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Virtual Summit

Litigation | ADR | Disputes Symposium 2023



Dates
Schedule at a glance


Description

Join INCBA for a comprehensive overview of litigation in the Cannabis Industry. Our experts will cover the state of litigation in cannabis, public relations and crisis mitigation, securities litigation and shareholder disputes, current trends and strategies in business disputes, government investigations, remedies in federal court, and the most current approaches to ADR and low-cost resolution.

INCBA is known for providing the highest level of educational for lawyers in the cannabis industry, and we combine each of our in-person CLE events with a unique social experience to facilitate our members and colleagues creating connections that will support their practice for a lifetime.

We can't wait to welcome you to our 2023 Symposia series!

Combine multiple symposia and save! Any two INCBA In-Person Conferences and save 15%, any 3 and save 20%, or any four or more and save 25%!

Credits



Faculty

Shabnam Malek's Profile

Shabnam Malek Related Seminars and Products

Chief Legal Officer

Nuka Enterprises, LLC


Shabnam Malek has a broad practice but takes greatest pleasure in advising clients on how best to grow, navigate risk, resolve disputes, and how to think creatively in balancing business needs and legal concerns. Shabnam is recognized as an expert in the field of cannabis intellectual property and clients and colleagues seek her out for her expertise in addressing particularly thorny and novel legal issues. She’s a creative thinker looking for solutions that help her clients succeed. Shabnam truly enjoys the role of counselor to start-ups, woman-owned companies, large, global companies as well individuals.

Shabnam is a co-founder and the founding President of the International Cannabis Bar Association. Today, INCBA boasts a membership base of over 700 individual attorney members and a strong international presence. She currently sits on the governing board of INCBA and helps plan the educational curriculum of the organization with a focus on INCBA’s flagship event, the Cannabis Law Institute. Shabnam is also the Chair of the PLI Cannabis Business Law program and an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Shabnam recently joined the editorial board of Law360’s Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board.

 

In addition to serving the business community, Shabnam developed a robust pro bono practice representing imprisoned women before the California Board of Parole Hearings as well as representing houseless San Francisco residents through the Coalition on Homelessness.

Shabnam regularly speaks and writes on the topics of trademarks, brand expansion, regulated industries such as cannabis and hemp, and the role of women in creating change. Her professional affiliations include holding a seat on the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association and a committee role with the International Trademark Association.  She is an active member of the California Lawyers' Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Lawyers Guild, the Queen’s Bench, and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Shabnam was named a Northern California Rising Star three years in a row by Super Lawyers Magazine.


Craig Abruzzo's Profile

Craig Abruzzo Related Seminars and Products

Chief Legal Officer

Kiva Brands, Inc.


Craig Abruzzo currently serves as Chief Legal Officer of Kiva Brands, Inc., the market leader in premium cannabis edibles. Kiva’s award-winning chocolates, mints, chews and gummies are the most precise, discreet, and delicious on the market. Kiva has become the most recognized edible brand in cannabis with a loyal customer base throughout hundreds of dispensaries in 11 States. Craig established the foundation of his in-house legal practice during his 6 years at IGN Entertainment, Inc. culminating in its sale to Fox Interactive in 2005. Craig then joined Associate Content (AC) as its fifth employee as General Counsel. While at AC he oversaw the growth of the company to over 90 employees and its eventual sale to Yahoo! in 2010. After serving his time at Yahoo!, Craig joined Birchbox as General Counsel in 2012. In his 4 years at Birchbox, Craig oversaw the expansion of Birchbox’s business from 60 employees to over 350 employees across 5 countries and scale to over 1.5 Million subscribers. As the Dodgers did decades before, Craig left the friendly confines of Brooklyn, for the sunshine of LA to join Thrive Market, Inc. as its General Counsel where his remit included, among other things, IP strategy, HR, Corporate Development and Compliance.

After 4 years at Thrive Market, Craig moved to his current role as Chief Legal Officer at Kiva Brands where he oversees legal operations, IP strategy, FSQA and compliance. Craig has a bachelor's degree in International Relations with a focus in Economics from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Prior to graduating Syracuse, Craig took an 18 month leave of absence to travel and study Mandarin in China and Taiwan. After graduation he attended the Brooklyn Law School where he obtained his Juris Doctor.

Craig currently lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife, and his two lovely children. Francesca, who is nine, and Jasper, who is seven.


Jessica C. McElfresh's Profile

Jessica C. McElfresh Related Seminars and Products

Founder and Principal

McElfresh Law, Inc.


Jessica C. McElfresh of McElfresh Law, Inc. has worked in cannabis law and policy since 2010. 
She is the Chair of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and 
Ethics Committee and a member of its Board of Directors.  Jessica focuses on local and state 
applications, land use, regulatory compliance, and business law.  She 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, 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 has 
spoken at conferences and taught continuing legal education classes for organizations and law 
schools including the National Cannabis Industry Association Business Summit & Expo, California Lawyers Associatoin,
Practicing 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).

 


Amy McGahan's Profile

Amy McGahan Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Dix & Eaton


As a managing director and leader of Dix & Eaton’s media relations practice, Amy helps clients across various industries with media strategy, messaging and outreach on national, regional and local levels. She also helps clients navigate complex issues and crises, including construction accidents, mining and airline disasters, labor disputes and more. Amy regularly conducts media and crisis training for executives and arranges media visits for clients with journalists in important media centers, such as New York and Washington, D.C. Amy is also an experienced senior counselor, project manager and account leader.

Amy joined Dix & Eaton in 1997 and has more than 20 years of public relations experience. Previously, she was associate director of community relations for the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center and public relations associate for The Eliza Jennings Group. In both positions, she acted as a liaison with community organizations, conducted media and community outreach and education, and coordinated special events. Amy earned a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace University.


Daniel Koffmann's Profile

Daniel Koffmann Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP


Dan Koffmann represents companies, boards of directors, and senior executives in sensitive matters involving criminal investigations and indictments, internal investigations, congressional inquiries, and other disputes with the government. He advises clients on a broad range of white collar issues, including alleged corruption, securities fraud and insider trading, tax evasion, accounting fraud, the False Claims Act, money laundering, sanctions evasion, and civil and criminal forfeiture proceedings. He also brings affirmative claims against government regulators and agencies when statutes, regulations, and other government actions infringe on clients’ rights. Dan’s practice is global, and the majority of his matters involve defending foreign individuals and organizations facing scrutiny from U.S. prosecutors and regulators. He has represented clients and conducted investigations in the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and he is particularly active in Latin America and the Indian Subcontinent.

Dan is an accomplished trial and appellate advocate. He has tried numerous federal criminal cases to verdict and has briefed and argued appeals in several federal Courts of Appeals and New York’s First Department. Dan also has considerable experience helping clients avoid indictment altogether, regularly persuading the government to decline prosecution or enter into negotiated resolutions on favorable terms.


Bryna Dahlin's Profile

Bryna Dahlin Related Seminars and Products

Chair, Cannabis Industry Group

Benesch


Bryna counsels companies in established and emerging industries at all stages of development. She is widely known for effectively navigating the cutting-edge legal issues present in the fast-growing cannabis industry. Her clients range from growers, distributors, product manufacturers and ancillary businesses to outside investors and traditional companies impacted by cannabis laws. Bryna also advises on issues of regulatory compliance; risk avoidance; interplay between state and federal law; contracts and licensing; advertising and product packaging; and intellectual property. 

Bryna is also a highly experienced litigator, zealously advocating for her clients in federal and state courts at both the trial court and appellate levels. Past representations include prominent domestic and foreign food, beverage, pharmaceutical, entertainment, advertising and consumer product companies. Bryna was recognized for her legal acumen in 2013 by the National Law Journal, which named her as one of Chicago’s “40 Under 40,” and she has been named an Illinois “Super Lawyer” or “Rising Star” since 2010. In the spring of 2016, she taught Illinois’ first cannabis law course at Chicago-Kent College of Law.


Ian Stewart's Profile

Ian Stewart Related Seminars and Products

Chair of National Cannabis Law Practice

Wilson Elser LLP


Ian is the Regional Managing Partner of Wilson Elser’s Los Angeles office. He is founder and co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis and Hemp Law practice, where he leads a national multi-disciplinary team of lawyers who serve all aspects of the cannabis and hemp industries, as well as financial institutions and insurance companies that service those industries.  

Ian works with licensed cannabis operators throughout the country to comply with their obligations under the law and to develop risk management best practices. He advises Fortune 500 companies on risk management involving hemp-derived CBD and the interplay with U.S. food and drug laws. Ian assists insurance companies on cannabis-related underwriting practices and the development of new policy forms. He also works with financial institutions and professional services firms on best practices for operating in a challenging regulatory environment.  

Ian has achieved a national reputation as a distinguished cannabis attorney and has been named to the prestigious Chambers USA guide in Cannabis Law (2020-2022). He is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) and participates on the Policy Council of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Ian also sits on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Cannabis Section and is chair emeritus of NCIA’s Risk Management and Insurance Committee. He is one of MG Magazine’s “30 Powerful Cannabis Attorneys You Should Know” and is listed within Cannabis Reports’ “10 Powerful Marijuana Lawyers in California.” Ian has also been named by National Law Review as “Go-To Thought Leader” in 2018 and 2021 for his publications on cannabis law and policy. 

By way of background, Ian has defended complex litigation in state and federal courts for more than 25 years with a focus on practice areas relevant to the cannabis industry, including product liability, complex general casualty, transportation, data privacy and intellectual property litigation. Ian received his B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, and his JD from Saint 

Louis University School of Law. He has been with Wilson Elser for the past 22 years.


Stacey Jackson's Profile

Stacey Jackson Related Seminars and Products

General Counsel

Golden Bear Insurance Company


Stacey Jackson is General Counsel for Golden Bear Insurance Company, a California admitted carrier also writing surplus lines in other states. Stacey lead the drafting of Golden Bear’s cannabis package and monoline insurance products helping Golden Bear to become the first admitted carrier in the nation to offer property and casualty coverage for legal cannabis operations. Golden Bear also writes professional liability for attorneys and testing laboratories.  


Jasmine Wetherell's Profile

Jasmine Wetherell Related Seminars and Products

Counsel

Perkins Coie LLP


Jasmine Wetherell focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on food litigation, environmental litigation and business torts. She has also provided guidance to retailers, consumer product manufacturers and landowners regarding compliance with California’s Proposition 65 (the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act). Jasmine has substantial experience in all phases of litigation, including pre-suit investigation and counseling, discovery, percipient witness and “person-most-qualified” depositions and motion practice in both state and federal court. 

During law school, Jasmine served as a judicial extern for the Hon. Harry Pregerson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She also served as editor-in-chief of the Women’s Law Journal and chief articles editor of the Dukeminier Awards Journal.


Henry Wykowski's Profile

Henry Wykowski Related Seminars and Products

Trial Attorney

Wykowski Wood LLP


Henry Wykowski is a San Francisco-based trial attorney representing numerous cannabis dispensaries throughout California in tax matters. He was the tax attorney in the landmark case Californians Helping to Alleviate Medical Problems (CHAMP) v. Commissioner. In CHAMP, the IRS sought to disallow the dispensary’s cost of goods sold and expenses, and impose a tax on gross sales, thereby establishing a precedent that would tax dispensaries out of business. The CHAMP decision recognized the right of dispensaries to offset sales with cost of goods sold, a significant victory for medicinal cannabis dispensaries. Henry has spoken on tax issues at numerous events including several NORML national conferences and NCIA events.


Jason Horst's Profile

Jason Horst Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Horst Legal Counsel, PC


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


Jennifer Fisher's Profile

Jennifer Fisher Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Goodwin Procter LLP


Jennifer Fisher is a partner in Goodwin’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice, and a co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis practice. She is the head of the Litigation department for Northern California. She focuses her practice on litigation, including commercial litigation and white collar defense, and on cannabis law. Jennifer has represented corporations and individuals involved in a broad range of complex and high stakes litigation, legislative, and administrative proceedings.

Jennifer provides advice on regulatory and compliance issues and counsels companies involved in government investigations and civil litigation. Her experience includes the defense of corporations and individuals in both criminal and civil matters, including those involving public corruption, health care fraud, antitrust offenses, RICO, false claims, government contract disputes, homeland security and customs enforcement, and financial services.

Jennifer’s background in handling complex matters for companies in highly-regulated markets led to the development of her cannabis practice. She represents cannabis companies at every level of the supply chain, including startups and multi-state operators. Jennifer also regularly advises investors in the cannabis space and ancillary businesses providing products and services to the cannabis industry. She works closely with her cannabis industry clients to solve business problems and provide advice on regulatory and compliance issues. Jennifer represents cannabis industry clients in active litigation and arbitration, as well as government investigations and enforcement actions.

Prior to joining Goodwin in 2020, Jennifer was a partner at Duane Morris, where she led the firm’s Cannabis Industry group.


Nicole Phillis's Profile

Nicole Phillis Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP


Nicole Phillis defends businesses and individuals in federal and state litigation, with experience in shareholder disputes, consumer class actions, and contractual claims in the media and entertainment industries. Nicole also defends companies in the food and beverage industries against consumer class actions for unfair competition and false advertising.

A former 9th Circuit law clerk for the Honorable Milan D. Smith Jr., Nicole has briefed copyright, unfair competition, and false advertising appeals before the 9th Circuit. Nicole has also consulted on 9th Circuit appeals regarding employment and discrimination-related disputes. Nicole is a member of DWT's food and beverage industry group, serves as the co-chair of Project W's "Women in Cannabis" initiative, and sits on the leadership committee for DWT's cannabis industry group, where her practice focuses on cannabis-related advertising, media, and speech issues.

In her civic and political life, Nicole is an elected official in Santa Monica, serving as a commissioner on the Santa Monica Rent Control Board. Nicole maintains an active pro bono practice, which she has devoted primarily to representing immigrants seeking lawful status in the United States.


Tom Haren's Profile

Tom Haren Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Frantz Ward LLP


Tom represents growing businesses at each stage of their development, and is regularly asked to serve as outside general counsel for his clients. In that role, Tom advises his clients with respect to innumerable legal issues, including regulatory compliance, corporate governance, contract negotiations, risk management, litigation and other day-to-day business issues. He often works with his clients to overcome short-term regulatory and financial uncertainty to achieve long-term success in developing markets.

As a result, Tom is one of the most sought after attorneys serving the Ohio and national cannabis industry, in which he represents licensed operators in medical and adult use markets, ancillary service providers, and companies operating in the hemp industry. He supports clients with everything from license acquisition, zoning and municipal law, to product labeling and packaging and regulatory compliance. Tom has also led some of the largest M&A deals in the Ohio cannabis market, representing both the selling license holders and acquiring entities.

His record of achievement as an expert in one of the most rapidly growing segments in the country has earned him considerable recognition, including the Crain's Cleveland Business' 2021 list of Forty Under 40. He has been named to Chambers USA: A Guide to Leading Lawyers in Business in the area of Cannabis Law, is one of the Top 7 Cannabis Attorneys in the U.S. (The Vape Report) and is on The Best Lawyers in America list in the area of Cannabis Law. He has also been named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. As a result of his national reputation, Tom is an avid contributor to various local and national media outlets and often is asked to share his expertise by speaking at industry conferences and events.

Tom is also Executive Vice President of the Ohio Hemp Association, in which role he has been actively involved in helping regulators draft legislation covering hemp regulation in Ohio, and a former nominee for the State Senate. He knows how important it is to build consensus at the local and State level to further clients' interests.


Leo J. Hurley Jr.'s Profile

Leo J. Hurley Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Connell Foley LLP


Leo Hurley Jr. is a seasoned litigator with a proven record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts, as well as guiding matters to resolution and early settlement, and is routinely called upon to represent corporations and individuals in high-stakes, high-profile and “bet the company” litigation. An aggressive advocate in the courtroom, Leo litigates a wide variety of civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts in New Jersey, New York and across the country. His practice includes the litigation of a wide variety of complex commercial matters and white collar criminal defense and investigations, as well as employment, cannabis, securities, class actions, trade secret, and corporate dissolution/oppressed minority shareholder litigation. He serves as Co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense Groups.

Leo has unmatched courtroom and trial experience. Building upon his prior experience as an Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor, Leo regularly defends and advises corporations, government officials and private citizens in connection with governmental investigations and prosecutions, whether emanating from state and federal regulators or prosecutors. He has effectively, efficiently and successfully assisted clients in navigating matters involving allegations of money laundering, immigration fraud, political corruption, tax fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and other sensitive and complex issues.

In addition, Leo counsels clients on the full range of legal and regulatory issues that are arising as a result of the burgeoning cannabis industry. From advising on corporate matters, financing, and regulatory questions to providing employment counsel, Leo assists cannabis companies in all aspects of their cannabis businesses. His practice extends to the counseling of non-cannabis companies that are equally affected by cannabis legalization and its impact on a business’s operations, employees and opportunities.

Leo also has extensive experience advising commercial lenders, mortgage servicing companies, private equity firms and other financial institutions that look to him for assistance in complex asset recovery proceedings, loan workout and forbearance agreements, and loan sales and purchases. He has successfully litigated contested commercial foreclosure matters and obtained significant recoveries for creditors from personal guarantors of all manner of loans.

With a deep knowledge of various industries, Leo also serves as outside general counsel for public and privately owned small to medium-sized companies in sectors such as financial services, real estate, health care, energy, cannabis and public relations.

Leo punctuates his practice with the courtroom experience he gained as an assistant prosecutor. In that role, Leo prosecuted hundreds of felony cases, including homicides, armed robberies and complex financial crimes. He served as lead trial counsel on 16 jury trials and more than 20 bench trials, many of which required him to present testimony from and cross-examine expert witnesses in diverse fields such as forensic DNA analysis, mechanical engineering and forensic psychology.

While attending Georgetown University, Leo worked on the staff of then-Congressman Robert Menendez.


Katy Young's Profile

Katy Young Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Ad Astra Law Group, LLP


Katy M. Young, Esq. MANAGING PARTNER, Ad Astra Law Group, LLP in San Francisco, CA 

 
Katy represents both plaintiffs and defendants in business disputes, real estate claims and intellectual 
property litigationwith a unique focus on matters for cannabis industry litigants. Katy is one of the most 
experienced cannabis-focused civil litigators in the country and has  been recognized by the Daily Journal 
for her work. She is passionate about the industry and enjoys the challenges inherent in litigating cases 
on the cutting edge, thereby shaping policy. Katy is graduate of University of San Francisco School of Law 
and University of the Pacific where she was a scholarship athlete. She has been named a Northern 
California Super Lawyer in 2022 and a Rising Star from 2014 through 2022. In 2018-2022, she was named 
to Benchmark Litigation’s Top 40 Under 40 Hot List.  She also served as the President of the InterNational 
Cannabis Bar Association for four years, and was recently nominated to join the Edward J McFetridge Inn 
of Court executive committee. Katy is active in other networking organizations including the ProVisors 
Cannabis Affinity Group, the Bar Association of San Francisco Cannabis section, and the California 
Lawyers Association Cannabis Working Group.


Michelle Mabugat's Profile

Michelle Mabugat Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Greenberg Glusker LLP


Michelle is Co-Chair of the firm's Cannabis Industry Group and is a corporate and transactional attorney representing entrepreneurs, start-ups and middle-market companies.

She advises companies and their principals across a broad range of business sectors, but she has deep industry expertise in branded consumer products, manufacturing & distribution, commercial cannabis and industrial hemp.

Frequently acting as general counsel for her clients, Michelle’s practice is broad in scope and she has extensive experience in handling significant transactions whether it’s a merger or acquisition, capital raise, joint venture or licensing deal. Her early experience in litigation paired with her bold approach to business strategy allows her to creatively get deals done.

Michelle is also consistently recognized as one of the most prominent attorneys in the emerging cannabis space. With over a decade of experience handling cannabis and hemp-related matters, nothing gives her more satisfaction than helping cutting-edge companies thrive in highly-regulated industries. Due to her significant industry and regulatory experience, she has become the go-to lawyer for handling high-stakes cannabis matters. Seasoned in crisis management, she regularly appears before state and local regulatory agencies to defend clients in enforcement actions and administrative hearings.

In addition to her corporate work, Michelle is equally dedicated to the advancement of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the business and legal communities. As a member of the inaugural DE&I Committee for the Association for Corporate Growth - Los Angeles Chapter (ACG-LA), she will work to help reflect and enhance the diversity of the Los Angeles middle market. As a member of the Legislative Advocacy Committee for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, she helps identify bills and public policy issues that will impact the LGBT business community. In her roles with the Cannabis Equity Retailers Association, the Cannabis Pro Bono Panel for the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Minority Cannabis Business Association, she provides pro bono counsel for restorative justice initiatives. She has also provided pro bono counsel to low-income applicants who qualify for the Los Angeles Cannabis Social Equity Program.


Deborah Wolfe's Profile

Deborah Wolfe Related Seminars and Products

Attorney, Legal Ethicist

Wolfe Legal Solutions, PC


Deborah Wolfe is the founder of Wolfe Legal Solutions, PC. Deborah is an experienced trial attorney who has served on the State Bar of California Legal Malpractice Law Advisory Commission, and has been a member of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee since 2006. She is a past president of CASD, and a two-time recipient of the Trial Lawyer of the Year award, as well as numerous Outstanding Trial Lawyer awards. In 2017, Deborah received the Daniel T. Broderick, III award for civility, integrity and professionalism. She frequently testifies as an expert witness in ethics and standard of care in legal malpractice/breach of fiduciary duty cases, in addition to assisting lawyers with ethics consulting, trial strategy and support.


Gary M Smith, Esq.'s Profile

Gary M Smith, Esq. Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Guidant Law, PLC


A seasoned litigator, advisor, mediator and arbitrator, Gary Smith focuses his practice on commercial matters, construction, real estate, cannabis and administrative law. He has represented a wide range of individual and institutional clients in both State and Federal courts, administrative hearings, and arbitration.

Gary is among the most well-known voices in Arizona contracting and construction law. He is the author of highly regarded books, manuals and articles on the topic, including two legal treatises: The Orange Book: The Regulation of Arizona Contractors, 2nd Ed.: Practice and Procedure Before the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and Office of Administrative Hearings and Practice and Procedure Before the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and Office of Administrative Hearings. Additionally, he co-authored “Construction Lien Law in Arizona, A Practice Manual.”

With a Certificate in Advanced Mediation from the Pepperdine University School of Law: Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Gary is highly skilled in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He has worked on partnership disputes, construction defect, design defect, real estate purchase, employment contract breach, business purchase disputes, consumer fraud, banking, and purchase contracts. Gary also has ample experience in arbitration, having handled construction design and defect, personal injury, contract disputes, and professional fees. He has been appointed to the American Arbitration Association roster of neutrals for both Mediation and Arbitration and has taught ADR classes for the association.

Moreover, Gary is one of the leading cannabis attorneys in the state, often advocating for ADR in the industry. Notably, he served as amici counsel to the former Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services in the Arizona Supreme Court petition State v. Jones, attempting to restore cannabis extracts and concentrates to legal status under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. He has authored numerous articles about cannabis law, and he is commonly invited to share his expertise with professional associations and industry groups. Further, Gary is a founder and current president of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, an organization committed to educating lawyers and the public about cannabis law and responsible legislation.

Prior to founding Guidant, Gary served as a founding member and managing partner at Smith Paknejad, PLC. Before that, he worked as the Chief Litigation Counsel at McCarthy Law, PLC. At this multi-state consumer defense law firm, he was responsible for litigation and workouts, including defense of clients sued for both secured and unsecured credit card, real estate, and commercial debt. His practice focus was credit and collection law, including TILA, FDCPA, and FCRA.



Serena Wu's Profile

Serena Wu Related Seminars and Products

Founding Partner

Radicle Law LLP


Serena Wu is an attorney and author who is passionate about therapeutic potentials of psychedelics and mission driven entrepreneurship. She is focused on providing legal solutions to purpose driven clients in the emerging industries such as psychedelics, cannabis, cryptocurrency and beyond. She has advised professionals and practitioners in the psychedelic space on the legal boundaries of psychedelic assisted therapy, corporate practice of medicine laws, informed consents, risk and liability mitigation, and religious freedom protections. She has also advised on DAOs, NFTs and their related securities issues. 

While she started her career as a litigator at Davis Polk, Serena aligned her path and soul by transitioning to a business and startup practice that provides general counsel to purpose/mission driven companies and entrepreneurs in emerging industries form, fundraise, scale, and exit. She graduated from Harvard Law School and is licensed in California and New York.

Outside of her legal work, Serena is working on her debut novel, Dandelion Odyssey: Wyra’s Search for the Rainbow Pearls (working title). Inspired by her own personal experiences with psychedelics, the novel chronicles Wyra’s path to seek the Rainbow Pearls through her psychedelic journeys to heal from her trauma. 

Serena is an advisor to Reason for Hope, a non-profit organization advocating for a new approach to mental health through psychedelic-assisted therapy legislation. As a hobby, she founded Women in Psychedelics, an Instagram account that showcases the contributions, voices, and experiences of women in the psychedelics space, and Asian Psychedelics Society, a group dedicated to discussions about psychedelics and mental health in the AAPI community.


Toni Forge's Profile

Toni Forge Related Seminars and Products

Founder | Attorney

4LeafConsulting


For over 20 years,Toni Forge has worked as a litigator, managing attorney, state mediator and associate general counsel. A graduate of Hastings College of the Law and the University of San Francisco, Toni has used her solid legal foundation to provide solutions to business both large and small.

As a litigator for State Farm Insurance Company, Toni has worked with hundreds of clients in conducting mediations and depositions. Through her work with several Fortune 500 companies, she has developed a unique collection of skill and expertise in contract management and compliance, finance, negotiation, and mediation.

Toni brings knowledge of the legal and business environment that will empower new CannaBusinesses along their path to compliance and success.

A member of LA Cannabis Task Force, Women Entrepreneurs in Cannabis and Kalogia,  Toni has done radio shows and compliance tutorials regarding the regulatory environment in California.  She has also participated in the LA Cannabis Task Force Social Equity project.  Toni will be featured in an upcoming documentary regarding cannabis compliance in California.  Toni has served as a faculty member for the Cannabis Compliance Bootcamp in Los Angeles and has done a host of cannabis compliance seminars.


Shane Pennington's Profile

Shane Pennington Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP


Shane is a partner in the Litigation Department where he counsels clients on federal regulatory issues involving a number of industries, including energy, pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, aviation and agriculture. A former law clerk to federal judges on the D.C. Circuit, the Fifth Circuit and the D.C. District Court, Shane brings unique insight and strategic thinking to assist clients facing complex regulatory issues.

Rated “One to Watch” and a “Rising Star” in appellate law by The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, respectively, Shane has argued cases in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Ninth and D.C. Circuits, securing landmark results for clients. In a series of cases on behalf of veterans and scientists, for example, Shane raised a novel claim under the Freedom of Information Act to uncover a secret 2018 Opinion of the Office of Legal Counsel that revealed the unlawfulness of a longstanding agency policy that had obstructed cannabis research for over half a century. Shane regularly litigates cases concerning federal and state agencies that involve the Administrative Procedure Act, the Controlled Substances Act, and Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Clients turn to Shane to advance their strategic goals within existing regulatory and legal frameworks, but also to develop creative strategies to reimagine those frameworks amidst rapidly changing industries. To that end, Shane often advocates for clients at the administrative level, working with state and federal regulators to devise novel solutions to seemingly intractable problems. He has represented companies, scientists and industry coalitions before the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Justice, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shane has published extensively on topics related to administrative law and drug policy, including the private nondelegation doctrine, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, judicial deference to administrative agencies, and bureaucratic management and the limits of presidential power. Shane often provides commentary on administrative law issues to the Yale Journal on Regulation Notice & Comment blog and is a regular contributor to the “News From the Circuits” column published in the American Bar Association’s Administrative and Regulatory Law News.


Meital Manzuri's Profile

Meital Manzuri Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Manzuri Law


A leading cannabis attorney and advocate for nearly 15 years, Meital is the Managing Partner for Manzuri Law, leading a diverse team of attorneys and licensing specialists in cannabis and hemp law.  Meital serves as the secretary of the executive committee of INCBA and also the chair of the leading issues committee where they identify cutting edge legal issues for the hemp and cannabis industry and for INCBA members and lawyers serving those industries.

Meital has served as General Counsel for various trade associations responsible for influencing cannabis laws and policies in Los Angeles.  Her other duties include: Vice-Chair of communications for the LA County Bar Association, Cannabis Section, member of the social equity committee to interpret and provide clarity to the industry on LA’s ever evolving cannabis laws and active participation on the pro bono panel for Los Angeles for SEIA.

Meital serves as general counsel for hundreds of cannabis & hemp businesses throughout the country advising on regulatory, corporate and transactional matters and general business law. She has authored hundreds of partnership deals, procured licenses for 200+ different businesses, defended thousands of people accused with cannabis crimes, and her tenure includes some of the most seminal cases in federal and state court.

Meital is the mother of three young children, serves on the board of AYSO and coaches soccer for fun.


Julia Beskin's Profile

Julia Beskin Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan, LLP


Julia Beskin is a partner in the New York office.  Her practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis on securities, contractual disputes, M&A-related litigation, and corporate governance.  Ms. Beskin was recently named a Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer by Lawdragon 500.   Throughout her career, Ms. Beskin has represented plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving violations of securities registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933 and state blue sky laws; fraud in the sale of public and private securities; insider trading; breach of fiduciary duty by directors and officers; cases alleging market manipulation; and breach of representations and warranties in the sale of stock or corporate assets. Ms. Beskin has also litigated disputes concerning RICO, copyright and patents, trade dress, bankruptcy, and foreclosure under the Uniform Commercial Code.   Additionally, Ms. Beskin has represented clients in regulatory investigations by the SEC, DOJ and various state and foreign agencies, including with regard to OFAC compliance, the FCPA, and accounting fraud.  Ms. Beskin has extensive experience representing clients in the biotech, cannabis, insurance, pharmaceutical, energy, and financial services industries. 

Ms. Beskin is an experienced trial lawyer.  As first chair, she recently secured a total victory in a JAMS arbitration, prevailing entirely on her client’s claim and successfully defending against a $100 million counterclaim.  Among other high profile matters, Ms. Beskin represented the Federal Housing Finance Authority in its landmark securities actions against numerous financial institutions that has resulted in approximately $20 billion in recoveries. 


Stephen Libowski's Profile

Stephen Libowski Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP


Stephen Libowsky is an antitrust and litigation partner focused on helping clients navigate the complexities of antitrust and competition issues in litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters. A trusted business advisor with experience across a variety of industries, Steve’s clients rely on him for a wide range of antitrust and competition issues, including navigating deals through the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the Federal Trade Commission, and competition agencies globally.

Steve counsels companies across a broad range of critical antitrust-related areas, including joint ventures and operating arrangements, mergers, affiliations, distribution systems, cartels, reimbursement matters, peer review, managed care, and ancillary businesses alleged to involve monopoly leveraging. His antitrust work includes grand jury and internal investigations, relationships with competitors, distribution, pricing, and unfair competition matters. Additionally, Steve has tried antitrust cases to verdict for clients both as a plaintiff and as a defendant.

In addition to handling transactions and resolving disputes, Steve has successfully arbitrated numerous cases to decision before three-member arbitration panels.

Steve has advised clients across an extensive list of industries and sectors, including health care, automobile, agribusiness (including cannabis), energy, entertainment and media, financial services, life sciences, music, pharmaceuticals, sports and technology, among others.

As an active member of his community, Steve maintains a significant pro bono practice, which regularly involves many of today’s most pressing civil rights and liberties issues. He previously served as President of the Public Interest Law Initiative and has been on its Board of Directors for over 25 years. Steve has also earned numerous recognitions for his pro bono work, including the Edward Lewis Award from the Chicago Bar Association and awards from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; the Illinois State Bar Association; Access Living; and others.

At the start of his legal career, Steve was a law clerk to the Honorable G. Ernest Tidwell of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia.


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