Detroit-based international law firm Clark Hill is expanding its Cannabis Industry Group with the addition of eight attorneys and a team of paralegals and support staff from Denver-based cannabis law firm, the Hoban Law Group, along with opening an office in Denver.
As part of the deal, Robert Hoban, president and founder of Hoban Law, will join Clark Hill as member-in-charge of Clark Hill’s first Denver office, formerly the offices of Hoban Law.
“The cannabis industry is an area of strategic focus for Clark Hill and Hoban Law is globally recognized as one of the top cannabis law firms,” says John Hensien, CEO of Clark Hill. “The team’s depth of experience in helping cannabis-related businesses navigate the regulatory, transactional and litigation landscape will provide a deeper bench for Clark Hill’s Cannabis Industry Group, and the team will also be a tremendous asset to our clients across the board in other areas of practice.”
The cannabis industry is becoming increasingly complex as federal legalization draws closer. Over the last 12 months, there have been numerous mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis sector, and as the industry consolidates — a sign of maturation — operators will demand increasingly sophisticated legal and advisory services.
Since 2008, Hoban Law has cultivated a leading commercial cannabis industry network. The legal strategies and advisory services it provides in the industry have gained recognition, and now positions Clark Hill’s Cannabis Industry Group to be one of the largest cannabis law practice in the country.
Sander Zagzebski joined Clark Hill’s Cannabis team at the Los Angeles office earlier this year. He has broad experience as both a transactional and corporate/securities lawyer representing clients across a range of industries.
Together, Hoban Law and Zagzebski will lead Clark Hill’s Cannabis Industry Group, which represents growers, processors, caregivers, transporters, lenders, investors, and other cannabis-industry clients on issues ranging from banking and finance, government relations and legislative advocacy, taxation, and business formation, investments, and governance issues.
“The cannabis industry is poised for sweeping changes and Clark Hill’s global, full-service capabilities will enable us to provide a more comprehensive lineup of services for both U.S. and international clients,” says Robert Hoban. “With the anticipated passage of the ‘SAFE Banking Act’ followed by potential federal legalization of cannabis, the industry is moving at lightning speed, and Clark Hill stands alone in its ability to provide the experienced counsel and depth of legal resources necessary to deliver a higher level of service to an increasingly sophisticated and complex industry.”
Clark Hill has 26 locations and more than 650 lawyers spanning the United States, Ireland, and Mexico. Click here for more information.
