Kyle Finnegan Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Ice Miller LLP

Kyle Finnegan is an attorney in Ice Miller's Litigation and White Collar Defense & Investigations practice groups. His experience includes litigation and internal investigations on high-stakes matters in a variety of highly-regulated industries: cannabis, private equity, financial services, health care, utilities, academic institutions, and publicly traded companies.  

He has handled litigation over acquisition disputes, commercial contracts, wrongful termination, legal malpractice, and civil fraud litigation in state and federal courts. He has significant experience developing litigation strategies, assessing risk exposure, briefing and arguing motions, taking depositions, overseeing large-scale eDiscovery projects and managing local counsel in international and out-of-state commercial fraud matters. 

He regularly counsels clients through responses to civil subpoenas, civil investigative demands (CID), and grand jury subpoenas, as well as inquires by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). 

His practice also includes internal investigations into whistleblower complaints and allegations of bid-rigging schemes, breaches of fiduciary duties, and other unlawful conduct. 

Mr. Shay Aaron Gilmore Related Seminars and Products

Attorney at Law

The Law Office of Shay Aaron Gilmore

Shay Aaron Gilmore advises and counsels exclusively cannabis and hemp operators and investors through the corporate, commercial, and regulatory complexities of California’s legal markets, focusing on private mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity financings, distribution and supply agreements, licensing and product development, and regulatory compliance matters. California’s largest legal news periodical, The Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal, has recognized Shay as one of the Top 20 Cannabis Lawyers in California. Super Lawyers® Magazine has named Shay as a Northern California Super Lawyer in Cannabis Law for several years, and, in 2024, as one of the Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers across all practice areas. Shay serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco Cannabis Law Section and as the current Chair of the California Lawyers Association Cannabis Practitioners Group. In 2023, the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco appointed Shay to a seat on the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee, to advise the San Francisco Mayor and Board of Supervisors regarding cannabis laws and regulations. Shay provides pro bono legal services to verified equity applicants under the Cannabis Equity Program administered by the San Francisco Office of Cannabis. Shay holds a B.A. in Economics from Rice University and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.

Pamela Epstein Related Seminars and Products

Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer

Terpene Belt, Inc.

Pamela is an accomplished legal professional with a wealth of experience.  Pamela currently holds the esteemed position of Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer at Terpene Belt, Inc.  In this pivotal role, she spearheads a dynamic team responsible for a diverse range of functions, including legal oversight, domestic and international governmental affairs, compliance, licensing, corporate stewardship, and corporate governance. Her unwavering dedication is focused on driving solutions that align with the company's strategic priorities while safeguarding Terpene Belt, its customers, and the broader cannabis and hemp industries.

Before joining Terpene Belt in 2022, Pamela served as the General Counsel and Chief Licensing & Regulatory Officer at Eden Enterprises, Inc a legacy cannabis operator. Her trailblazing journey in the cannabis industry began in 2016 when she founded Green Wise Companies, solidifying her position as a thought leader in the field. Pamela provided a comprehensive range of legal, consulting, and government affairs services to various segments of the cannabis supply chain in California and Arizona. She further cemented her reputation as a trusted resource on cannabis matters, lending her expertise to regulatory agencies and municipalities. Notably, she served as the Special City Attorney for cannabis matters to the City of Hollister, guiding them through their inaugural Medical Cannabis Ordinance and application process in 2018.

Prior to her groundbreaking work in the cannabis sector, Pamela seamlessly combined her passion for environmental sustainability with her legal acumen. She honed her skills as the Managing Attorney and Legal Program Coordinator for the San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club's Environmental Law & Policy Clinic and later with the prestigious law firm of Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo in South San Francisco.

Pamela's diverse background, encompassing legal expertise, land use knowledge, and environmental advocacy, uniquely positions her to lead and advise her clients and the broader cannabis and hemp communities. She is recognized as an expert in her field and a fearless advocate for the normalization and advancement of cannabinoids. Pamela is a sought-after speaker at cannabis industry conferences nationwide, where she delivers engaging and insightful commentary on an array of topics affecting the cannabis and hemp sectors, offering valuable guidance to traditional market participants venturing into this space.

Pamela served two terms as the President of the Board of Directors for the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), the state's largest cannabis trade association, where she was a driving force in shaping the industry's future. Pamela also actively leads the charge to establish standards for Determining Intoxication of Cannabinoids within ASTM's D37 Committee for Cannabis and Hemp.  She also serves on the Food Drug Law Institute (“FDLI”) Cannabinoid Committee. 

Steve Schain Related Seminars and Products

Senior Counsel

Smart Counsel

Winner of National Law Journal’s “2019 Finance, Banking, & Capital Markets Trailblazer” award, Steve Schain runs 100% woman owned, national cannabis law firm Smart-Counsel, LLC's PA and NJ practices and Chair its Financial Services Group. Admitted to practice in PA and New Jersey, Steve represents entities, governments and individuals in litigation, regulation and compliance, license applications, entity formation, and drafting legislation. Steve is also an Adjunct Faculty Member of, and teaches “Cannabis Law” at, Stockton University, one of only 5 universities offering a minor in Cannabis Studies. A nationally recognized Cannabis, banking law and consumer finance litigation expert, Steve serves as a court appointed judge pro tempore and arbitrator, is a The Legal Intelligencer, New Jersey Law Journal, and Cannabis Business Executive columnist, and frequent presenter for the National Cannabis Industry Association, International Cannabis Bar Association, Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Group, Marijuana Business Daily, Pennsylvania Bar Institute and National Bar Institute.

Jessica C. McElfresh Related Seminars and Products

Founder and Principal

McElfresh Law, Inc.

Attorney Jessica McElfresh delivers the legal guidance and advocacy it takes to thrive in California’s cannabis industry. As a successful defense attorney, Jessica was at the forefront of marijuana legalization in California, and uses that passion and skill to represent people at all stages of the state’s legitimate marijuana market. From retail cannabis dispensaries, large cultivators, testing facilities, delivery services, investors, and marijuana entrepreneurs, Jessica provides individuals and cannabis businesses with what they need to flourish. This includes full service legal assistance with formation, zoning, regulatory compliance, licensing, land use, employment, and everything in between.

Why Cannabis?

Even as a young lawyer, Jessica never saw the cannabis industry as something that needed to be normalized. Instead, her work focused on highlighting how normal it already was.

She saw the government waste, how the current laws violated people’s rights, and wanted to be part of building something new.

Jessica has worked in cannabis law and policy since 2010. She focuses on local and state applications, land use, regulatory compliance, and business law.  Jessica represents cannabis retailers, distributors, cultivators, manufacturers, and testing labs, as well as landlords and ancillary businesses.  She has guided clients through successful applications in jurisdictions such as the City of San Diego, La Mesa, Encinitas, Lemon Grove, and the County of San Diego. 

Jessica has authored or advised on nearly ten local ballot measures to regulate cannabis businesses.  Successes include Measure U in La Mesa and Measure V in Lemon Grove in 2016 and Measure H in Encinitas in 2020.  As part of this work, Jessica has won writs of mandate at the local and appellate level to compel local governments and registrars of voters to accept petitions and count voter signatures.

Jessica represents people facing discipline or loss of state and local licenses, particularly in the cannabis industry.  She began her career in criminal defense and continues to take select cases.  Jessica has unique experience with the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege and the duties of an attorney under investigation or facing criminal charges. 

Outside of her law practice, Jessica is an advocate for cannabis and broader drug policy reform.  She is an advisory board member for A New PATH, an organization dedicated to promoting therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies.  Jessica served as a consultant for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California about how Proposition 64 affects criminal justice reform and individual rights.  

Jessica grew up in San Diego and graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College before attending the University of San Diego School of Law on a Dean’s Honor Scholarship.  She is a former Chair of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee and its Continuing Legal Education Committee, and a former member of its Board of Directors.  Jessica has spoken at conferences and taught continuing legal education classes for organizations and law schools including the California Lawyers Association, Practising Law Institute, International Cannabis Bar Association, San Diego County Bar Association, and University of San Diego School of Law.  Her publications include “Attorney Ethics and Cannabis: Conflicts of Laws, Conflicts of Interest, and Attorney-Client Privilege for Cannabis Practitioners” (CLA Real Property Journal Vol. 38, No. 4 2020).

Timothy L. Alger Related Seminars and Products

Owner

Alger Resolutions

Timothy L. Alger is a civil litigator, mediator, and owner of Alger Law APC and Alger ADR Services.  Tim makes himself available nationwide to mediate and arbitrate disputes among businesses and individuals, and is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s esteemed Roster of Arbitrators.  Tim’s expertise in the cannabis industry and 33 years in commercial litigation, and extensive training and experience in mediation and arbitration, make him a valuable resource for resolution of disagreements without the high cost of litigation in court.

Formerly the head of litigation, employment law and trademarks at Google and an equity partner at three major international law firms, Tim has represented leading internet, media, entertainment and advertising companies in regulatory disputes and litigation over trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, contracts, free speech, defamation, and privacy.  In addition to his own practices as a neutral and litigator, Tim serves as of counsel to the law firm of Harris Sliwoski LLP.

Tim has represented legal cannabis businesses in civil litigation and regulatory disputes with governmental entities.  Recent representations in this industry include civil litigation over trademarks, contracts, relocation of a cannabis dispensary, excessive fines on cannabis cultivators, civil rights violations by law enforcement agencies, and ownership and management disputes in cannabis business partnerships and companies.

In other industries, Tim has represented a variety of companies and individuals in disputes over corporate acquisitions, business relationships, and financial issues.  His work ranges from complex, multi-defendant class actions to disputes over subpoenas and public access to government proceedings and records.  Tim’s business litigation work included post-trial and appellate representation of an international office supply company, in which Tim obtained the reversal for his client of a $32 million jury verdict for fraud and breach of an advertising contract.  Tim’s work also included representation in the trial and appellate courts of a billboard company that successfully challenged the City of Los Angeles’ inconsistent regulation of outdoor signs.

Tim has been an outspoken advocate for First Amendment and other civil rights for nearly five decades, both as an attorney and journalist.  He was lead counsel in two watershed Ninth Circuit cases interpreting Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which provides protection to internet companies that host content created by others.  Tim also successfully represented clients in the Ninth Circuit in free speech cases of first impression involving the posting of controversial content on YouTube and on online roommate and dating services.  As outside counsel and during his tenure as Deputy General Counsel at Google, Tim led Google's defense against lawsuits over copyrighted material posted online without owner consent, and the use of trademarks without owner consent in internet search advertising by competitors.  Tim’s team obtained complete victories in two patent jury trials in the Eastern District of Texas.  Tim and Google also took leading roles during Tim's tenure in controversies over news aggregation, online piracy, privacy rights, software patents, and open source licensing. 

He recently obtained the reversal in the California Court of Appeal of a court order that held his client liable for debts incurred by a cannabis delivery company prior to the client’s acquisition of the company in a reverse triangular merger.  Other victories include the dismissal of a federal lawsuit challenging a social network’s decision to remove material violating the network’s policies, which was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit, and the California Court of Appeal’s holding that electronic communications cannot be disclosed by a service provider without the user’s express consent.

Tim has offices in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but appears regularly in courts throughout California and has a national practice in the federal trial and appellate courts. He holds mediations and arbitrations in-person at any of his offices or via video conferencing, and will travel when requested.

Tim is a frequent speaker on cannabis law, online intermediary liability, publicity and privacy rights, and defamation.  His pro bono work has included representation of a state prisoner beaten by guards, a blind college student excluded from classes because of her disability, college newspapers, a mother and daughter subjected to excessive commercial fines for a medical marijuana garden, and public school students and parents seeking special education services.

Before attending law school, Mr. Alger was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor.

Jen Randolph Reise, JD Related Seminars and Products

Founder and Principal

North Star Cannabis Consulting

Jen Randolph Reise [rye-zuh] is a leading cannabis industry consultant and attorney specializing in Minnesota's emerging craft cannabis market. As Founder and Principal of North Star Cannabis Consulting, she provides strategic guidance to entrepreneurs navigating the complex regulatory landscape of Minnesota's budding cannabis industry.

With nearly 20 years of legal experience spanning corporate law, compliance, and securities, Jen has established herself as a trusted advisor for cannabis entrepreneurs and a trusted source of information on Minnesota’s craft industry.

Prior to launching North Star Cannabis Consulting in January 2025, Jen co-founded North Star Law Group PLLC where she built a specialized cannabis law practice. Her legal background includes roles as Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, in-house SEC and compliance counsel at Regis Corporation (NASDAQ: RGS), and teaching a popular seminar, Marijuana and the Law, at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

A thought leader in the cannabis space, Jen has been profiled in the Star Tribune, Minneapolis St.-Paul Business Journal, and Racket.MN (where she earned the moniker "Weed Lady Lawyer") and was named to the Top Women in Law list by Minnesota Lawyer in 2023. She regularly contributes to industry discussions through her newsletter, speaking engagements, podcasts, and educational content.

Jen graduated valedictorian from Hamline University School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline) in 2007 and holds a B.A. from St. Olaf College.

Tyler Klimas Related Seminars and Products

Principal | Founder

Leaf Street Strategies, LLC

Tyler Klimas is the founder and principal of Leaf Street Strategies, a leading consulting firm specializing in cannabis and hemp policy. He previously served as Nevada’s first chief cannabis regulator, overseeing the state’s transition into a billion-dollar medical and adult-use cannabis market. Appointed as the inaugural Executive Director of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board, Klimas was instrumental in designing and launching the agency, drawing on regulatory principles from Nevada’s globally recognized gaming model.

Klimas also co-founded and served as president of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), a nonprofit network representing cannabis regulators across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Under his leadership, CANNRA significantly expanded its national presence, driving coordinated engagement with Congress and key federal agencies on cannabis and hemp policy.

Prior to his regulatory work, Klimas was a federal lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where he led bipartisan coalition-building and advocacy strategies for both public and private sector clients. He began his career in political campaigns and has held senior roles advising elected officials on policy, communications, and government affairs.

Jason Moscovici Related Seminars and Products

Founder | President

Provisions Legal Services Inc.

Jason Moscovici is a lawyer, biochemist, and founder of Provisions Legal Services, a Canadian law firm specialized in regulated industries. His practice focuses on intellectual property and regulatory compliance in fields such as cannabis, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, personal care products, nicotine delivery and natural health products.

Jason’s focus on the valorization and enforcement of IP, as well as the numerous compliance issues that orbit regulated businesses, have allowed him to become one of the most trusted legal advisors to the emerging international cannabis industry. His perspectives on innovation, and the commercial hurdles related specifically to the area of controlled substances old and new, are routinely solicited by industry groups and other stakeholders in this space. He sits on several committees and working groups dedicated to identifying and establishing international legal practices in these areas.

Priya Sopori Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Greenberg Glusker LLP

Priya Sopori’s legal savvy and deep courtroom experience—both as an award-winning veteran federal prosecutor and in substantial private practice—enable her to provide clients with the skilled representation and counsel they need during high-stakes trial and crisis situations.

As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, she indicted some 45 cases, tried numerous multi-week jury trials, and successfully prosecuted federal sex crimes against women and children, white-collar fraud, and cybercrimes, obtaining convictions.

In private practice, Priya has extensive business litigation and trial experience involving intellectual property, copyright and trade-secret protection, licensing agreements for music and internet/television rights, international film financing and distribution, employer discrimination and sexual harassment, securities litigation, entertainment litigation, wrongful death, and white-collar crime.

In addition to her trial expertise, Priya regularly works with clients who represent investment funds, REITs, hospitality, hedge funds, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. She often acts as outside general counsel to clients by providing guidance on employment, responses to subpoenas, contractual, real estate, and intellectual property matters as well as assisting with SEC compliance concerns, including agency and/or government investigations.

Priya has won numerous defense verdicts, including a multimillion-dollar employment discrimination suit against a major insurer, and in suits against a successful developer, a noted Hollywood studio, and other high-profile clients. She has successfully litigated the seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash by the government and successfully negotiated settlements in favor of her clients. She has also successfully negotiated favorable settlements in several trademark, employment, and financial litigation matters, thereby protecting her clients from lengthy, expensive lawsuits.  She has also won countless motions for summary judgment against the government, and corporate and individual plaintiffs and defendants. Read more about her representative matters.

Priya frequently writes and comments on high-profile civil and criminal matters and has been featured in several media outlets, including Los Angeles Business Journal, Law360, Associated Press, NBC Los Angeles, and Daily Journal.

Lara DeCaro Related Seminars and Products

Principal

Bond Legal & Dispute Resolutions PC

I am a business attorney and mediator admitted to practice in three states. I am also a co-founder, former Executive Officer and Board Member, and the current President of the Advisory Board of the International Cannabis Bar Association and a co-founder and the current Chair of the BASF Cannabis Law Section, founder of the BASF (LRIS) pro bono panel for social equity applicants, frequent speaker, podcast guest, and teacher at City College San Francisco. In 2022 I provided testimony on cannabis policy reform, upon invitation, to elected members of the Irish Parliament and their invitees at Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland. I also have significant experience in the areas of cannabis, intellectual property, commercial transactions/M&A, real estate, hospitality, and entertainment law, and have consistenly been named to Chambers and Partners top cannabis attorneys for several years.  

Kristina Dahmann Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Ice Miller LLP

Kristina is an exceptional communicator whose practical approach is highly regarded by her clients. Her primary practice is concentrated on matters related to complex and nuanced dispute resolution, administrative matters, audit and compliance, and risk management as well as telecommunications and financial services. With an adept understanding of federal and Ohio administrative and regulatory processes, Kristina expertly navigates the intricacies of highly regulated industries, consistently providing invaluable counsel to help clients thrive in these sectors.

As a dynamic and innovative counselor, Kristina operates at the intersection of regulation and law within Ice Miller’s Litigation practice. She has played a pivotal role in helping the firm carve out unique practice areas in regulated industries and administrative law. Kristina takes an organic client-centered approach to her work, always striving to ensure her practice drives meaningful change both personally and professionally.

Kristina’s career trajectory showcases her unwavering commitment to tackling challenges with a can-do attitude and her willingness to adapt to meet client needs. A sought-after speaker in the region, she regularly presents on various topics, particularly at events for credit unions in Ohio, an area in which she has become an instrumental resource for the firm.  

Kristina has been consistently ranked by Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in the areas of banking and finance litigation and commercial litigation.  Her influence extends beyond her client work, as she is also dedicated to uplifting the next generation of lawyers through the firm’s mentoring program. Her unique strengths and drive continue to inspire up-and-coming lawyers and professionals at Ice Miller.

Prior to joining Ice Miller, Kristina clerked for the Honorable Michael H. Watson of the Southern District of Ohio. Just prior to her federal clerkship, she also clerked for the Chief Judge of the Office of Administrative Law Judges for the United States Department of Labor, where she managed a broad range of employment cases concerning a variety of federal regulations.

Shawn Collins Related Seminars and Products

Principal & Founder

The Homegrown Consulting Group, LLC.

Shawn Collins is one of the country’s foremost experts in cannabis policy.  He is sought after to opine and consult on not just policy creation and development, but program implementation as well.  He is widely recognized for his creative mind as well as his thoughtful and successful leadership of both startup and bureaucratic organizations.  In addition to cannabis, he has a well-documented expertise in health care and complex financial matters as well.

Shawn was unanimously appointed as the inaugural Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission in 2017.  In that role, he helped establish Massachusetts as a model for the implementation of safe, effective, and equitable cannabis policy, while simultaneously building out and overseeing the operations of the East Coast’s first adult-use marijuana regulatory agency.

Under Shawn’s leadership, Massachusetts’ adult-use Marijuana Retailers successfully opened in 2018 with a fully regulated supply chain unparalleled by their peers, complete with quality control testing and seed-to-sale tracking. Since then, the legal marketplace has grown at a rapid pace and generated more than $5 billion in revenue across more than 300 retail stores, including $1.56 billion in 2023 alone. He also oversaw the successful migration and integration of the Medical Use of Marijuana Program from the stewardship of the Department of Public Health to the Cannabis Control Commission in 2018. The program has since more than doubled in size and continues to support nearly 100,000 patients due to thoughtful programmatic and regulatory enhancements.

Shawn is an original founder of the Cannabis Regulators Association and also helped formalize networks that provide policymakers with unbiased information from the front lines of cannabis legalization, even as federal prohibition persists.  At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Collins was recognized by Boston Magazine as one of Boston’s 100 most influential people for his work to shape the emerging cannabis industry in Massachusetts.

Before joining the Commission, Shawn served as Assistant Treasurer and Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs to Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg and Chief of Staff and General Counsel to former Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge).  He currently lives in Webster, Massachusetts with his growing family. Shawn is a graduate of Suffolk University and Suffolk University Law School, and is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts.

Shawn has since founded THC Group in order to leverage his experience on behalf of clients, and to do so with a personalized approach.

Amanda Ostrowitz, Esq. Related Seminars and Products

CEO

Slap Consulting

As the founder of CannaRegs and a leading subject matter expert in cannabis law and local government regulation, Slap Consulting assists cannabis operators (existing and prospective) with cannabis site selection, real estate strategy, license opportunity identification, and new market expansion.

Sanford Wolgel, PhD Related Seminars and Products

Expert Witness, Regulatory Affairs

KCNM Consulting

Dr. Sanford Wolgel was formerly the Chief Science Officer of Cannabistry Labs, a pioneering cannabis R&D company that created, launched and licensed cannabis product portfolios in multiple states. 

During his previous 35+ years' experience in industry, academia and consulting, Dr. Wolgel had leadership roles in developing groundbreaking nutritional products at a General Mills-spinoff, Gerber Baby Foods, and Imperial Sugar. At the University of Chicago's Office of Technology & Intellectual Property, Dr. Wolgel revitalized food industry interest in patented early-stage technologies. 

He is a recognized specialist at the intersection of science and regulatory affairs. Dr. Wolgel has served as an Expert Witness on FDA Food Labeling Regulations for Sheppard Mullin; and on USDA regulations for the Summit Law Group. 

Dr. Wolgel served as a consulting expert witness to Mary Shapiro’s firm, Evoke Law, responding to a USPTO adverse Office Action on a trademark application for a product containing CBD from Hemp. This resulted in a successful US trademark registration prior to passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

He has presented graduate-level lectures on the intersection of FDA and Cannabis regulations at UCLA School of Law, Michigan State University School of Packaging and Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology.

Dr. Wolgel earned a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota and a BA in Nutrition Education from The Evergreen State College.

Neil Willner Related Seminars and Products

Counsel

Vicente LLP

Neil M. Willner is counsel in Vicente LLP’s New York office. He focuses his practice on the cannabis industry, with a particular emphasis on regulatory and compliance matters in New York, New Jersey and other jurisdictions across the country. Over the last several years, Neil has been on the forefront of regulatory challenges concerning the crossover of the hemp and regulated marijuana industries.

In addition to advising private clients, Neil is involved in a myriad of Bar Associations and Trade Associations. For the past several years, Neil has served on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Cannabis Section where he chairs the Regulatory Sub-Committee. He also serves on committees for the International Cannabis Bar Association, where he has been a frequent presenter on intoxicating hemp issues, and the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH). Neil helps dictate policy at the state and federal levels and has engaged with Congressmen, FDA officials and state Attorneys General Offices to discuss federal legalization and the regulation of hemp products. Neil has been called upon by state regulators and state attorney generals to provide guidance on regulatory matters concerning intoxicating hemp.

Neil also serves as a trusted expert to media outlets and has been quoted in articles published by the New York Times, the Village Voice, Forbes, and Lawyer.com.

He received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Vermont.

Gina Austin Related Seminars and Products

Managing Attorney

Austin Legal Group

Gina Austin is the founder and managing attorney of Austin Legal Group, and leads our Cannabis, Securities, and Corporate and Land Use Departments. Gina brings a wealth of practical knowledge and insights to her practice as a result of her over 25 years of experience and familiarity with a broad range of legal practice areas.

Gina’s experience in land use entitlement has provided a foundation for great success obtaining permits from local municipalities. For example, Gina regularly assists clients through third-party project oppositions and appeals, environmental challenges, public hearing preparations, delays in local jurisdiction responses and processing, assistance in guiding technical experts through required transportation analysis, noise impact analysis, biological resource reports, and more. Gina’s deep understanding of both cannabis law and corporate transactions uniquely positions her to guide clients through this complex regulatory framework.

As a seasoned corporate and securities attorney, Gina has guided companies through complex transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, tender offers, debt financing, management services agreements, licensing agreements, and entering the public markets. Her expertise encompasses both transactional and regulatory aspects of securities law, making her a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex financial landscapes.

Since focusing on the cannabis industry in 2013, Gina has worked with over 150 cannabis companies in all areas of the supply chain. Gina has been a featured speaker in dozens of cannabis conferences, providing insight on a wide variety of topics such as land use, zoning, regulatory compliance, corporate structure, mergers and acquisitions, and environmental issues. Austin Legal Group represents cannabis companies in dozens of jurisdictions throughout California as well as Colorado, Washington, Oregon, New York and Nevada. Cannabis companies operate in a unique legal landscape, navigating federal restrictions alongside state-specific regulations, which demands specialized expertise. Gina is also the founder of ALG Strategies, a cannabis consulting firm that assists prospective and existing cannabis license holders through the complex application, licensing, and permitting process both at state and local levels.

Currently, Gina represents public and private companies both inside and outside of the cannabis industry in a variety of corporate transactions including strategic planning, public offerings, private equity, M&A, and other general corporate matters. Gina also continues to represent non-cannabis land use clients to help them maximize their real estate investment.

Michael F. Hennessey Related Seminars and Products

Senior Vice President

NFP, an Aon company

Michael F. Hennessey is Senior Vice President at NFP, an Aon company.

Previously, Mr. Hennessey served as Vice President & National Cannabis Practice Leader at IMA Financial Group, Inc. Based in California, Mr. Hennessey lead business development and client service efforts across the United States.

Prior to that, Mr. Hennessey was Assistant Vice President of Client Services for The ABD Team serving the Cannabis space in addition to technology, real estate, and life sciences sectors.

David Ruskin Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

David is a partner with the Chicago-based law firm, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.  Following 25 years of litigating business and tax disputes, in 2016 David turned his full energy to focus on providing legal counsel to the cannabis industry, representing entrepreneurs, investors and business owners, both plant touching and ancillary trades.

David Ruskin leads the firm's Cannabis practice. He advises both public and privately companies on a wide range of corporate issues including mergers, acquisitions, and financing and tax transactions. David counsels entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners to help achieve their goals in the Cannabis industry. He represents companies facing business and tax litigation and provides outside general counsel services.

Having worked with cannabis companies for nearly a decade, David’s cannabis practice touches every part of the industry. He represents national and expanding brands, licensed retailers, cultivators and processors, and delivery services. David also advises non-plant touching and start-up companies as they look to grow in the evolving industry, and he helps both investors and companies seeking capital create the appropriate agreement to accomplish their goals.

David helps clients navigate unsettled and differing statutes, regulations, and industry-specific legal developments. He enjoys guiding clients through the state licensing process and counseling on issues that arise from early-stage application steps through the company’s lifespan. David has assisted license holders from over 15 legalized states in expanding their operations into new jurisdictions, empowering them to enter new markets with compliance and confidence.

With extensive litigation experience, David represents clients in an array of issues litigated in the cannabis industry and beyond. He often represents clients in partnership, ownership, and contract disputes and defends clients involved in whistleblower (qui tam), False Claims Act claims, and multistate tax issues. David represents clients before state courts, administrative tax tribunals, appellate, and federal courts.

Prior to joining the firm, David was a partner in the Litigation Group and led the Cannabis practice at HMB Legal Counsel, a well-established, corporate-focused law firm based in Chicago, Illinois.

David was recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in 2024 for Cannabis Law and Closely and Privately Held Business Law by Leading Lawyers magazine.

John Harrison Oberle, Esq. Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Ice Miller LLP

John H. Oberle is a partner in Ice Miller's Government Affairs and Regulatory Law Group and Government Law Group in Ohio. He is chair of the Highly Regulated Industries Group and leads a core group of attorneys on matters related to cannabis, gaming, sports betting and liquor law.  John has more than 28 years of experience as a regulatory attorney, public sector advocate and lobbyist to ensure clients' interests are well represented regionally before state governmental agencies, city halls and the Ohio statehouse. He has built a reputation of being a strong and effective advocate for his clients. He is also a member of the Public Affairs and Gaming Group and Energy and Utilities Group.

John's experience includes work as: a lobbyist and aide to Gov. George V. Voinovich; chief of Legislative Affairs for Ohio’s chief regulatory department (Ohio Department of Commerce); Trustee for Sharon Township since 2006; principal of Ice Miller Whiteboard LLC; and attorney at Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co.,LPA, now Ice Miller, for 16 years. This experience not only includes an understanding of the law, but includes how government and regulatory agencies develop policies that impact business. He zealously pursues client’s objectives in seeking a favorable result.

John has a proven and successful track record. His experience includes extensive work in the field of business regulation regarding gaming law, economic development, insurance and health care, utility, government procurement, liquor compliance and legislative drafting including helping:

• Drafting two constitutional amendments and work on implementing legislation/regulations on casino/video lottery terminal gaming
• Working on utility issues before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
• Writing laws for several regulated industries such as auctioneers, liquor, racing, solid waste, and other key regulated industries
• Negotiating and implementing some of the largest economic development projects in Ohio for banking operations and for aeronautical companies
• Drafting request for proposals (RFPs) and successfully protesting RFPs with state agencies
• Obtaining high-value procurement contracts which includes experience in privatizing governmental operations such as food service

In 1993, John received his Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University where he was vice president and chief justice of Interfraternity Counsel. He received his juris doctor from Capital University Law School in 2000, cum laude, while working full-time for the state of Ohio.

Ashish Talati Related Seminars and Products

Founding Member

Talati Law Firm PLLC

Ashish R. Talati is one of the industry’s foremost experts on FDA regulatory matters. He has gained an exceptional reputation for his successful results at the cutting edge of FDA and regulatory law, where he has responded nimbly to changes in the regulatory climate and the marketplace, guiding clients through some of our industries’ most complex issues.

Ashish primarily counsels clients on matters of regulatory compliance, helping them anticipate and address regulatory issues in their day-to-day business operations and strategic planning. He also advocates on their behalf before the FDA, FTC, Customs, USDA, DEA, and other federal agencies, and in court. He is considered a leading authority in the areas of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) requirements and New Dietary Ingredients (NDI). Considered a creative and strategic partner by his clients, Ashish works with companies all over the globe and is a trusted advisor at every step of the product life cycle, including product formulation, safety and efficacy studies, product launch, and ongoing marketing and sales.

In addition to his pioneering background in FDA regulatory matters, Ashish is highly regarded for his wealth of knowledge on advertising regulations. He counsels clients on compliance issues and claims substantiation in connection with their advertising and marketing programs, and represents advertisers in both defending and challenging claims before the National Advertising Division (NAD) and other regulatory bodies.

In addition to legal advice, he prides himself on providing business-oriented solutions that minimize risks and enable his clients to reach their corporate goals. The companies with whom he works prize his immediate accessibility, his wide range of contacts in the regulatory arena, and his deep expertise gleaned from a sharp focus on this area of law.  Prior to law school Ashish worked as a Chemist and a GMP auditor for the pharmaceutical industry. He also brings a tremendous amount of GMP experience to help respond to FDA 483’s and Warning Letters.

Ashish frequently publishes articles and presents at webinars and conferences addressing industry and legal subjects of developing importance. In his spare time, Ashish and his wife, a pediatric dentist, enjoy sharing their healthy lifestyle with their two young children.

Mr David Kenneth Sergi, JD Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Sergi and Associates PC

Mr. Sergi brings his unique back ground to the practice of law in San Marcos. He was born in Hamburg Germany where his parents where opera singers. His schooling included stints at the International Schools as well as British military schools. After he moved to Texas with his parents he attended Anderson High School in Austin and graduated from Allen Military Academy in Bryan. He thereafter graduated from Texas A and M university and South Texas College of Law.

His legal experience combines the honor of having served as a Law Clerk to a Federal Judge as well as having practiced with two of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the Country. He has also worked overseas representing major clients in Australia and served on the trial team of a defendant at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague as well as attending arguments for one of his clients at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

He has established a practice in San Marcos, which combines his courtroom expertise in the areas of commercial and criminal litigation along with his passion for family law as well as his commitment to represent business interests and developers in the Hays County area.

Andrea Steel Related Seminars and Products

Principal

The Banks Law Firm, P.A.

Andrea Steel is a principal with The Banks Law Firm, where she leads the Firm’s Cannabis practice in addition to bringing extensive experience in affordable housing and community economic development law. With over 20 years of experience in law and criminal justice, Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to her diverse clientele.

Andrea is a pioneer in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, with deep rooted knowledge and experience, having been pivotal in securing a number of significant results impacting the industry at both state and federal levels. Andrea advises cannabis business clients, from startups to established enterprises across the supply chain, both plant-touching and ancillary, from cultivators to retailers, as well as manufacturers, distributors, testing labs, landlords, property owners, lenders and more. Her practice encompasses legalities and strategic advising for businesses with respect to all forms of cannabis, inclusive of hemp, cannabinoids (biosynthetic, semi-synthetic, synthetic, hemp-derived and other chemical forms, including delta-8 THC and other novel substances), medical marijuana, and adult-use marijuana, serving clients across the country with a focus on Texas. She advises on regulatory compliance, cannabis business licensing, risk analysis and mitigation strategizing, product labeling/marketing, entity formation, entity structuring and governance, contract negotiations, and real estate issues.

Andrea has also provided subject matter expertise to several other attorneys and law firms in various business transactions as well as litigation matters, assisting other lawyers in navigating the complexities with their clients. She has helped shape laws and policy in both Texas and federally, providing useful insight and specific language with respect to formulating statutes and regulations, an area Andrea truly enjoys.

In the affordable housing area, Andrea represents both for-profit and non-profit developers across the country, including public and private entities, as well as public housing authorities and tax increment reinvestment zones. Her work is concentrated on the legal representation of developers of affordable housing utilizing both 9% and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax exempt bond financing, CDBG and HOME Program funding and other federal, state and local subsidy and economic development programs, as well as stimulus grants created in response to disaster recovery and economic downturn rescue programs such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill (CARES Act), Housing and Economic Recovery Act, and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including the Tax Credit Assistance Program, Tax Credit Exchange Program (Section 1602 Program), Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Community Development Block Grants Disaster Recovery funding, and Economic Development Administration grants.

Andrea serves as a Board Member of the International Cannabis Bar Association and serves as Vice President of Operations as well as co-chair of its Legislative Advisement Committee. Andrea has also served as a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Cannabis Law and Policy Committee since 2021. She is a sought-after speaker at industry events, providing insight into recently approved and proposed laws, rules and regulations and other cannabis business matters. At her prior firm, she successfully launched, led and grew their cannabis business practice group.

Robert Hoban Related Seminars and Products

Global Cannabis Authority

Bob Hoban

Bob Hoban sits at the center of the world’s largest commercial cannabis industry network; a cannabis industry ecosystem that he has painstakingly cultivated since 2008.  Since the cannabis industry became commercialized, he has been widely credited for creating the class of lawyers now known as “cannabis attorneys.”  He is known for the tremendous value that he places in his relationships and is not satisfied unless he can help his business clients thrive in this burgeoning global industry; an industry he has played a significant role in establishing.  Bob has earned a reputation as a cannabis industry deal-maker representing start-ups, entrepreneurs, and companies in all stages of development.  Mr. Hoban has truly transcended the practice of law and is regularly involved in assembling and structuring large-scale cannabis industry M&A transactions.  Above all else, Bob is a cannabis industry expert.  

Beginning in 2008, he deliberately constructed the Hoban Law Group (HLG) to become the world’s leading full-service commercial cannabis industry law firm; the first of its kind.  Since that time, HLG has indeed become the world’s leading cannabis industry law firm, with offices in seventeen states and ten nations abroad, and over fifty attorneys who specialize in all aspects of the commercial practice surrounding the cannabis industry. For nearly ten years, HLG has represented the cannabis industry’s titans in every aspect of the commercial cannabis industry around the world.  And he is largely responsible for the establishment and growth of the CBD industry due to his legal strategies, litigation matters, and policy efforts executed on behalf of HLG clients.    

From 2010-2016, Bob served as one of the Nation’s first cannabis policy instructors at the University of Denver, where he regularly lectured regarding cannabis topics (government regulations, public policy, and research-based policy courses), and where he led a University-sanctioned research practicum concerning the efficacy of marijuana regulation; the first of its kind in the U.S.  He then taught several international travel courses concerning the emergence of the global cannabis industry.  Because of this academic background, Bob has been asked to work with dozens of governments across the U.S., Asia, the E.U., and Latin America (over thirty different countries) on crafting their commercial cannabis public policy solutions (legislation and regulations).  And he has served on a variety of national, state, and local task forces related to cannabis policy issues.         

He has consistently been recognized as one of the most influential people in the global cannabis industry by a variety of organizations and publications over the course of the past ten-plus years.  Since 2013, Bob has achieved the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, awarded to only those lawyers with the highest ethical standards and professional ability.  He was recently named a “Cannabis Law Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal, and he has been consistently recognized as one of “Denver’s Top Cannabis Lawyers” for nearly a decade.    

Bob frequently appears in media coverage as a legal expert on cannabis and has been a keynote speaker at dozens of cannabis events around the world.  He has conducted hundreds of interviews regarding marijuana policy for international, national, state, and local media outlets.  Major media outlets like the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, CNN, Rolling Stone, Forbes, VICE, MSNBC, and Bloomberg have all called on Bob for his unique perspective on the cannabis industry.

Joanne Caceres Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Dentons

Joanne, a member of the Dentons cannabis sector group, has deep experience in the cannabis, hemp, and emerging psychedelics industries, and is one of the nation’s most experienced cannabis law lawyers. Joanne has particular skill in helping clients to navigate business objectives within these complex and rapidly evolving regulatory environments. 

Joanne has helped clients attain cannabis licenses in several states, as well as a federal license to bulk manufacture cannabis. Joanne has also advised on several states’ cannabis regulations, and participated in drafting proposed legislation for descheduling or rescheduling cannabis. This vantage point has uniquely positioned her to evaluate the national regulatory environment for cannabis, hemp and psychedelics, with an eye towards future regulatory developments.

Joanne also has particular experience counselling public companies that provide services to operators in these industries, including risk mitigation and due diligence strategies to ensure such companies comply with state and, where desired, federal law. Joanne has also been integral in the public listing of several ancillary cannabis companies onto U.S. national stock exchanges. 

Joanne is a strategic advisor whose work spans corporate, regulatory, and litigation work. Current clients include single and multi-state operators, hemp product manufacturers, large publicly traded companies selling products or services into the cannabis industry, life science companies researching psychedelics, real estate investments trusts, and other companies involved in financing these industries.

Through her pro bono work, Joanne has helped social equity applicants with transactional work, has helped to file cannabis expungement paperwork for previously incarcerated individuals, and has advocated for federal pardons for simple possession.

Joanne is a leader in Dentons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. She serves as the designated Health Care Practice Group Diversity Partner and is the co-chair of Dentons Hispanic/Latinx Organization for Leadership and Advancement (HOLA).

Sheri L. Tarr, JD Related Seminars and Products

Founder & Chief Advisor

‘68 Partners LLC

Scheril Murray Powell Related Seminars and Products

Founder

Cannabis HR Council

Scheril Murray Powell, Esq., is a multifaceted legal professional renowned for her expertise in agricultural, cannabis, dietary supplement,regulatory, and trade law. Currently practicing at Doumar, Allsworth, Laystrom, Voigt, Adair, and Dishowitz LLP, Scheril was elected as the International First Vice President of The Ethiopian World Federation, Inc. and is the Founder of the Cannabis HR Council.  She sits on the ASTM International D37 Committee on Cannnabis' Executive Committee as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee.  She is regarded internationally for her work on policy related to Global Tribal Community Rights and the Sacramental Use of Cannabis.

In addition to her legal prowess, her vast experience includes serving as the Former Chief Operating Officer of the JUSTÜS Foundation and Chair of the Broward County Medical Marijuana Advisory Board.

Recognized for her exceptional contributions, Scheril has been named one of the Top 12 Cannabis Attorneys in Florida by The Daily Business Review and honored in the High Times 100 Most influential African Americans in the history of the United States with regards to Drug and Cannabis Policy. She is a Florida licensed Hemp Farmer and a Research Farmer for the University of Florida.

Committed to advocacy and community service, Scheril serves on various boards and is the President of consulting firm Green Sustainable Strong, LLC. Her dedication extends to volunteering with the Winrock Foundation, delivering Marketing training to Farmers in Ghana, Africa.

Scheril's dynamic career trajectory, spanning legal practice, education, advocacy, and community service, reflects her unwavering commitment to excellence and social justice.

Frm. State Senator Dallas Harris Related Seminars and Products

Of Counsel

Davison Van Cleve, P.C.

Dallas joined Davison Van Cleve in 2020. She has previously worked as an Administrative Attorney at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. As the assistant to Commissioner Ann Pongracz, Dallas drafted orders and advised the Commissioner on rate cases, rulemakings, integrated resource planning, and other proceedings. Her time at the Public Utilities Commission allowed for unique experience on the decision-making side of water, gas, and energy law. Dallas then gained litigation experience as a Consumer Rights Attorney at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada representing vulnerable adults in guardianship proceedings.

Immediately following law school, Dallas worked as a legal fellow at Public Knowledge, a D.C. based nonprofit focused on public interest telecommunications law. While there, Dallas lobbied the Federal Communications Commission on broadband and privacy issues.

During law school, Dallas interned at Facebook, the Federal Trade Commission, and for D.C. City Councilwoman Mary Cheh.  In addition to her law degree from George Washington Law School, she also holds an MA in public policy from Claremont Graduate University and Bachelors of Arts in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In her free time, Dallas serves her community as a State Senator. She enjoys playing tennis, practicing taekwondo and spending quality time with her dog, Ziggy.

?Admitted and active in Nevada? and California.