Burns & Levinson today announced the expansion of its newly named Cannabis Business Advisory Group, which helps clients navigate the complex legal and business framework that surrounds the rapidly growing marijuana industry in the United States. Burns was the first major Boston corporate law firm to develop a cannabis business practice three years ago – initially started as a medical marijuana practice – and is considered among the top law firms in the country with expertise handling high-level corporate and financing deals in the cannabis market.
The firm will also launch a new blog called “CannaBusiness Advisory,” which will provide practical, hands-on information on a wide range of business topics from financing a cannabis operation to negotiating real estate hurdles to navigating complex employment challenges. The blog’s lead editors are Frank A. Segall and Scott Moskol, who chair Burns’ Cannabis Business Advisory Group.
Burns’ team has unrivaled experience in cannabis business formation, licensure, legal and regulatory compliance; corporate structuring, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, fund formation, debt and equity financing; real estate acquisitions and leasing; labor and employment issues; intellectual property protection; 280E taxation issues; and the burgeoning field of cannabis litigation. The blog will cover all of these topics in addition to important news and regulatory updates.
“There are few, if any, law firms with more experience advising clients who are looking to create and expand their opportunities in this fast emerging area,” said Segall. “We have built a team of highly skilled attorneys who understand the constantly shifting maze of rules and regulations, and can provide cannabis growers, distributors, processors, and investors with the legal advice and contacts they need to succeed.”
Burns has an impressive roster of cannabis related clients across New England and the U.S. – including license holders, dispensaries and cultivation centers, and investors. Current projects include initiatives and capital raises to open cannabis operations in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and the formation of large private equity funds to invest in new cannabis technologies.
While cannabis usage is currently prohibited at the federal level, eight states, including Massachusetts, have legalized the sale and possession of cannabis for both medical and recreational use. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use.
“This is the birth of a new industry, which makes it very exciting for Burns to be considered both a visionary and a leader,” added Moskol. “We are fortunate to have been at the forefront from the very beginning. Since 2013, we have helped our clients overcome many challenges and achieve many successes. We developed our cannabis practice while many law firms stayed on the sidelines, and are very proud of our reputation as the go-to firm in the industry.”
