Chambers USA: Ranked as Band 3 in the area of Native American Law (Nationwide), 2023-2024. The Legal 500 US: Recognized Lawyer in Native American Law, 2021-2024. Best Lawyers in America, Native American Law, 2013-2025. High Honors, Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, District of Columbia Courts, 2022.
Quoted source, "HEARTH Act Worth The Hassle For Native American Tribes," Law360, May 1, 2015 Quoted source, "5 Tips For Negotiating Native American Land Leases," Law360, April 24, 2015
Presentations Panelist, "Negotiating Contracts on Tribal Lands," Federal Bar Association Webinar, May 16, 2018 Speaker, “Environmental Law in Indian Country 101,” Environmental Law Institute Panel/Webinar, July 26, 2017, Washington, DC Speaker, "Putting Indian Lands to Work: The HEARTH Act and the Amended BIA Right-of-Way Regulations," Federal Bar Association Webinar, March 3, 2017, Washington, DC Speaker "Land Acquisition for Gaming On and Off-Reservation in the Era of Carcieri and Patchak," Seattle University School of Law Indian Law Certificate Program: Building Business in Indian Country, July 8-10, 2015, Seattle, WA Speaker, "New California Indian Casino Update," California Gaming Law Summit, January 15–16, 2015, Los Angeles, CA Speaker, "NEPA and the Federal Gaming Approval Process," NIGA Indian Gaming 2013 Tradeshow and Convention, March 2013 Moderator, "From Inception to Completion: A Blueprint for Project Design," Native Nation Events 5th Annual Renewable Energy in Indian Country Conference, May 2012 Moderator, "Acquisition of Land in Trust for Gaming: Recent Developments and Future Prospects," NIGA Indian Gaming 2012 Tradeshow and Convention, April 2012 Speaker, "Getting the Deals Done: Tips for Building the Relationships Necessary to Get the Project Done," Law Seminars International Fourth Annual Strategic Conference on Tribal Energy Development, June 2010 Speaker, "Fee-to-Trust and NEPA: Navigating the Federal Process," Falmouth Institute's Indian Law Governance Seminar, September 2007 Memberships District of Columbia Bar, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section Federal Bar Association, Indian Law Section Native American Bar Association Prior and Present EmploymentPrior to going into private practice, Susi served in key positions at the DOI and the US Department of Justice (DOJ). At the DOI, she provided legal advice to the Bureau of Indian Affairs on a wide variety of environmental matters arising on Indian lands, and from 2000 to 2005 she served as the assistant solicitor for Environment, Land and Minerals. Her duties included providing legal advice and supervising legal work involving all aspects of the acquisition, sale, development, leasing, use and conservation of Indian lands and natural resources, including fee-to-trust acquisitions, compliance with the NEPA, and the nature and extent of the federal government’s trust obligations. During her tenure with the federal government, Susi received numerous awards and honors and developed excellent professional contacts and a unique perspective and understanding of the components of the federal government that make and influence Native American policy and legal positions. At the DOJ, she was responsible for litigation to enforce all major environmental statutes, including enforcement of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund) and natural resource damage actions, as well as the Clean Water Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act/Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Several of these cases involved tribal natural resource trustees, tribally owned facilities, violations of environmental statutes in Indian country and tribal regulatory jurisdiction issues. Prior to joining Dentons, Susi was counsel at Patton Boggs LLP in its Washington, DC, office. Upon her graduation from law school, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable J. Calvitt Clarke, Jr., in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
District of Columbia Bar, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section Federal Bar Association, Indian Law Section Native American Bar Association
Prior to going into private practice, Susi served in key positions at the DOI and the US Department of Justice (DOJ). At the DOI, she provided legal advice to the Bureau of Indian Affairs on a wide variety of environmental matters arising on Indian lands, and from 2000 to 2005 she served as the assistant solicitor for Environment, Land and Minerals. Her duties included providing legal advice and supervising legal work involving all aspects of the acquisition, sale, development, leasing, use and conservation of Indian lands and natural resources, including fee-to-trust acquisitions, compliance with the NEPA, and the nature and extent of the federal government’s trust obligations. During her tenure with the federal government, Susi received numerous awards and honors and developed excellent professional contacts and a unique perspective and understanding of the components of the federal government that make and influence Native American policy and legal positions. At the DOJ, she was responsible for litigation to enforce all major environmental statutes, including enforcement of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund) and natural resource damage actions, as well as the Clean Water Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act/Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Several of these cases involved tribal natural resource trustees, tribally owned facilities, violations of environmental statutes in Indian country and tribal regulatory jurisdiction issues. Prior to joining Dentons, Susi was counsel at Patton Boggs LLP in its Washington, DC, office. Upon her graduation from law school, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable J. Calvitt Clarke, Jr., in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.