Hemp Symposium 2023

Mary Shapiro, JD, MBA Related Seminars and Products

Managing Director

Evoke Law, PC

Mary Shapiro
Evoke Law, PC
mary@evoke.law

Mary Shapiro, Managing Director of Evoke Law, PC, based in San Francisco, California, is an intellectual property attorney specializing in trademark, consumer protection, copyright, and internet law.

For 20 years prior to her legal career, Mary served in a variety of marketing positions in the book industry, including roles in retail, distribution and publishing. Mary started her legal career in 1999 at Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP. There, Mary supported businesses in a variety of industries: technology, medical device, pharmaceutical, wineries, non-profit foundations, and consumer products.
Her cannabis practice began in earnest in 2009, offering specialized legal services in intellectual property and consumer protection. Mary strives to assist cannabis operators in selecting strong and enforceable brand names, with her day-to-day work encompassing clearing, filing, prosecuting, enforcing, and licensing trademarks in the U.S. and internationally.

In 2016, Mary rebranded the firm to Evoke Law, continuing to specialize in serving the cannabis industry. By registering brands and enforcing intellectual property rights, businesses are positioned to expand their brands nationally and globally. In the consumer protection arena, Evoke Law guides cannabis operators through the complex compliance issues associated with packaging and labeling, recalls, and advertising. The firm encourages clients to carefully view each decision from the vantage point of its overall marketing strategies and business objectives, as well as the company’s risk tolerance level.

Mary has been a leader in bridging intellectual property law, state cannabis regulations, and the cannabis marketplace. In 2015, Mary was a founding Board member of the National Cannabis Bar Association (NCBA), which now has over 700 active members. She currently serves as the Board Secretary, co-chairs the organization’s worldwide expansion (as the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA), and is in a leadership role in the Continuing Legal Education program. In 2016-2017, Mary collaborated with industry advocacy groups and fellow legal colleagues, to persuade the California Secretary of State to allow registration of trademarks for cannabis products and services. In early 2018, with the assistance of a technical advisor and expert witness testimony, Evoke Law provided the USPTO with irrefutable scientific evidence that the mature stalks do indeed produce CBD in appreciable quantities without the commingling from other plant parts, including any ‘resinous’ secretions, which debunked the USPTO’s incorrect internal position on this matter, and resulted in the federal registration of a client’s trademark for a hemp-derived product.

Evoke Law provides pro bono assistance to Marijuana Policy Project, Americans for Safe Access, California Cannabis Industry Association, International Cannabis Bar Association, and Cannabis Marketing Association. Mary is also a First 50 supporter of Women Grow, and regularly speaks at industry conferences including MJBiz, NCIA, CCIA, INCBA, Women Grow, and Emerald Cup.
 

Amanda Conley Related Seminars and Products

Founder

Conley Law

Amanda R. Conley is the founder of Conley Law PC, a boutique intellectual property and advertising law firm. She helps creative entrepreneurs across a variety of industries protect, leverage, and enforce their intellectual property. Amanda specializes in helping clients navigate highly-regulated industries such as cannabis, hemp, dietary supplements, and new and emerging technologies. She also advises on advertising, marketing, website, and labeling compliance in addition to providing general transactional legal services. 

Prior to founding Conley Law, Amanda was a founding partner at Brand & Branch LLP and co-founder of the International Cannabis Bar Association. She runs the Provisors Bay Area Cannabis Affinity Group, and is an active member of the California Lawyers Association. 

Amanda graduated from New York University School of Law after getting an MA in Sociology at the University of Colorado. Before attending law school, Amanda researched and published in the field of quantitative demography, and taught undergraduate-level sociology courses.

Susan Burns Related Seminars and Products

Attorney

S Burns Legal PLLC

Susan Burns is a business lawyer who guides businesses that are pursuing growth strategies. 

As an accomplished attorney with experience in several industries, Susan works with clients in the cannabis, health, technology, microbiology and food sectors. She also uses her expertise in agriculture and food law to help cannabis companies structure themselves to succeed in business-to-business or business-to-consumer environments—including one of her favorites—supporting growth for acquisition. 

Susan serves in leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s International Law Section, currently as Communications Officer, Founder & Co-Chair of the Food, Ag + Cannabis Committee, and Senior Adviser to the Mexico Committee. She is also a board member of the Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force. 

Susan earned her L.L.M. in food and agriculture from the University of Arkansas School of Law, her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law and her B.A. from the College of St. Benedict (both in Minnesota). 

While completing her LL.M. Susan was a Legal Fellow for The Good Food Institute where she developed an interest in the regulation of new food technology. Her practicum subject was “Regulatory Pathways for Export of Cell-cultured Meat to Mexico.” 

But her fascination with the nascent cannabis industry has consumed her publishing and speaking interests. She is a frequent presenter on the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoids and the rapidly growing cannabis hospitality industry. Susan is a regular contributor to the Cannabis Law Journal. 

Marie Sanchez Related Seminars and Products

Lawyer & Founder

Nooa Avocats

Marie Sanchez is a lawyer at the Bars of Paris and Quebec. After beginning her career in Singapore with a large pharmaceutical group, she worked for nearly 10 years in renowned international law firms before founding NOOA Avocats.

A specialist in regulatory and contractual aspects related to life sciences, she has also developed expertise in the field of therapeutic cannabis and well-being hemp. She regularly intervenes in the context of training courses as well as in conferences, in France and abroad.

She holds a Master II Professional in Health Industry Law from the University of Montpellier I as well as an ESSEC-Mannheim Executive MBA.

Pamela Nicole 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. 

Kai-Friedrich Niermann Related Seminars and Products

Lawyer

KFN+

Kai is characterized by his outstanding expertise and diverse practice in the cannabis industry. With a broad range of expertise in cannabis and business law, he provides comprehensive legal support to companies and individuals.

From contract drafting and company formation to day-to-day legal support, he assists cannabis companies with customized solutions in all legal matters, including white collar criminal law where necessary.

Kai is also the author of the blog canna-biz.legal, where he positions himself as an expert in the thriving cannabis business. Canna-biz.legal not only provides insights into the legal status of cannabis in Germany and Europe today, but also current developments and offers resources for businesses and interested parties.

His work spans all aspects of the cannabis industry, from advising companies on cultivation licenses and production regulations to assisting with regulatory issues in product development. His deep understanding of the complex legal framework in this sector makes him a sought-after contact.

Kai and his law firm KFN+ advise large CBD and medical cannabis companies, as well as companies and associations interested in the emerging recreational cannabis market. He is also advisor to the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), which has submitted a joint application to the EU Commission for authorization as a novel food for various CBD products.

With an international perspective, Kai operates not only nationally, but also across borders. His network in the industry enables him to support companies in their global activities and adapt to the challenges of an ever-changing legal landscape.

Kai regularly speaks at international cannabis conferences on topics related to the German and European legal framework for cannabis, and publishes articles at Krautinvest, BusinessCann and in law journals.

Born in Löhne/Westf. in 1972, studied law at the Universities of Marburg, Adelaide (Australia), Cologne, legal assistant at the press center of the German Bundestag (2000-2002), worked for the Berlin District Court, for the Director of Public Prosecution in Berlin, for the Berlin Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Hong Kong Consulate General.

Areas of Law:

• Legal Cannabis Consulting
• Regulatory approvals for medical cannabis and CBD
• Business law (company, commercial and contract law) 
• Law of torts
• Criminal business law

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.

Lorenza Romanese Related Seminars and Products

Managing Director

European Industrial Hemp Association

Lorenza is the Managing Director of European Industrial Hemp Association. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is a veteran policy advisorand communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers

Robert Jappie Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Fieldfisher LLP

Courtney Moran Related Seminars and Products

Founding Principal

EARTH Law LLC

Courtney N. Moran’s mission on the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) Advisory Board is to provide leadership and support to fellow attorneys engaged in restoring justice and establishing a solid foundation of Cannabis law as we end prohibition.

Courtney, the founding principal of EARTH Law, LLC and chief legislative strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions, LLC, is the leading expert on hemp law championing legal policy for sustainable Cannabis hemp agribusiness development. Courtney's article, Industrial Hemp: Canada Exports, United States Imports was published by the Fordham Environmental Law Review. She participated in the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem in April 2016. In October 2016, Courtney testified before the Senado de la República in Mexico City, Mexico. She successfully lobbies for the Oregon Industrial Hemp Farmers Association passing legislation, HB 4060 (2016), SB 1015 (2017), and HB 4089 (2018), protecting Oregon hemp agricultural interests. She authored H 3559 (2017), establishing the South Carolina hemp program. Courtney provided foundational language for SB 119 (2017), establishing the Wisconsin hemp program. Courtney strategically guided drafting SB 6 (2018), establishing the Alaska hemp program. She also provided pivotal strategy in drafting Missouri hemp legislation HB 2034 (2018), establishing the Missouri hemp program. Courtney is co-petitioner of the Relegalizing Industrial Hemp Project, a formal administrative rulemaking petition to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency that will remove hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. She also worked closely with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in drafting the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 (S. 2667).

Courtney currently serves on the Oregon State Bar Cannabis Law Section Executive Committee, as Second Vice Chair on the national NORML Board of Directors, and is the national Hemp Industries Association Legislative Review Committee Chairwoman. Her extensive background in Cannabis hemp law reform and program development brings a unique perspective on the administrative, agricultural, and environmental aspects of Cannabis law to the NCBA Board and membership.

Shawn Hauser Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Vicente LLP

Shawn Hauser is a partner at Vicente LLP, where she co-chairs the firm's Hemp and Cannabinoids Department and Federal and International Law Group. She helps cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics businesses navigate the intersections between state and federal law and ensure compliance as laws evolve. Her practice focuses on regulatory compliance, licensing, general business representation, policy reform and strategic guidance to best position businesses for success at the state, national, and international levels.

With more than a decade of experience in cannabis law and policy, Shawn is a go-to source for businesses, industry groups, governments, and reporters seeking opinions, analysis, and guidance. She has presented on cannabis law and policy to many local, federal, and international agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and UK Parliament.

Since directing Sensible Colorado's local government implementation team following the passage of Amendment 64, Shawn remains active in policy work with local and state governments in Colorado and Texas as well as advocating for federal reforms. She is passionate in supporting the development and implementation of cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics regulations that advance the industries responsibly and in support of public health. Active in the community, Shawn currently serves on the Board of Directors of United States Cannabis Council, and previously served on boards of the International Cannabis Bar Association and on the steering committee of the American Hemp Campaign—a project of Vote Hemp—which was instrumental in legalizing hemp in Texas in 2019.

Well-regarded in her field, Shawn has received many accolades. She was named one of the top cannabis lawyers in the United States Chambers and Partners and was recognized by her peers in The Best Lawyers in America® for her work in cannabis law. Additionally, Shawn has been listed in 5280 magazine's "Denver's Top Lawyers" list since 2015 and was included in Denver Business Journal's "40 Under 40" in 2021.

After attending law school at the University of Denver, Shawn was an associate attorney at McAllister, Darnell & Gottlieb PC, one of the first marijuana-focused law firms in Colorado.

Rod Kight Related Seminars and Products

Attorney | Author | Advocate

Kight Law Office, PC

Rod is a cannabis business law attorney. Based in North Carolina and Mexico, Rod represents legal cannabis businesses throughout the world and is editor and chief writer of the Kight On Cannabis law blog. Rod is the author of “Cannabis Business Law-What You Need to Know”, published by Aspatore Books. He has served on the advisory board for the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine, for which he has also written a legal column. Rod also created the “Source Rule”, which is widely regarded as a primary legal foundation for the contemporary hemp market in cannabinoids and other cannabis materials.

Rod is frequently quoted on cannabis matters by trade publications and major media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Time, Politico, and Business Insider. Additionally, Rod has been listed in MG Magazine's list of "30 Powerful Litigators", Hemp Connoisseur Magazine’s list of “100 People You Should Know”, and High Time's "2020 Leaders in Cannabis Law." He is part of the legal teams in two high-profile cases against the DEA and the Texas Department of State Health Services regarding hemp extracts, has drafted and presented cannabis legislation to a foreign head of state, is a member of the board of directors of a publicly traded Canadian cannabis and psychedelics company, testified to the FDA about CBD and cannabis compounds, and is a partner in a Mexican import-export company focused on legal cross-border hemp transactions. Rod routinely advises in-house counsel and C-suite level executives on cannabis issues. He has discussed cannabis legal issues in numerous seminars to lawyers, business executives, and public officials and is regularly asked to be a guest speaker on US and inter- national podcasts about cannabis and psychedelics.

Rod is a strong believer in cannabis for personal and medical use after using it successfully during chemotherapy treatments for cancer (he is in remission). He has been an attorney advocate for NORML and has also been a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association, the National Cannabis Industry Association, the Hemp Industries Association, and the Southeast Hemp Association.

Dr. Jayashree Mitra Related Seminars and Products

Shareholder

Carlton Fields, P.A.

Dr. Jayashree Mitra focuses on patent litigation, including Hatch-Waxman patent litigation. She represents clients in federal court and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the International Trade Commission in a full range of patent litigation, including Hatch-Waxman actions, inter partes review, post-grant review proceedings, and trade secret disputes. She also advises clients in the cannabis industry and psychedelic industry on regulatory compliance, helping them align their IP strategies to comply with FDA and DEA regulations and guidance.

Jayashree is well known for her detailed understanding of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cannabis, psychedelics, and emerging technology sectors. A former neuropharmaceutical researcher at Yale University, Jayashree's technical knowledge extends to small molecules, protein therapeutics, protein conjugates, vaccines, injectables, biologics, and biosimilars, as well as blockchain and data privacy. She has particular insight into the science underlying innovative cannabis technology products and psychedelics. Her research in neuropharmacology at Yale specifically involved analyzing the effects of psychoactive substances on the developing brain.

She also has experience handling antitrust matters, as well as intellectual property due diligence and technology agreements for mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. She is recognized as a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Jayashree engages in extensive pro bono work, including criminal appeals and death penalty cases.

Jason Tarasek Related Seminars and Products

Counsel

Vicente LLP

Jason Tarasek serves as counsel at Vicente LLP and manages the firm's Minnesota office. He assists hemp, cannabinoid, medical-marijuana and adult-use cannabis clients throughout the Upper Midwest. With more than 20 years of legal experience as a transactional attorney and litigator, he has handled hundreds of civil-litigation matters and first-chaired several trials in state courts and federal courts throughout the Upper Midwest.

In 2023, Jason advocated for Minnesota’s passage of an adult-use cannabis bill. Over the course of several months, Jason worked closely with chief bill authors Sen. Lindsey Port, Rep. Zack Stephenson and legislative staff to fine-tune the landmark legislation.

In 2022, Jason successfully lobbied in favor of Minnesota’s “hemp-derived THC” law, working closely with Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Rep. Heather Edelson, Republican senators, and a team of other talented lobbyists to draft and negotiate the terms of the groundbreaking legislation. Previously, Jason served as Minnesota Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project, where he helped draft legislation to legalize adult-use marijuana in Minnesota and helped guide the bill to the state’s first-ever legislative hearing on a cannabis legalization bill. He is also a former board member of the Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota.

Jason is a frequent speaker on legal issues related to hemp, cannabinoids, and marijuana, and in 2020 he served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline Law School, where he co-taught a seminar titled “Marijuana and the Law.” He has been repeatedly named to the list of Super Lawyers, an honor bestowed on only the top 5% of attorneys in Minnesota.

Jason received his J.D. from the University of California – Hastings College of the Law, and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is admitted to the state bar associations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, and California.

Caroline Fichter Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Bundy & Fichter, PLLC

Caroline Fichter is a partner at the Bundy & Fichter PLLC. She is passionate about helping small business owners because she’s a second-generation small business owner herself. She specializes in representing franchisees and franchisors in creating, managing, and exiting the franchise relationship.

Growing up with four siblings, Caroline learned early to be a vocal and tenacious advocate. She honed those skills as a prosecuting attorney where she learned to present her case clearly using plain English.  As a franchise attorney, she puts those skills to work for her franchise clients making complex legal ideas seem simple and offering straightforward legal advice.

On behalf of franchisees, she has helped prospective franchisees review franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements, create business entities, and negotiate leases.  She has helped franchisees exit the franchise agreement.  At trial and in arbitrations, she has represented franchisees in claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, and franchise law violations. She has helped franchisees terminate their franchise agreements, get out of non-competes, return the franchises to the franchisor, and recover monetary damages. She has recovered more than ten million dollars of damages for defrauded franchisees.

On behalf of franchisors, she has helped franchisors draft franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements. She has represented franchisors in disputes with state franchise examiners and in court including negotiating consent orders.  

In addition to representing franchisors, franchisees, and other small business owners, Caroline publishes and speaks extensively on franchise issues. She regularly presents at the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and publishes in the Franchise Law Journal and the Franchise Lawyer. She is the Director of the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and has previously served as the Director of the Small and Solo Committee.

Kirsten Nordstrom Related Seminars and Products

Associate Attorney

Garner, Ginsburg & Johnsen, P.A.

Kirsten is an associate at Garner, Ginsburg & Johnsen, P.A. Her practice focuses on franchise and distribution law.

Kirsten is a 2020 cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where she was the recipient of the Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship and the Lloyd Peterson Scholarship. During law school, Kirsten worked as a student attorney in the University’s Environmental and Energy Law Clinic and contributed to the Silha Bulletin, the quarterly publication of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law. She did her undergraduate work at Colorado State University, where she earned both a B.A. and a B.S. and was honored on the Dean’s List.

Ana Maria Castro Related Seminars and Products

Partner

LLOREDA CAMACHO & CIA S.A.S

Partner of Lloreda Camacho & Co. since 2009, and Head of the Patent and Life Sciences Department as of 2004. She has more than twenty years of experience in handling and advising large patent portfolios for different multinational companies in different areas of technology.

Similarly, Ana Maria has wide experience on litigation on patent infringement cases, as well as in nullity actions before the Highest Colombian Court.

Her main areas of practice include patent prosecution and litigation as well as life sciences; she is also well-known in setting the best regional strategies to protect the clients IP in multiple jurisdictions.

She handles and has ample experience in regulatory matters and counseling in connection with biotechnological products.

Before joining Lloreda Camacho & Co, Ana María worked in the Superintendence of Industry and Trade (National IP Authority in Colombia).

She has a degree in Law from the Universidad del Rosario, and a post graduate degree in Commercial Law from the Universidad Javeriana, a post graduate degree in Law and New Technologies of Life from the Universidad Externado and Certificates in Administrative Procedural Law and Unfair Competition.

During 2019 she was invited as speaker at a conference organized by CEDIQUIFA in Lima, Perú, regarding compulsory licenses  and biotechnology regulation in Colombia.

In 2019 she worked alongside other key experts in the publication of a book entitled -“Colección de Propiedad; Industrial e Intelectual; ASDIN Asociación de Derechos Intelectuales; -“LA REGULACIÓN SANITARIA DE LOS PRODUCTOS BIOLÓGICOS Y BIOTECNOLÓGICOS EN COLOMBIA”- “THE SANITARY REGULATION OF BIOLOGICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS IN COLOMBIA” – also organized by CEDIQUIFA.

During 2021 and 2022 she has been a guest lecturer for the Masters in IP and regulatory Law program in the University Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Perú and a guest speaker in the program “Derecho a la Salud en el context de la pandemia” organized by the Universidad Autónoma de México UNAM.  Ana Maria is also part of the latam academic committee of biotechnology in BIO.

Additionally, in 2022 Ana Maria has participated in the meeting “Avances y retos del programa de Asistencia a Inventores -PAI, las patentes al alcance de todos mediante el programa PAI”, organized by WIPO, and as lecturer in the program “Perspectivas jurisdiccionales especializadas de los Tratados Internacionales de Propiedad Intelectual desde la Alianza del Pacífico” recently organized by UNAM.

Ana María has been recognized by Chambers & Partners as a Band 1 attorney in Colombia in Life Sciences for several consecutive years and Band 2 in IP. Also, she has been recognized as Recognized Lawyer by The Legal500, and IP Stars. Last year, she was recognized as the 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Colombia by Best Lawyers, and was Shortlisted as best lawyer in IP Latam 2020 by Managing IP.

Ignacio Gillmore Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Carey y Cía Ltda.

Partner of Carey and co-head of the firm’s Life Sciences and Biotechnology and Public Law Groups. His practice focuses on life sciences, biotechnology and public law, advising companies on intellectual property issues related to the pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics, medical devices, commercialization and advertisement of these products, scientific research, clinical studies, regulation of medical professions, privacy, data protection, public and private procurement and biddings, licenses, distribution and franchises. He also represents clients in administrative processes and in sanitary, administrative and judicial litigation derived from those operations.

Ingrid Ortiz Related Seminars and Products

Associate

Olivares y Compañía S.C.

Ingrid Ortiz joined OLIVARES in 2011. She studied law at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Advanced Studies (by its acronym in Spanish “ITESM”, Tecnológico de Monterrey) in Mexico City.

Ingrid is member of the Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical law at OLIVARES. Her practice is mainly focused on Intellectual Property Litigation, Regulatory and Administrative Litigation; as well as Regulatory and Compliance advisory. Her main areas of practice allow her to interact with the Mexican sanitary agency, the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (by its acronym in Spanish “COFEPRIS”), the Mexican Patent and Trademark Office (by its acronym in Spanish “IMPI”), and the Courts of law, such as the Federal Court of Tax and Administrative Affairs, the Federal District Courts and the Federal Circuit Courts.

Michael Levitz Related Seminars and Products

Attorney

Drumm Law, LLC

Michael is an attorney with Drumm Law. Before joining the firm, he spent 21 years working for major food companies, Pillsbury, General Mills, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, and most recently Nestlé. Michael is proud of the fact that he was hired as a contractor by Pillsbury in 1996 to support the Häagen-Dazs U.S. franchising business for two weeks; and ended up supporting that business as in-house counsel for more than two decades under various ownership structures. Before then Michael spent seven years with boutique construction litigation firms in Boston, during which time he was able to cross an item off his bucket list, being the obtaining of a favorable decision of first impression in United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Michael is continuing much of the work he was doing as in-house counsel on an external basis, and routinely drafts commercial contracts related to product supply and distribution, including direct store delivery (DSD) distribution; and provides legal advice on franchise, distribution, licensing, dairy promotional law compliance, and various other commercial matters.

Michael obtained his law degree from New England School of Law, in Boston; and obtained a B.S. in Industrial Construction Management from Colorado State University. Michael is admitted to the state bars of Massachusetts, New York, and Minnesota. From time to time Michael has had the honor of being a speaker at the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, and the International Franchise Association Legal Symposium.

Michael lives in Minnesota and is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York.

Rusty Rumley Related Seminars and Products

Senior Staff Attorney

National Agricultural Law Center

Rusty was born and raised on a family farm in Cogar, Oklahoma. He graduated magna cum laude from Oklahoma State University in 2004 with a B.S. in AgriBusiness and in 2007 earned his juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma. While attending the University of Oklahoma he was a member of the American Indian Law Review and worked part-time for Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation.  After law school, Rusty earned his LL.M in Agricultural Law at the University of Arkansas.  He is licensed to practice law in the states of Oklahoma and Michigan.

Rusty has published law review articles discussing the future application of special use valuation for inherited farmland, “right to farm” statutes, and the enforcement of animal cruelty statutes by private organizations. He has also written on landowner liability, agritourism, food labeling, local food production, business organizations, crop insurance, estate planning, leasing, and other land use topics in his work at the Center. Further, Rusty presents around the country to producer, consumer, extension, industry and legal groups on an array of topics.

Additionally, he has  co-taught a course titled “Animals and Agricultural Production, Law and Policy”  several times at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and most recently at the University of Nebraska College of Law and teaches an introduction to agricultural law course through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.  He is also an adjunct faculty member in the  University of Arkansas’ Animal  Science Department  and the Agricultural  Economics and Agribusiness Department.

His primary areas of interest are in estate planning, taxation, business organizations, landowner liability, leasing and agritourism.

Glenn McElfresh Related Seminars and Products

Co-Founder | COO

Plift

Glenn McElfresh works tirelessly for Plift, directing his strong problem-solving, entrepreneurial and relationship-building skills toward bolstering team success and customer satisfaction. With a diverse background that spans competitive weightlifting, startups, tech and cannabis compliance, Glenn co-founded Plift to make a difference for other bootstrappers and dreamers in the cannabis industry. He has first-hand experience at every level in the cannabis industry from budtender to executive to founder. Glenn specializes in both advocacy and execution and has successfully navigated the application processes for licensing in multiple states across the country.

Jessica Wasserman, JD Related Seminars and Products

Partner

WassermanRowe

Jessica Wasserman is the founder and CEO of WassermanRowe, a DC-based law and government relations firm providing services to Food and Drug Administration-regulated industries, including  food, supplements, medical devices, botanical drugs and drugs.    She has worked in Congress, federal agencies (at both career and political levels) and major law firms.    She has worked on hemp and cannabinoid issues since the 2018 Farm Bill decriminalized and defined hemp.  Having worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she hit the ground running on the hemp harvest issues and then pivoted to the cannabis  FDA issues (Warning Letters for drug label claims compliance; GMPs; Epidiolex drug preclusion issue; GRAS; NDI) as CBD manufacturers and retailers faced these issues.   Currently, Jessica lobbies and advises on compliance on a wide range of cannabis issues, including reauthorization of the 2018 Farm Bill;  the proliferation of state laws focused on “intoxicating” cannabinoid products; compliance for edible products sold in dispensaries;  federal lobbying on the ongoing FDA cannabis scheduling review and more.  Jessica is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.