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

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

Overview

Charlie Alovisetti is a partner at Vicente LLP and chair of the firm's Corporate Department. Recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the top cannabis lawyers in the United States, he is also co-author of The Business of Cannabis: Understanding Law, Finance, and Governance in America’s Newest Industry.

Charlie focuses his practice on advising investors, companies, and other law firms on the nuances of executing corporate transactions involving licensed and ancillary cannabis companies. With experience working on licensed transactions in all major cannabis markets in the United States, Charlie has a deep understanding of the state and local issues that commonly arise in stock and asset acquisitions and issues involved in management companies and other alternative structures. This experience and knowledge make him a vital resource for clients. He also has experience counseling portfolio and emerging growth companies with respect to general corporate and commercial matters and compensation arrangements.

In addition to his corporate practice, Charlie provides specialized cannabis counsel to non-cannabis companies seeking to evaluate the risks of entering the cannabis space and structure their investments to reduce risks.

Prior to joining Vicente LLP, Charlie worked as an associate in the New York offices of Latham & Watkins and Goodwin, where he represented public companies and private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in a range of corporate transactions.

Charlie holds a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from McGill University and a law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He is admitted to practice in Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York.

Recognized as a thought leader and experienced practitioner in the areas of cannabis M&A and financings, Charlie is an author and frequent speaker at events. In addition to his recognition by Chambers, he was named one of Boston's Top Lawyers by Boston magazine in 2021 and 2022. During his time practicing in Colorado, Charlie participated in a number of working groups related to the cannabis industry, including the group focused on HB19-1090—the bill that permitted public company investment.

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