Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville is proud to announce that Principal Paul Moorehead has been named the Best Lawyers® 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Washington, D.C. for Native American Law. The “Lawyer of the Year” designation is awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one attorney is recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” per specialty and location.
Paul is a principal in Powers’ Indian Tribal Governments Group, where his practice is dedicated to Federal Indian law and policy. He advises clients on appropriations, commercial transactions, energy and natural resources development, gaming, healthcare and telemedicine, housing and infrastructure development, tribal self-governance, taxation, and Indian land and water rights settlements.
Before joining Powers, Paul served as Chief Counsel and Staff Director to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs from 1997 to 2005, where he oversaw legislative authorizations and appropriations affecting American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
Powers’ Managing Partner Peter W. Thomas, offered his congratulations to Paul:
“Paul’s recognition as Lawyer of the Year is a testament to his decades of dedicated service to tribal governments and his leadership in the field of Federal Indian law. We are proud to see his contributions acknowledged by his peers in the legal community and we are fortunate to have him as part of Team Powers.”
The newest addition to the Powers’ Tribal Practice, Bryan Newland, Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior said,
“Paul brings unmatched insight and experience to our clients navigating complex issues of Federal Indian law and policy. This award reflects his professional expertise, as well as the trust and respect he has earned from both colleagues and clients. His commitment, advocacy, and deep knowledge have made a lasting impact in Native American law, and I am grateful to be practicing alongside him”
Best Lawyers® is an annual guide to the legal profession based entirely on peer review. For more information about the methodology and selection process, visit www.bestlawyers.com.