Judith A. Shapiro

1020 19th St., NW, Ste. 375
Washington, D.C. 20036
jshapiro@bigfirelaw.com

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Mesoamerican Ethnohistory, Kirkland College (B.A. 1974)

Master of Fine Arts in the performance of Early Music, Sarah Lawrence College (M.F.A. 1977) 

Juris Doctor, Georgetown University Law Center (J.D. 1983)

BAR ADMISSIONS

District of Columbia; United States Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

PRIOR LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Owner, Judith A. Shapiro, Esq. (2003-present); Partner, Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker (1989-2003); Associate Attorney, Arnold & Porter (1985-1989); Law Clerk, Chambers of Richard Owen, U.S.D.J. (1983-1985)

ASSOCIATIONS AND HONORS

Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Richard Owen (S.D.N.Y.); Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law

PRACTICE AREAS

Judith A. Shapiro has more than 30 years’ experience in Indian law with extensive expertise in tribal gaming, including: management, development and financing agreements; tribal/state compacts; and standards governing class II technologic aids. Her career has focused on protecting and preserving tribal sovereignty, with experience in Federal Acknowledgment, enhancing tribal governmental processes, and cultural protection and preservation. She has represented tribes in federal and tribal courts and before federal agencies, and is actively involved in continuing efforts to protect and restore tribal lands in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Carcieri and Patchak decisions.

Shapiro holds a law degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, a M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in the performance of Early Music, and a B.A. from Kirkland College in Mesoamerican Ethnohistory. She served as judicial clerk to the Honorable Richard Owen (S.D.N.Y.), and is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law.