Charles Alovisetti

Partner

Maryland / Boston

c.alovisetti@vicentellp.com

617-934-2121

7200 Wisconsin Ave.
Suite 500
Bethesda, MD 20814

Commercial Transactions
Corporate & Business
Food, Beverages & Consumer Packaged Goods
Insolvency & State Receivership
International Transactions
Outside General Counsel Program
Real Estate
Technology

Colorado
Massachusetts
New York
Maryland

J.D., Columbia Law School, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
B.A., McGill University, Honors

Overview

Charlie Alovisetti is a partner at Vicente LLP and co-chair of the firm's Corporate Department. He advises investors, companies, and other law firms on complex corporate transactions across highly regulated industries, with a particular depth of experience in cannabis, hemp, psychedelics, and emerging consumer products.

Extensive experience managing licensed transactions across major regulated markets provides Charlie with deep insight into state and local regulatory nuances, particularly regarding stock and asset acquisitions, management structures, and strategic investment planning. He also counsels emerging growth and portfolio companies on general corporate governance, commercial transactions, and compensation arrangements.

Recognized by Chambers & Partners as a leading attorney in cannabis law, Charlie is also the co-author of The Business of Cannabis: Understanding Law, Finance, and Governance in America’s Newest Industry, the definitive industry legal resource. He frequently advises mainstream companies exploring investments in regulated markets, helping them evaluate and structure opportunities to mitigate risk.

Before joining Vicente LLP, Charlie practiced corporate law at Latham & Watkins and Goodwin in New York, representing clients across a range of industries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from McGill University and earned his law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He is admitted to practice in Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York, and currently resides outside Washington, D.C.

A recognized thought leader on regulated industries, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate finance, Charlie frequently speaks at industry conferences and contributes to legislative developments.

Experience

Leadership & Community Involvement

  • Member, Student and Academic Affairs Committee, International Cannabis Bar Association
  • Member, Work Group on Legislation Implementation HB19-1090 - "Measures to Allow Greater Investment Flexibility," Colorado Department of Revenue, June 2019-Present
  • Member, General Catch-All Working Group: Other Rule Updates, Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division, 2017
  • Member, Work Group on Legislation Implementation SB16-040 - "Marijuana Owner Changes," Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division, 2016

Cannabis Regulatory Advice

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to MJ Freeway LLC in connection with the company’s merger with MTech Acquisition Corp to form the first cannabis compliance technology company, Akerna Corp, listed on NASDAQ.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc., one of the largest multi-state operators in the United States, in connection with their signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Verano Holdings, LLC, one of the largest privately held multi-state, vertically integrated licensed operators of cannabis facilities with an extensive portfolio of premium branded products, in an $850 million all-stock deal.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to Sea Hunter Therapeutics LLC and its parent company Sea Hunter Holdings LLC in connection with a four-way business combination and Canadian reverse takeover (RTO) in which a new Canadian public company (Tilt Holdings) to be listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) acquired the equity of Sea Hunter, Baker Technologies Inc. and Briteside Holdings LLC (U.S. companies), and Santé Veritas Holdings Inc., a Canadian corporation, in exchange for new equity in Tilt Holdings. The business combination also included a concurrent subscription receipts offering of USD $119 million in Canada to institutional investors.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to Young America Capital, an investment bank and broker-dealer based on Mamaroneck, NY, in connection with the sale of substantially all assets of Green Meadows Wellness (dba Infinite Wellness Center), a fully vertically integrated adult and medical cannabis company in Colorado, to LivWell Enlightened Health.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to Canaccord Genuity, LLC on numerous transactions.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to TILT Holdings Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Standard Farms., a vertically integrated cannabis operator, with the majority of its operations in Pennsylvania, for US$5M cash and US$45M in securities.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to TILT Holdings Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Blackbird Holdings Corp., a distribution company providing logistics operations and software solutions for each touchpoint in the cannabis supply chain, for approximately US$40 million, consisting of US$12M cash and 11,090,453 shares of TILT.

  • Acted as hemp regulatory counsel to Ebbu Inc. in connection with its acquisition by Canopy Growth Corp. for approximately $330 million. 

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to LeafLink.

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc., one of the largest multi-state operators in the United States, in connection with its acquisition of CBx Enterprises, whose technology is utilized by EvoLab, CBx Sciences, and CBx Essentials, for an undisclosed amount. 

  • Represented the corporate venture capital wing of a multinational company on a potential expansion into the cannabis industry.

  • Represented an entertainment company on a potential expansion into the cannabis industry.

  • Represented a leading e-commerce company on its plans to expand into the cannabis sector.

  • Represented a device manufacturer on plans to enter the cannabis market and national expansion, including advertising parameters, banking matters, and the status of state legislation.

  • Represented a manufacturer of therapeutic-grade essential oils on a potential expansion into the cannabis and hemp industry.

  • Represented a transfer agent and financial administrator on cannabis regulatory matters.

  • Represented a venture capital fund in connection with regulatory issues involved in raising a cannabis fund.

  • Represented numerous private investors in connection with regulatory and corporate due diligence.

  • Provided numerous regulatory opinions to underwriters and auditors regarding the state-legal activities of direct and ancillary cannabis companies.

  • Advised several international law firms on state cannabis regulatory matters.

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Acted as cannabis regulatory counsel to MJ Freeway LLC in connection with the company’s merger with MTech Acquisition Corp to form the first cannabis compliance technology company, Akerna Corp, listed on NASDAQ.

  • Acted as corporate and regulatory counsel to Denver Relief, one of the first legal marijuana businesses in Denver, in connection with the sale of its cultivation and manufacturing licenses to CMH Brands, which processes marijuana into products for Willie's Reserve.

  • Acted as corporate and regulatory counsel to DionyMed in connection with its purchase of 100% of the assets of Cascade Cannabis Distributing, Inc. in Portland Oregon, and purchase of certain assets of JDK Holdings, LLC dba Winberry Farms in Fall Creek Oregon.

  • Handled the purchase and sale of numerous cannabis business licenses in California, Colorado, and Oregon.

  • Represented a vertically integrated cannabis company operating in Colorado in connection with the sale of multiple distressed businesses.

  • Represented investment funds, public companies, and family offices on compliance with residency ownership requirements in Colorado.

  • Represented a publicly listed company in connection with its acquisitions of a licensed distributor and a licensed manufacturer in California.

Financings

  • Acted as corporate and regulatory counsel to Simplifya, a leading developer of cannabis industry compliance software, in connection with its Series A, B and C financing rounds.
  • Represented a leading cannabis extract company in connection with its Series A funding round, which was led by a cannabis-focused private equity fund.
  • Represented an infused product manufacturer in connection with a convertible note financing.
  • Represented an investor in connection with the financing and licensing of a state-of-the-art indoor grow facility.
  • Assisted with structuring for-profit management companies for nonprofit cannabis dispensaries with cannabis-related services, including agreements and intellectual property licensing.
  • Represented numerous dispensaries, management companies and cannabis-related startups in debt and equity financing matters.
  • Represented a multi-state cannabis holding company, in connection with a convertible note offering.

Commercial Contracts, Licensing & General Corporate Matters

  • Represented numerous clients in connection with the formation of direct and ancillary cannabis businesses.
  • Represented numerous clients in corporate reorganizations related to conversion from nonprofit to for-profit regulatory regimes.
  • Represented cannabis clients on real estate and zoning matters, and advised landlords and tenants with leases for cannabis dispensary, manufacturing, and cultivation facilities.
  • Represented high profile entertainers in connection with the launch of branded products.
  • Represented leading cannabis brands in intellectual property licensing and contract manufacturing agreements.
  • Represented infused product manufacturers in contract manufacturing, supply, licensing, and distribution agreements.
  • Represented a leading cultivator in connection with the grant of incentive equity and other executive compensation matters.

Recognition

Publications

Books

Insights

External Publications

Events

In the Media