Our Firm Our Team

Our Firm

Swanson, Drobnick & Tousey P.C. was founded by three Indian women each with a different area of legal expertise and career experience. The firm was envisioned by its founding members while they worked together at a non-profit legal services organization.

Together we have over 90 years of combined experience. As a general practice law firm we have represented individuals—Indians and Tribes—in a wide variety of legal matters.

We have been privileged to serve the Indian community for over 20 years.

Indians Serving Indians.

Our Team

Tammy J. Swanson

Tammy J. Swanson

Shareholder

Heidi A. Drobnick

Heidi A. Drobnick

Shareholder

Phyllis O. Tousey

Phyllis O. Tousey

Shareholder

Star Quilt Gifted by the Clairmont Family
Tammy J. Swanson

Email: TSwanson@sdtlaw.com

Phone: 651-739-9615

Address:

3120 Woodbury Drive Suite 200

Woodbury, Minnesota 55129

Email: TSwanson@sdtlaw.com Phone: 651-739-9615
Biography

Tammy is a shareholder at Swanson, Drobnick & Tousey and practices in the areas of family law, child protection and Federal Indian Law with a special emphasis on Indian Child Welfare Act cases. Tammy is a zealous advocate for her clients and was the 2008 Advocate of the Year for the Minnesota Fathers & Families Network. Her legal career has been devoted to protecting the best interests of children and the rights of parents and tribes. Prior to the founding of the firm in 2003, Tammy worked as staff attorney and later Director of Litigation at the Indian Child Welfare Law Center, a non-profit public defense organization that represents families in child protection cases governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act. She is also a qualified mediator for all types of family law cases.

Tammy brings not only a courtroom perspective to her cases, but a judicial one as well. Tammy began her legal career as law clerk to the Hon. Isabel Gomez in the Fourth Judicial District. She then went on to serve as Chief Judge of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Court of Appeals and Associate Appellate Judge for the Prairie Island Indian Community. Tammy currently serves as Special Magistrate for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Court.

Tammy Swanson is affiliated with the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indians. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Tammy J. Swanson
Shareholder
Heidi A. Drobnick

Email: HDrobnick@sdtlaw.com

Phone: 651-739-9615

Address:

3120 Woodbury Drive Suite 200

Woodbury, Minnesota 55129

Email: HDrobnick@sdtlaw.com Phone: 651-739-9615
Biography

Heidi is the managing shareholder of Swanson, Drobnick & Tousey and practices in the areas of business law, contracts, Tribal governance, and wills and trusts. Prior to founding the firm Heidi was an Accountant and a small business owner. She brings real-world experience and an accountant's attention to detail to every case she handles. Her skills are well-suited for cases involving financial details; whether it be in developing an estate plan, reviewing contracts or starting a Tribal Business.

Heidi A. Drobnick is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - Bois Forte Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She holds a B.Ac. in Accounting from the University of Minnesota - Duluth and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Heidi A. Drobnick
Shareholder
Phyllis O. Tousey

Email: PTousey@sdtlaw.com

Phone: 651-739-9615

Address:

3120 Woodbury Drive Suite 200

Woodbury, Minnesota 55129

Email: PTousey@sdtlaw.com Phone: 651-739-9615
Biography

Phyllis is Of-Counsel at Swanson, Drobnick & Tousey. Phyllis practiced in the areas of criminal defense, child protection and Federal Indian Law. Phyllis is passionate about justice, equality, and criminal defense work and it shows in her aggressive negotiation skills. She worked tirelessly both in and out of the courtroom on her clients' behalf. Prior to founding the firm in 2003, Phyllis worked as a criminal defense attorney at the Neighborhood Justice Center representing low-income defendants and as staff attorney at the Indian Child Welfare Law Center, a non-profit public defense organization that represents American Indian parents in child protection cases governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Outside of the court room, Phyllis is committed to advancing equality and justice for all people, but particularly for Native and economically disadvantaged peoples. She has volunteered with The Partners in Human Rights Education Program at the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center. Prior to becoming an attorney she was a college-level educator and counselor in Women's and Indian Studies. She has also owned and operated several successful small businesses. Phyllis is a member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association.

Phyllis Tousey is an enrolled member of the Brothertown Indian Nation. She holds a B.A. in Broad Area Art and a M.S. of Education in Guidance Counseling from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls; and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Phyllis O. Tousey
Of-Counsel