Duane Morris (Cannabis Practice)

Duane Morris LLP traces its start to a partnership of four Philadelphia attorneys formed in 1904 and now reports more than 900 lawyers in offices across the US, UK and Asia. Its cannabis group serves state-licensed adult-use, medical and hemp cultivators, processors, distributors and dispensaries, investors in those businesses, and vendors that supply the industry, along with non-cannabis companies such as consumer-goods makers, banks, insurers and investment funds weighing entry. The practice page names Tracy Gallegos and Paul P. Josephson as contacts.

Listed work includes license applications and related administrative matters, risk assessment under federal and state law, challenges to state licensing programs, corporate formation and structure, SEC filings, public and private offerings and lending, cross-border financing and M&A, partnership and operating agreements, leasing, university research licensing, and employment matters including NLRA questions. Litigation work includes RICO actions, contract and shareholder disputes, and product liability. The firm says it served as counsel in the first investment-bank-led public offering by a US cannabis company and as lead counsel in the first trademark infringement action over cannabis branding.

The group advises on the Controlled Substances Act, the 2018 Farm Bill, Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering rules, and DEA, USDA and FDA guidance, for clients in the US, Canada and other countries. It runs a Cannabis Industry Blog and a webinar series with sessions on IRC Section 280E, bankruptcy and receiverships, rescheduling and cannabis marketing. Duane Morris does not publish fees; prospective clients reach the group through the named contacts or the attorney listing on the practice page.