Faculty
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Griffen Thorne, Program Chair, is an attorney at Harris Bricken, an international emerging markets law firm. As part of Harris Bricken’s corporate cannabis and hemp teams, Griffen advises clients on obtaining licenses and permits, regulatory compliance, entity formation and structuring, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, contract drafting and negotiation, and obtaining and protecting intellectual property.
Caroline B. Banzali is a partner at Baker Tilly US LLP and leads the firm’s M&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.
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.
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.
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 & 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.
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 & safety, rents & 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.
Kirsten A. Hart is a partner at Arent Fox LLP and a part of the leadership teams of the firm’s Venture Capital & 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.
Yelena Katchko is a founding member and equity partner of Katchko Vitiello & 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.
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.
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 & regulatory compliance, security, risk mitigation, and corporate governance.
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).
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.
GianDominic Vitiello is a founding member and equity partner of Katchko Vitiello & 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.
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.