Former US attorneys continue their work on American Indian issues, this time on the other side

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2015 file photo, Tim Purdon, the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota, poses for a photo in his office in Bismarck, N.D., the day he announced he is stepping down as North Dakota's top federal prosecutor to return to private practice. Two former U.S. attorneys from the Dakotas who built their federal resumes around American Indian issues are promoting that experience in their private practice. Now part of the same Minneapolis-based law firm, Purdon and Brendan Johnson are hoping to represent the reservations on a variety of issues, including gaming rights, commercial ventures, boundary disputes and management of natural resources, like oil. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Feb 8, 2015 file photo, South Dakota U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sioux Falls, S.D. Two former U.S. attorneys from the Dakotas who built their federal resumes around American Indian issues are promoting that experience in their private practice. Now part of the same Minneapolis-based law firm, Johnson and Timothy Purdon are hoping to represent the reservations on a variety of issues, including gaming rights, commercial ventures, boundary disputes and management of natural resources, like oil. (Joe Ahlquist/The Argus Leader via AP) NO SALES (The Associated Press)

Two former U.S. attorneys from the Dakotas who built their brief federal careers around American Indian issues are putting their experience to work at a private legal firm.

Timothy Purdon of North Dakota and Brendan Johnson of South Dakota both stepped down as top federal prosecutors in March after spending much of their five-plus years tackling crime on tribal lands.

Now part of Minneapolis-based Robbins Kaplan law firm, Purdon and Johnson are looking to represent tribes on a variety of issues, such as gaming rights, commercial ventures, boundary disputes, government investigations and management of natural resources.

Purdon says tribes will continue to be involved in more complex disputes and the two lawyers feel it's important to stay connected to people and issues on the reservations.