Rep. Dale Kildee, whose 18 terms in Congress and near-perfect voting attendance record led colleagues to nickname him the "Cal Ripken of Congress," has brought his experience to Akin Gump and Ietan Consulting (a Native-owned consulting firm strategically allied with the firm).

Rep. Kildee (above, shortly before casting his 20,000th vote) tells us Native American issues have been a focusfor all his 48 years in public office. He founded the Congressional Native American Caucus.The Michigan native lived near Ottawa Chippewa territory, and his father told him about how unfairly Native Americans had been treated. Akin Gump's strong Native American practice is one reason he joined the firm. Kildee isn't ready to relax yet; he got his working papers at age 12 and has been working since then: "I may be 83 years old, but there's so much to do to protect the rights of Native Americans."