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 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.

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.

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 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 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 group at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP specializes in cannabis disputes, offering clients representation in litigation and arbitration. Core areas of work for the team include managing disputes with investors and shareholders over management and ownership, class actions, securities litigation, and patent, trademark and copyright litigation. The team also has substantial arbitration experience and has appeared before a number of domestic and international arbitration institutions. Los Angeles-based Robert Becher leads the team and regularly represents multi-state cannabis businesses, dispensary chains, and directors of cannabis businesses in disputes.

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.