The expertise of the team at Dentons extends from strategic counselling, risk mitigation, and compliance, to support with transactional and contentious mandates. Chicago-based Eric Berlin steers the department and dedicates his practice to assisting companies that sell products or services to the cannabis industry, testing labs, cultivators and processors with corporate transactions and litigation. Additional key contacts in Chicago include Joanne Caceres, who is noted for her regulatory work for cannabis, hemp, and emerging psychedelics-sector clients; and Michael Froy, who is frequently instructed by manufacturers, cannabis, and healthcare-sector clients. Los Angeles-based managing associate Lauren Estevez routinely counsels cannabis brands, CBD companies, investors, and ancillary businesses on regulatory compliance.

The practice at Duane Morris LLP is known for assisting businesses and individuals at every level of the cannabis supply chain with corporate, transactional, and regulatory mandates, litigation, and cannabis-related tax, real estate, and IP matters. The group’s varied client roster often features state-licensed marijuana and hemp cultivators, processors, distributors, and dispensaries, as well as businesses that render services to the cannabis industry. The department is co-directed by a trio of experienced partners. Philadelphia-based Seth Goldberg, lauded as a ‘lawyer’s lawyer with a steady hand’, advises industry players and investors on regulatory and business matters pertaining to their legal cannabis activities. Over in Las Vegas, corporate specialist Tracy Gallegos handles M&A, entity formation, corporate governance, and restructuring. In New Jersey, Paul Josephson focuses his practice on constitutional and regulatory litigation. Additional names to note include Los Angeles-based Justin Santarosa and New York-based Michael Schwamm, who focus on corporate work involving the cannabis sector.

The ‘strategic’ team at Goodwin is well-placed to assist clients with corporate transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation alike. The group’s transactional offering includes company and investor-side transactions such as capital raises and M&A. With regard to regulatory work, the team frequently advises companies, banks, investor funds, and real estate developers on state and federal regulations. On the contentious front, intellectual property disputes, securities litigation investigations and class actions constitute core areas of practice. Leadership of the department is shared by three partners: Jennifer Fisher and Brett Schuman, both based in San Francisco, specialize in litigation, cannabis regulatory and compliance issues; and litigating high-profile intellectual property cases, respectively. In Silicon Valley, Bill Growney‘s broad expertise encompasses financings, M&A, corporate governance, licensing and IP matters. Over in New York, Joshua Eisenson supports the founders and executives of emerging and growth companies in the cannabis segment through all stages of the corporate lifecycle.

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s cannabis practice provides clients with support on litigation and corporate transactions relating to the cannabis industry, as well as handling securities, capital markets and corporate governance matters. It is routinely instructed by private and publicly-traded companies working in the cannabis sector, start-ups, and venture capitals. Boston-based Stefanie Fogel heads up the group and has focused her practice on multinational food and consumer product regulation work, corporate compliance, and commercial and class action litigation. Maggie Craig, also in Boston, majors on regulatory compliance, product recalls, and consumer class action litigation. The Washington DC office was strengthened with the arrival of Perham Gorji from the Food and Drug Administration in July 2023.

The team at Fox Rothschild LLP is frequently called upon by cannabis growers, distributors, processors, and investors seeking assistance with corporate transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation. A core area of practice for the group lies in defending cannabis licensees in disciplinary matters brought by state regulators, and it is equally equipped to handle related tax and employment work. The practice is co-directed by Chicago-based regulatory and transactional specialist William Bogot, who has significant experience assisting private and public cannabis companies with shareholder liability, venture capital, taxation, and financial services issues. Alongside him, Philadelphia-based Joshua Horn assists established and emerging cannabis and hemp businesses with corporate transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and capital raises. Seattle-based Joshua Ashby is an additional key contact for corporate cannabis work.

Dickinson Wright PLLC‘s practice assists clients with corporate, financing, real estate, employment, and IP aspects of cannabis work, as well as covering transactional and contentious mandates. The team has additional expertise in state, local and federal regulatory compliance, private equity investments, and government investigations. The group is co-directed by a Columbus-based duo, comprising Scot Crow and Benton Bodamer. The pair is well-versed in transactions such as M&A, venture capital financings, private offerings, private equity investments, mezzanine debt offerings, and divestitures. Lloyd Pierre-Louis, also based in Columbus, assists growers, manufacturers, retailers and testing labs with regulatory compliance and administrative law matters.

Farella Braun + Martel LLP‘s California-based practice is frequently called upon by cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, and investors seeking assistance with corporate issues such as structuring, regulatory compliance, and matters of real estate, employment, IP, and tax planning. The team is co-directed by Ryan Lowther, who counsels his cannabis clients on the launch, funding, and expansion of their businesses. Alongside him, Jeffrey Hamilton is known for representing investors and investment funds, ancillary businesses, cultivators, manufacturers and distributors in transactions, as well as assisting the same stakeholders with general corporate and regulatory advice.

The Greenspoon Marder LLP team handles a number of matters affecting cannabis and hemp-sector clients, including state-level licensing, real estate acquisition, litigation, tax, and regulatory and compliance issues. The group is instructed by investors, lenders, startups, and corporations, and also routinely represents ancillary businesses that provide products or services to the cannabis industry. The department is co-directed by Chicago-based Irina Dashevsky, who specializes in state-level licensing issues and cannabis product marketing, Alongside her, Nick Richards in Denver also co-leads and handles tax, M&A, and regulatory compliance work.

Demonstrating ‘deep cannabis knowledge’, the Denver-based team at Husch Blackwell LLP handles regulatory and transactional mandates, as well as a range of associated cannabis matters such as corporate and securities, vendor contracts, employment law, corporate governance, real estate, IP, litigation, and tax. The group is co-directed by cannabis all-rounder Marshall Custer and the ‘deeply knowledgeable, competent lawyer’ Steven Levine. The key associate-level contacts are Lindy Martinez, senior Megan Beebe, and senior counsel Alyssa Samuel, who focuses on transactional and regulatory mandates.

The team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP assists companies, individuals, and investors with the range of cannabis matters, including complex regulatory and licensing mandates. National practice head Anita Famili, based at the firm’s Los Angeles location, is well-versed in corporate structuring, M&A, regulatory compliance, and advertising. Axel Bernabe joined the New York office from the Office of Cannabis Management in October 2023 and brings regulatory expertise as well as knowledge of the healthcare and cannabis industries to the table.

Zuber Lawler‘s cannabis practice is equipped to assist clients with cannabis-related corporate, M&A, real estate, labor and employment, and litigation mandates. Additional core areas of focus for the group include FDA compliance, and aspects of IP, including trademark and patent prosecution, product licensing, and anti-counterfeiting. The department is directed by Los Angeles-based founder and managing partner Thomas Zuber, who regularly counsels financial, tech, pharmaceutical, and insurance-sector clients. In Phoenix, Janet E. Jackim is well-versed in handling the acquisition and sale of cannabis operations, cannabis license applications, and restructuring mandates.

The Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP team’s cannabis expertise covers M&A and the structuring of investments, securities, litigation and arbitration, and the preparation of marijuana applications with state and municipal regulatory agencies and boards. It is frequently instructed by cannabis cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and traditional companies affected by cannabis laws. At the helm of the practice, Bryna Dahlin advises on issues of regulatory compliance, contracts and licensing, and intellectual property protection. She has additional expertise in litigation. Bill Doran specializes in M&A, private equity, and general corporate and commercial transactions, while Bob Morgan has a strong practice in regulatory compliance. All individuals mentioned are based in Chicago, with the exception of Cleveland-based Robert Zimmerman, who focuses on litigation.

The cannabis team at Arnold & Porter is frequently instructed by funds, investors, financial institutions, and corporations in the pharmaceutical, consumer products, and cannabis segments seeking assistance with compliance, regulatory matters, and corporate transactions. The Washington DC-based practice is jointly headed up by Howard Sklamberg, an expert on FDA regulatory compliance who also represents clients in governmental investigations and enforcement matters, and Evelina Norwinski, who counsels manufacturer, distributor, retailer, and investor clients on the federal and state laws applicable to US cannabis operations. Life sciences and healthcare regulatory practice co-lead Daniel Kracov is known for assisting pharmaceutical and biotech companies with the challenges associated with the development, approval and marketing of FDA-regulated products.

The practice at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP demonstrates strength in providing advisory, contentious, and transactional support to cannabis clients in the Southeastern United States. The group’s expertise encompasses licensing and permitting, regulatory compliance, branding and IP protection, and real estate mandates. In addition, the team regularly provides advice on corporate, securities, and financing transactions, and represents clients in litigation. The department is co-led by ‘A+ legal talent’ Whitt Steineker, who specializes in transactional work and litigation and frequently assists multinational corporations, local businesses, and individuals. Alongside him, Jay Wright handles local, state, and federal compliance matters. Both practice heads are based at the firm’s Birmingham office.

The group at Dykema Gossett PLLC draws on the firm’s network and works closely with its licensing and regulatory, M&A, litigation, and tax departments. The firm is a regular advisor to licensees that grow, process, test, transport, and sell cannabis products, as well as foreign corporations and financial institutions. Michigan-based Lance Boldrey steers the group and specializes in licensing, regulatory, and legislative matters, with additional expertise in real estate matters, M&A, and lobbying activities.

The core strengths of Seyfarth Shaw LLP‘s practice lie in assisting clients with corporate transactions, equity and debt financings, and tax, real estate, and labor and employment mandates relating to the cannabis sector. Washington DC-based Stanley Jutkowitz leads the department and has focused his practice on tax counseling, corporate transactions, and cannabis risk assessments.

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP‘s cannabis department supports cannabis brands, insurance companies, and financial institutions with an impressive range of cannabis mandates. Areas of expertise include transactional support for M&A, corporate governance, commercial litigation, trademark and patent matters, and cannabis-related employment mandates. The practice is co-directed by Ian Stewart, who is routinely instructed by financial institutions and insurance companies, and Dean Rocco, who specializes in transactional and regulatory compliance matters, as well as litigation. Both attorneys are based in Los Angeles. In New York, Jonathan Meer focuses on insurance coverage for directors and officers of cannabis companies.