Breaking (free from) the Bank: Cannabis Litigation Finance

Jason Horst is the Managing Partner of Horst Legal Counsel and the President-Emeritus of the INCBA Board of Directors. Jason represents businesses, public entities, professional and nonprofit organizations, and individuals in complex civil litigation and appellate cases involving a wide variety of cannabis, real estate, contract, insurance coverage, and technology disputes. He has a proven record of success representing both plaintiffs and defendants at trial, on appeal, and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He prides himself in the ability to deliver creative, efficient solutions to thorny legal problems. Before opening Horst Legal Counsel, Jason worked with some of the top international and regional law firms serving clients in California. His clients receive the deep knowledge and ability of large firm counsel, combined with the affordability of a boutique law firm. He has also been an active member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, where he has served as a member of the Policy Committee and Chair of the Risk Management and Insurance Committee, as well as the California Cannabis Industry Association’s Risk Management Committee. Jason has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in business litigation since 2023 by Super Lawyers® Magazine and been named as one of MG Magazine’s 30 Powerful Cannabis Attorneys You Should Know.

Casey Grabenstein handles complex commercial litigation for clients nationwide across an array of industries. His litigation experience includes class actions involving securities, consumer fraud, and ERISA, including defeating class certification in multiple cases for a leading insurance company. Casey is also a member of the firm's Cannabis Law Practice and has successfully handled multiple high-profile cannabis lawsuits.

Casey also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to the litigation funding industry. He serves as both due diligence counsel and as primary counsel for funded cases. Casey is also a regular writer and speaker on litigation funding topics.

In addition to his litigation experience, Casey acts as general outside counsel for companies, particularly in the food, beverage, and cannabis industries. His work in this area includes providing legal advice on contractual and business matters, assisting with licensing, and developing compliance programs. 

Casey has an extensive pro bono practice that includes getting a death sentence vacated for a Texas man on death row for eight years and obtaining asylum for a Tanzanian woman following an immigration trial. He also has handled numerous Section 1983 cases involving prisoners and arrestees.

Jeffery Lula serves as a Principal at GLS Capital and is responsible for due diligence and monitoring of commercial litigation and arbitration-related investments.

Prior to joining GLS, Jeff was a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago. During his nine years at Kirkland & Ellis, Jeff’s practice focused on a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, bankruptcy litigation, corporate mismanagement, fraudulent transfer litigation, and insurance litigation. His experience extends to all stages of litigation and appeal, and he also counseled clients during internal investigations prior to litigation or arbitration. He has represented clients in a variety of fields, including private equity firms, insurance carriers, and large Chapter 11 debtors.

Jeff holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he served as an Articles’ Editor of the University of Chicago Law Review, and a B.S. from University of Illinois.

Michael is one of the co-founders of and the Chief Investment Officer at LF². He is primarily responsible for the firm’s strategic direction, investments, and fund risk management. Michael is an experienced litigator, trial lawyer, and litigation funder with more than a decade of experience litigating, resolving, and investing in complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters.