Cannabis Law Conference 2024

Monday, June 24, 2023 | 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
(Networking Luncheon, 12:15 pm  – 1:10 pm )

Format: In-Person

• Description
• Faculty
• Agenda
• CLE Credit
• Sponsors

• As we enter into another pivotal year for cannabis law as a legal product in New York, attorneys must become familiar with the regulation, distribution and sale of cannabis to ensure safety, especially given the addictive qualities, propensity to impair perception, judgment and other potential health effects. With recreational marijuana still illegal under federal law, as well as in many states, how will New York as a judicial, commercial and legislative leader act? This program will feature a broad range of perspectives on the evolving regulatory and ethical issues arising out of legal recreational marijuana and provide an overview of how legalized marijuana affects and intersects practice areas such as health; labor and employment; banking; tax; compliance; real property, and of course, well-being. As leaders in their respective practice areas, speakers will explore these wide range of issues and more!

  Program Fee:
  $299 for Members | $399 for Nonmembers
  Small law Firm: $199 Members

   

• Fatima Afia
  Rudick Law Group, PLLC

  Charles Alovisetti
  Vicente LLP

  Duncan Delano
  Emerge Law Group

  David B. Feder
  Regosin, Edwards, Stone & Feder

  Gregg H. Hilzer
  Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.

  Robert Hoban
  Co-Chair, Cannabis Industry Group
  Senior Director, Clark Hill Public Strategies

  Kristen Jordan
  Park Jordan

  Jason Klimek
  Barclay Damon LLP

  Sean Mack
  Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.

  James B. Mann
  Law Office of James B. Mann

  Max Meade
  Brown & Brown

  Hugh S. O’Beirne
  Founder
  Hawthorne Ave Strategies LLC

  Cecilia Oyediran
  Corporate Counsel
  Acreage Holdings

  Shanita Penny
  Founder/CEO
  Budding Solutions

  Lauren A. Rudick
  Rudick Law Group, PLLC

  Elana Tamas
  Head of Cannabis Tax
  Anchin

  Stacy D. Udell
  Hill, Barth & King LLC

   

• 9:00 – 9:10am    Introduction & Program Overview

  Conference Co-Chairs:
  Joam Alisme, Karl Dowden & Alana Hans-Cohen

  9:10 – 9:35am Keynote Address

  Keynote Speakers: TBD

  9:35 – 10:00am Blunt Ethics for New York Lawyers: Navigating New York Cannabis Laws Responsibly
  A practical take on ethical challenges faced by New York attorneys representing cannabis clients.

  Panelists: Joam Alisme & Karl Dowden

   10:00 – 10:25am From Briefs to Buds: Attorney Perspectives on Entering & Serving the Cannabis Industry
  A compelling and thought-provoking exploration into the exciting world of cannabis law. Discover how attorneys can leverage their legal expertise to serve this dynamic and rapidly growing industry. Gain actionable insights, practical strategies, and learn how to use the transferable skills attorneys already possess that are essential for successfully navigating the complex legal terrain of the cannabis industry. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or exploring new opportunities, this panel promises to empower attorneys to seize the prospects presented by the burgeoning cannabis market.

  Panel Leader: Alana Hans-Cohen
  Panelists: Gregg H. Hilzer & Sean Mack

  10:25-10:30am   Coffee Break

   11:25-12:15pm High Stakes (Current & Potential) Litigation:  New York Cannabis Law Under Scrutiny
  Panelists examine the legal chaos that unfolded post-cannabis legalization in 2021, touching on issues that include the roll out of CAURD Licensing in New York, alleged unconstitutional overreach, dormant commerce challenges, and opposition against the third-party marketing ban. Join us for a detailed analysis of the legal battles that are shaping New York’s cannabis industry, revealing how the dust has settled or is still settling since these groundbreaking lawsuits and the potential legal challenges the panelists foresee.

  Panel Leader: Joam Alisme
  Panelists: Fatima Afia & Lauren A. Rudick

   12:15-1:10pm     Networking Lunch

  1:10 – 2:00pm  Green Light, Red Tape: A Roadmap to Navigating Human Resources & Employment Law for New York’s Cannabis Startups & Entrepreneurs
  Our group of seasoned experts will examine employment and human resource-related compliance concerns for cannabis startups, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses, including compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, covering areas such as filing requirements, hiring processes, employee handbooks, contracts, wage issues, protection of confidential information, anti-discrimination laws, workplace policies and obtaining essential insurance coverage, such as commercial general liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, employment practices liability, property and casualty, key person insurance, commercial general liability for property and bodily injury, personal and advertising injury, directors’ and officers’ liability, and employment practices liability.

  Panel Leader: Cecilia Oyediran
  Panelists: David B. Feder, Max Meade & Sarah E. Trent

   2:00 – 2:05pm    Coffee Break

   2:05 – 2:55pm   Potentially Profitable, Perpetually Problematic: Navigating Cannabis Real Estate
  A discussion of the drivers of cannabis business inflated real estate pricing, such as financing, insurance, holding fees, perceptions of cannabis businesses as cash cows, and price-gouging by landlords, as well as how restrictive land-use and zoning regulations. The panel will address how municipal opt-outs contribute to the scarcity of suitable real estate for cannabis businesses and provide an overview of the critical importance of location evaluation and due diligence in cannabis real estate transactions, considering zoning laws, buffer restrictions, and other location-specific issues.

  Panel Leader: Karl Dowden
  Panelists: Duncan Delano & Kristen Jordan

   2:55 – 3:00pm   Coffee break

   3:00 – 3:50pm    Cannabis Cash Flow: A Taxing Affair for Retailers – Unlocking Profit Potential through Smart Tax Planning & Strategies for Success
  Navigate the complexities of cannabis cash flow with wit and wisdom and uncover the secrets to maximizing profit margins and minimizing tax burdens in the ever-growing cannabis industry through smart tax planning, particularly tax planning for cannabis retailers.

  Panel Leader: James Mann
  Panelists: Jason Klimek & Elana Tamas

   3:50 – 3:55pm    Coffee Break

  3:55 – 4:45 pm Legalize, Capitalize, Strategize:  M&A, Business Valuations & Navigating Regulatory Restrictions & Ownership Limits
  Take a dive into the collaborative aspects of the cannabis industry, illuminating opportunities for joint ventures and shared success. Participants will explore the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions, financing, and regulatory compliance within the cannabis sector, gaining valuable insights into the legal landscape, including restrictions and limitations on cannabis investments. Additionally, the panel will address the critical aspect of business valuations in the cannabis industry, shedding light on methodologies and considerations for accurately assessing the worth of cannabis enterprises. Join us as we discuss the art of drafting partnership and business agreements that not only foster collaboration but also meet rigorous regulatory compliance standards, with a focus on integrating comprehensive business valuations into strategic decision-making processes.

  Panel Leader: Shanita Penny
  Panelists: Charles Alovisetti, Hugh S. O’Beirne, Stacey D. Udell  & Robert Hoban

   

• New York: 6.0 total: 5.5 Skills & .5 Ethics
  New Jersey: 6.0 total: 5.5 Skills & .5 Ethics
  California: 6.0 total: 5.5 Skills & .5 Ethics
  Pennsylvania: 5.0 General
  Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

• Sponsoring Association Committees:
  Banking Law, N. Adele Hogan, Chair
  Compliance, Patrick T. Campbell & Adam B. Felsenthal, Co-Chairs
  Drugs & the Law, Alana Hans-Cohen
  Health Law, Heather A. Hatcher, Chair
  Labor & Employment Law, Tracey Salmon-Smith, Chair
  Mindfulness and Wellbeing in Law, Lisa Podemski, Chair
  Real Property Law, Dorothy Heyl, Chair
  Small Law Firm, Anne Wolfson, Chair
  State and Local Taxation, Michael J. Hilkin, Chair

  Conference Sponsor:
  NYC Bar Lawyer Assistance Program

  Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
  Yelena Balashchenko, Manager, Business Development & Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | ybalashchenko@nycbar.org

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