The Seminar Group is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider; therefore, this course is approved for 6.0 general and 1.0 ethics CLE credits (Live Credits for Webcast).

CA CLE

This course has been approved for 6.0 hours of law and legal credit and 1.0 hours of ethics credit by the Washington MCLE board (Live Credits for Webcast). Self-Study credit will be available, specific credit amount to be determined.

WA MCLE

This seminar will cover topics directly relevant to California’s medical and recreational cannabis laws and regulations under the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act and California cannabis businesses and the interplay between state and federal laws. It will also cover the federal and state treatment of hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products. Topics include ethics and competence issues for cannabis and hemp attorneys, the regulation of CBD and other cannabinoids at the state level and by the Food and Drug Administration, land use, licensing and permitting, and government relations issues, cannabis receiverships and related regulatory issues, and unique tax and access to banking issues for cannabis businesses. Attendees will also hear directly from leading practitioners about the changes and progress along the road to current laws and future regulations.

Yelena Katchko is a founding member and equity partner of Katchko Vitiello &amp; Karikomi PC. She focuses her practice on corporate law, licensing, and regulatory compliance with a heavy focus on commercial cannabis industry. Her efforts are now dedicated to transitioning her clients to the new regulated and licensed framework. She has been involved in shaping Medicinal and Adult Use regulations in LA and California.&nbsp;

Yelena Katchko

GianDominic Vitiello is a founding member and equity partner of Katchko Vitiello &amp; Karikomi PC. His practice focuses on real estate law and all attendant matters including mortgage securitization, wrongful foreclosure, unfair debt collection practices, landlord tenant disputes, zoning, and other property rights. After the financial crisis of 2007, he pioneered litigation strategies that addressed the needs of the real estate market.

GianDominic Vitiello

Shahiedah Palmer is a cannabis attorney at Arent Fox LLP, where she advises businesses throughout California on compliance with local and state cannabis laws, and supports deals involving the merger and acquisition of cannabis businesses. She previously worked at the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office, where she helped to develop local cannabis policy, and monitored developments in cannabis law and policy.

Shahiedah Palmer

Bryan Bergman is a partner at Nolan Heimann LLP with nearly fifteen years’ experience in complex business transactions and civil litigation. He has developed an unmatched expertise in the growing cannabis industry, providing legal advice on swiftly changing legislation and regulations, speaking regularly on cannabis industry-related topics, and educating operators and other professionals, on this developing area of law.&nbsp;

Bryan Bergman

Brian A. Ross is a partner at Ross Legal Corporation, Inc. and an experienced in-house General Counsel. For nearly 20 years, he has worked with emerging companies in the New Media, Technology, Networking, Social Media, Apparel and Energy industries. He has experience in commercial transactions, IP, leadership, data privacy, global legal &amp; regulatory compliance, security, risk mitigation, and corporate governance.

Brian Ross

Nathalie Bougenies, an attorney at Harris Bricken, focuses on the regulatory framework of hemp-derived CBD products. She is an authority on FDA enforcement, Food, Drug &amp; Cosmetic Act and other laws and regulations surrounding hemp and Hemp CBD products. She also advises domestic and international clients on the sale, distribution, marketing, labeling, importation and exportation of these products.

Nathalie Bougenies

Griffen Thorne, Program Chair, is an attorney in with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard &amp; Smith LLP. As a broad-based corporate transactional attorney, he negotiates and closes business, asset, and property purchases on behalf of both buyers and sellers. He represents borrowers, lenders, and investors in equity and debt finance transactions, as well as lessors and lessees in commercial leases. He serves as outside general counsel for corporate clients, assisting with entity formation, corporate governance, general commercial transactions, intellectual property licensing, and more.

Griffen Thorne

Oren Bitan, shareholder with Buchalter PC, has an extensive legal background that includes business, real estate, banking, receivership, consumer product, and commercial litigation. He is a trusted advisor who guides his clients through their day to day legal concerns, and has particular expertise in matters involving real estate, banking and lending, creditors’ rights, wine, beer, liquor, cannabis, and intellectual property.

Oren Bitan

Caroline B. Banzali is a partner at Baker Tilly US LLP and leads the firm’s M&amp;A Tax Practice as well as the Cannabis Practice. She is a dedicated and seasoned tax professional with a unique law perspective. She has over 20 years of experience providing clients with strategic planning and execution of mergers and acquisition transactions. She has experience and background as both a service provider and corporate executive.

Caroline  Banzali

Philip Snow is an attorney at the Kight Law Office, where he focuses on providing his clients solutions-based advice for the cannabis industry. After having spent the initial part of his career focusing on THC and marijuana, he recently shifted to hemp and other cannabinoids. He regularly advises on industry-specific compliance, FDA and FTC regulations, contract drafting and negotiating, as well as emerging cannabinoids.

Philip Snow

Taylor C. Wagniere currently works for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office where she advises the Department of Cannabis Regulation. Since she began in 2018, Los Angeles has grown into the largest regulated cannabis market in California. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Women Lawyers Association of LA and is a founding member of the LA County Bar Association's new Cannabis Section.

Taylor Wagniere

Deputy City Attorney

Kirsten A. Hart is a partner at Arent Fox LLP and a part of the leadership teams of the firm’s Venture Capital &amp; Emerging Businesses Industry Group and Cannabis Industry Group. She has a diverse litigation practice focused on complex business disputes and counseling early-stage companies. She defends clients in matters involving securities, intellectual property, trade secrets, unfair competition, cannabis, and contract disputes.&nbsp;

Kirsten Hart

Richardson “Red” Griswold acts as a court-appointed Receiver and court-appointed Partition Referee in California. He has been appointed by over 100 California courts in 13 different California counties, including appointments related to health &amp; safety, rents &amp; profits, post-judgment and partition matters. He was the 2019 Chair/President of the California Receivers Forum and has served on its Board of Directors for several years.

Richardson "Red" Griswold

Kevin Singer is co-founder and president of Receivership Specialists, specializing in state and federal court receiverships, referee assignments, partition sales, provisional director assignments, and Bankruptcy Trustee assignments. He is a real estate broker, licensed building contractor, and currently serves as President/Board of Directors member for the California Receivers Forum (CRF).

Kevin Singer

President

California

Business Considerations

Cannabis and Hemp

Live Webcast broadcast from Los Angeles, CA

Due to growing health concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, The Seminar Group has opted to hold the seminar strictly webcast.


	Introduction and Overview


Introduction and Overview

<ul>
	<li>
		Important recent and upcoming cannabis and hemp legislation</li>
	<li>
		Consolidation of the three California regulatory agencies and potential challenges</li>
	<li>
		Regulatory conflicts between cannabis and hemp:&nbsp; they are not treated equally</li>
	<li>
		Legal challenges and litigation trends</li>
</ul>


	Cannabis and Hemp Industry Update &ndash; California and Federal


Cannabis and Hemp Industry Update &ndash; California and Federal

<ul>
	<li>
		The legality and ethics of cannabis law practice</li>
	<li>
		Sound practices when establishing the attorney-client relationship</li>
	<li>
		Legal fees and handling of client funds</li>
	<li>
		Investing in cannabis businesses</li>
	<li>
		Personal use of cannabis</li>
	<li>
		Competency issues for attorneys, given the complex, conflicting and evolving nature of state laws and regulations</li>
</ul>


	Legal Practice Considerations &ndash; Ethics and Competence


Legal Practice Considerations &ndash; Ethics and Competence


	Break


Break

<ul>
	<li>
		Legal Issues</li>
	<li>
		Getting a CBD Product to Market</li>
	<li>
		Hemp Law Update</li>
</ul>


	CBD, Other Cannabinoids, and the FDA


CBD, Other Cannabinoids, and the FDA


	Midday Break


Midday Break

<ul>
	<li>
		Municipal Law</li>
	<li>
		Zoning and Real Estate</li>
	<li>
		Real Estate Acquisitions and Negotiations</li>
	<li>
		Issues that Arise Among Cannabis Businesses Post-Licensure</li>
</ul>


	Land Use, Permitting, and Government Relations


Land Use, Permitting, and Government Relations

<ul>
	<li>
		Out-of-Court Restructuring Options
		<ul>
			<li>
				State Court or Privately Appointed Receiver</li>
			<li>
				Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors</li>
			<li>
				Consensual Informal Restructuring</li>
		</ul>
	</li>
</ul>


	Restructuring Options for Cannabis Companies


Restructuring Options for Cannabis Companies

<ul>
	<li>
		M&amp;A and Exit Planning</li>
	<li>
		State and Federal Taxation</li>
</ul>