Grapevine News Conner & Winters, LLP, today announced C. Austin Birnie as the firm’s newest partner. Since joining the firm in 2014, Birnie has developed a practice in American Indian/Native American law, which includes litigation on behalf of Tribes in federal, tribal, and state courts, as well as transactional matters with an emphasis on Indian country financings and gaming developments. He also maintains an active general commercial litigation practice, serving clients across a broad range of industries, including banking, energy, and real estate, with a particular focus on trusts and estates disputes. “It is an honor and a privilege to join the ranks of the partnership at Conner & Winters,” said Birnie. “The firm has given me so many generous opportunities to develop as a lawyer. The ability to collaborate with attorneys from our many diverse practice groups has greatly enriched my own practice. This is especially true in our American Indian/Native American group, where I have brought my litigation experience to several high-profile cases, and have expanded my practice into transactional matters such as gaming and tribal financings. Recently, this work has included coordinating and handling all aspects of a major financing of a new casino resort.” “Austin is such a valued team member in the firm through his American Indian/Native American law and litigation work. He is a highly talented attorney, and we are proud of him,” said Scott Hathaway, president of Conner & Winters. Birnie earned his law degree from the Duke University School of Law in 2014 and received a B.A. cum laude in economics and philosophy from the University of Chicago in 2009. While in law school, he served as lead editor for the Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, interned for the Honorable Sam Glasscock, Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, and worked for a boutique firm that specializes in high stakes corporate litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa County Bar Association and the Tulsa Opera, and maintains an active membership with the Oklahoma Bar Association and Tulsa County Bar Association. Following nearly 18 successful years serving with the United States Department of Justice, Trent Shores will join GableGotwals as a shareholder. He will officially start with the Firm on March 29, 2021. The former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma was the chief federal law enforcement officer responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation in the Northern District, an area covering 11 counties, including 13 federally 32 Tulsa Lawyer
recognized Indian tribes. In addition, as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Mr. Shores was appointed as Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee charged with developing and guiding national policy for Indian Country justice. He also served as the National Security Cyber Specialist and worked closely with the Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes and domestic terrorism. Throughout his career, including during his tenure as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Shores personally tried complex cases in federal district court and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has also testified at the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs regarding public safety policies in Indian country, led a presidential task force investigating systemic problems within the Indian Health Service, and negotiated international human rights resolutions at the United Nations. Mr. Shores is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Indian Law Section, and is admitted to the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from Vanderbilt University and received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He is also a graduate of Leadership Tulsa Class 56. “I am proud to join such a highly esteemed law firm. GableGotwals’ reputation as a great civic and community partner underscored for me why it was the right fit,” Trent Shores said, “I look forward to using my experience in litigation, Native American law, corporate investigations, and cybersecurity to further enhance the Firm’s offerings. There is no better place to begin the next phase of my legal career.” Dean Luthey, chair of GableGotwals’ Native American and Gaming Practice, said “I am excited to call Trent Shores one of my shareholders and I look forward to working with him. His experience managing government relationships with federally recognized tribes and his work advising on various issues including tribal gaming, white-collar crime, domestic violence, hunting and fishing treaty rights, community policing, and homeland security is a true asset.” As part of its commitment to enhance diversity within the legal profession, Crowe & Dunlevy has added an externship component to the firm’s Diversity Scholars Program. The externship opportunity is open to first year law students who are recipients of the firm’s Diversity Scholars Program and is designed to provide practical experience, mentorship and academic credit. The program is open to students at Oklahoma City University School of Law, the University of Oklahoma College of Law and the University of Tulsa College of Law. Crowe & Dunlevy’s Diversity Scholars Program also includes scholarships awarded annually to outstanding law
