, logical, and compelling arguments. He brings a deep knowledge of trial preparation and advocacy in complex cases. His extensive litigation experience includes a focus on resolving cases during pre-trial stages, as well as pursuing success in the courtroom.

Larry has worked for the Alaska Attorney General’s Office, the Municipality of Anchorage, and county agencies across California. At LBB, he focuses his practice on civil litigation, construction law, insurance litigation, and liability defense.

River focuses his practice on Alaska Native Law and Environmental & Natural Resources issues. Prior to joining Landye Bennett Blumstein, River clerked for the Honorable Dario Borghesan of the Alaska Supreme Court. In 2023, he graduated summa cum laude with an Environmental & Natural Resources Law Certificate from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. While in law school, River served as the Submissions Editor of the Lewis & Clark Law Review and the Secretary of the Portland National Lawyers Guild chapter. He was also an active member of the Native American Law Students Association on campus.

River’s professional experiences in law school included clerking for the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government and working as a summer associate at Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C. in Seattle. He also externed for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission during the academic year.

Joseph Levesque represents Alaskan municipalities and private clients throughout the state. He believes in a simple philosophy that clients from every sector have the right to successful, competent, and effective legal services, and that the quality of those services should never differ according to the client’s size or standing within a community.

Having lived and represented parties in some of Alaska’s largest, smallest, and most remote communities, Joseph understands that the needs of his clients differ in as many ways as Alaska’s people. He is dedicated to ensuring that each of his clients’ particular interests guide the scope of their representation.

Doug is an experienced litigation and contract attorney. With over 25 years of experience in construction and construction law, Doug regularly represents general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and design professionals in all aspects of construction and development including litigation and dispute resolution. Doug has a master’s degree in construction engineering and management and has also been an adjunct professor in construction law at the University of Colorado. Doug also represents clients in a wide variety of litigation and disputes, including business disputes, land and real estate, and contracts.

Doug has a range of legal experience, including working in one of the largest firms in Alaska and western states as well as being a solo practitioner. This diverse background gives Doug valuable perspective for all sorts of legal issues – big and small.

Jackson loves the practice of law because he enjoys the everyday challenge of helping people solve problems big and small.

Jackson’s practice is focused on construction and real estate litigation, and on advising public, private, and tribal entities across Alaska. Before becoming an attorney, he worked in Business Affairs in the entertainment industry, where he was involved in producing multiple Emmy Award-winning TV series. He also worked in-house at one of the country’s largest telecommunications companies, where he focused on real estate matters.

Jackson moved to Alaska to clerk for the Honorable Rachel Ahrens of the Alaska Superior Court at Valdez and the Honorable Bride Seifert of the Alaska Superior Court at Homer.

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 Bennett 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 is a highly experienced attorney who has been practicing law in Alaska since 1986, with a focus on commercial collection and lender representation. Before entering private practice, she clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Herbert A. Ross from 1986 -1988 and served as a staff attorney then as lead counsel for FDIC’s Alaska Legal Department (1989-1993). Michelle represents private businesses, banks, and credit unions in large commercial collection matters and in bankruptcy cases, including defending preference claims.

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.

Andy is an experienced litigator with a focus on administrative practice, corporate and municipal law, Alaska Native subsistence law, and appeals. He has been a partner at Landye Bennett Blumstein since 2024.

Andy has successfully litigated cases on behalf of Alaska Native Corporations and Alaska Tribes at all levels of the Alaska state and federal courts, including defending Alaska Native subsistence hunting and fishing rights. He currently represents several Alaska Native entities and individuals in lawsuits aimed at protecting customary and traditional uses of fish and game throughout the state.

Before joining Landye Bennett Blumstein as an associate in 2016, Andy served as a law clerk for the Alaska Supreme Court and worked as a policy fellow in the U.S. Senate, focusing on natural resource issues in the West. He has a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School and a master’s degree in environmental policy from Oxford University. Andy 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.

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.