Our Attorneys
We bring different perspectives to the table, but we’re united by a love for purposeful work, client advocacy, and love for our tribal and local communities.
One of our three founding partners and a nationally recognized attorney with more than two decades of experience advocating for families, children, and communities across Oklahoma.
Her career spans state, tribal, and public-interest systems, with deep experience in child welfare, child support, domestic relations, and public services law. She has represented the State of Oklahoma, tribal nations, and thousands of families, bringing both policy insight and courtroom experience to every matter.
Prior to founding Tribal Advocacy Justice and Law, PLLC, Catina served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation, prosecuting criminal cases with a primary focus on domestic violence and helping develop court-practices centered on accountability, safety, and meaningful intervention. She also spent many years with Oklahoma DHS Child Support Services, including serving as a Managing Attorney, where she oversaw multi-county operations involving thousands of cases while continuing to litigate complex matters in district and juvenile courts.
Catina Drywater
The second of our three founding partners. Lisa is a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation and a University of Tulsa graduate. For more than 15 years, she has devoted her career to juvenile law, child welfare, and advocacy for Native families.
Throughout her career, Lisa has served in multiple critical roles within the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. She spent many years working as a Guardian ad Litem, serving as a voice for countless children navigating the court system. She later served as a prosecutor at Cherokee Nation. Lisa has also represented parents, Tribes, and the State giving her a rare and meaningful perspective of having served on every side of the juvenile system. This experience has shaped her trauma-informed, culturally grounded approach and her unwavering commitment to ensuring every child and family has someone fiercely advocating for them.
Lisa’s dedication has been recognized by the communities she serves. In 2024, she received the WRAP Warrior Award for courage, compassion, and impactful advocacy. She is also 2022 Best of Burbs Law Office recipient and she was voted Wagoner County Tribune Readers’ Choice Best Attorney from 2014-2022.
Lisa Garcia
The final founding partner. Amanda is a trial attorney with experience in criminal law, juvenile matters, and child welfare, recognized for strategic, decisive advocacy in complex and high-stakes cases. Her dual perspective background allows her to anticipate opposing strategies and position matters for strong outcomes.
Before attending law school, Amanda served as a Child Welfare Specialist with the State of Oklahoma Department of Human Services, conducting abuse and neglect investigations, working closely with courts and law enforcement, and testifying in child welfare proceedings. After attending Law School, Amanda went into private practice, representing clients in criminal defense, juvenile delinquent matters, deprived proceedings, and divorce, custody, and paternity matters.
Prior to founding TJAL, Amanda served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation, where she prosecuted criminal cases and represented the Nation in hearings and trials, gaining deep insight into prosecutorial discretion and tribal court procedure.