Corporate & Business

Vicente LLP specializes in the cannabis industry. For over a decade, we have been assisting licensed marijuana and hemp operators, ancillary businesses, investors, and other law firms on a wide variety of transactions and other corporate matters. We know the players, and we know how to navigate the laws and regulations, which means we know how to get deals done.

Our corporate practice includes more than 20 experienced attorneys across the U.S. Many of them formerly worked at AmLaw 100 firms and were drawn to Vicente LLP by our reputation as an industry leader, our authentic passion for cannabis law and policy, and our entrepreneurial spirit. It’s this passion and experience, combined with our extensive client base of companies and investors, that enables our team to create significant value and lasting impact for our corporate clients.

All of our corporate attorneys are deeply involved in cannabis regulatory work, making Vicente LLP second to none when it comes to providing cannabis regulatory advice. Leaders of our firm played key roles in establishing the world's first regulated cannabis markets, and we continue to play an active part in the evolution and expansion of the industry. This regulatory experience, paired with our broad geographic scope, allow us to provide exceptional legal services to new and expanding businesses as they grapple with regulatory and corporate issues across numerous jurisdictions. It also makes Vicente LLP the go-to firm for other law firms and service providers seeking specialized regulatory guidance.  

Services

Select a category below to learn more about our corporate legal services. 

  • Acting as special cannabis and hemp regulatory counsel to other law firms in corporate transactions
  • Advising non-cannabis companies on the legal risks involved in entering the cannabis and hemp industries
  • Regulatory and other specialized opinions
  • General regulatory and compliance counseling
  • Advising on cannabis banking and money transmitter services
  • Reviewing credit agreements, acquisition agreements, leases, and other commercial contracts for cannabis and hemp regulatory issues
  • Assisting with analysis of regulatory approval necessary for the transfer of cannabis licenses
  • Coordinating the process of cannabis license transfer with regulators
  • Acquisitions and sales of both licensed and non-licensed businesses
  • Joint ventures and strategic business relationships
  • Licensing agreements
  • Divestitures and dispositions
  • Spin-offs
  • Private placements and other securities law matters
  • Negotiating debt financings such as working capital lines of credit, term loans, and equipment lease financings
  • Angel and venture capital financings
  • Equipment leasing
  • Business formation, structuring and governance
  • Founder and shareholder agreements
  • Employment contracts and offer letters
  • Equity incentive plans
  • Commercial contract review, including specialized marijuana contracts (e.g. trim processing agreements)
  • Intellectual property protection, including licensing transactions and federal and state trademarks and copyrights
  • Serving as outside general counsel and advisor to management and boards of directors
  • Reviewing and negotiating real property leases
  • Negotiating engagement letters with investment banks

Experience

More than 1,000 clients across all segments of the cannabis and hemp industries have chosen Vicente LLP as a trusted legal advisor, including emerging companies, entrepreneurs, farmers, multi-state operators, publicly traded companies, private investors, venture capital and private equity firms, and other law firms. Transactional highlights include:

News

Buying a Ketamine Clinic: Why, How, and Risks to Understand

May 11, 2023

With ketamine being the only approved psychedelic drug for medical use, ketamine clinics offer a unique opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs looking to enter the expanding market of innovative mental health therapies. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the growing demand for ketamine clinics and the unique regulatory considerations involved in transactions involving these businesses.

Forming Psychedelic Companies: 10 Lessons from the Cannabis Industry

By Charles Alovisetti
Mar 22, 2023

A new industry is emerging in the United States, and entrepreneurs in the psychedelics space must make critical decisions at the onset of new ventures regarding how to set up and structure their new businesses. Luckily, we have access to another industry with a complex legal framework and a patchwork of different state laws: cannabis. And after forming hundreds of cannabis companies with clients over the past decade, Vicente LLP has lessons to be shared.

[Webinar] Restructuring Options in Cannabis: Out-of-Court Workouts

Mar 15, 2023

Cannabis businesses facing insolvency can't access federal bankruptcy courts, but they do have restructuring options. One of those options is an out-of-court workout between lenders and borrowers. Watch this Vicente LLP session to learn the practical issues around out-of-court workouts and cannabis companies.

[Webinar] Restructuring Options in Cannabis: Receiverships

Feb 16, 2023

Cannabis companies facing insolvency must use state receiverships or out-of-court workouts to restructure an insolvent business. But what does that mean, and what is the right choice for your business? Watch our live session on the practical issues around the receivership of cannabis companies.

Raising Private Capital in the Cannabis Industry

By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Y. Choi, and Sahar Ayinehsazian
Sep 29, 2022

Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Y. Choi, and Sahar Ayinehsazian write for the Bloomberg Law, reflecting on the challenges and journey of raising private capital in the cannabis industry

The ESG Threat by Shareholders and Proxy Challenges

By Marc Ross
Sep 7, 2022

Socially responsible investors and activist board members have been throwing their ESG weight around during the last few proxy seasons at annual shareholder meetings. They demand action on climate change, diverse boards and senior leadership, restrict campaign donations, divestment in specific industries, and request measurement, benchmarking, and reporting of comprehensive ESG impacts.

Charles Alovisetti to Present Cannabis Real Estate Financing CLE

Jul 1, 2021

The CLE, titled "Financing Cannabis-Related Real Estate: Structuring Options, Enforcement Issues, Regulatory Hurdles" will analyze legal and practical issues borrowers and lenders need to consider when documenting and funding a loan transaction secured by cannabis-related real estate.

Cannabis Entrepreneurship Academy

May 4, 2021

Colorado Law Executive Education and CU Leeds School of Business are offering an online Cannabis Entrepreneurship Academy on Fridays during June 2021. The academy will tackle many cannabis business issues, including leadership, financing, regulations, markets, and more!

What is a Cannabis REIT?

By Charles Alovisetti, Cassia Furman
Apr 23, 2021

To many in the cannabis industry, REIT is not a common acronym. Yet, as cannabis businesses seek ways to raise funds, REITs are coming up in more and more conversations.

5 Things You Need to Know Before Entering the Cannabis Industry

By Brian Vicente
Apr 19, 2021

The cannabis industry is complex. Prospective cannabis business owners and other service providers interested in working with cannabis businesses are wise to take a step back and assess what it really takes to not only enter the cannabis industry, but to succeed in it.

Commercial Leases Involving Cannabis Businesses

By Ben Leonard and Brett Williams
Mar 9, 2021

This article published by the Colorado Bar Association addresses issues unique to cannabis-related business lease transactions and offers suggestions for structuring such leases to maintain regulatory compliance.

What is a Cannabis SPAC?

By Charles Alovisetti and Ilya Ross
Feb 19, 2021

With wary investors and a minimal number of FDIC-insured bank lenders in the space, cannabis entrepreneurs are running out of options to raise capital. SPACs create a unique opportunity to fill the current vacuum of capital in the cannabis industry.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Cannabis Industry

By Charles Alovisetti, Sahar Ayinehsazian, Andrea Golan
Nov 5, 2020

The coronavirus and efforts to contain it have led to changes in the regulatory landscape and consumer behavior that are likely to shape the cannabis industry moving forward. In spite of COVID-19, or perhaps because of it, the cannabis industry is thriving, and will continue to do so as long as demand remains strong and operators adhere to the rules and regulations designed to keep consumers and employees safe.

Raising Private Capital in the Cannabis Industry

By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Choi, Sahar Ayinehsazian
Sep 18, 2020

Raising private capital continues to be a challenge for the nascent cannabis industry, but there are proactive steps companies can take to maximize the chance of a successful raise.

Guide to Closing Cannabis Transactions Between Private Companies

By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Choi, Ben Leonard, Jeremy Shaw
Aug 6, 2020

Conducting a closing is one of the more stressful tasks for junior and even senior attorneys. When a deal is ready to close, most of the principals and businesspeople are finished with their work, but lawyers are not out of the woods yet.

Avoiding Massive Delaware Franchise Tax Bills

By Charles Alovisetti
Jun 24, 2020

Forming a Delaware corporation is a good idea for some cannabis startups, but often results in a hefty Delaware franchise tax bill. In this article, we explain why you might actually owe less.

10 Tips for U.S. Cannabis Businesses Facing an Economic Downturn

By Phil Silverman
May 20, 2020

The U.S. is facing its gravest economic crisis since the Great Depression due to the coronavirus pandemic. These 10 concepts are not necessarily unique to cannabis businesses, but in an industry that’s already subject to greater federal, state and local scrutiny, they can serve as a guide for those seeking to relieve their financial stress.

Exploring Alternatives to Bankruptcy for Cannabis Businesses

By Charles Alovisetti, Phil Silverman, Jason Adelstone
Apr 17, 2020

Bankruptcy law provides advantages for financially distressed companies to restructure debt while continuing to operate. Without access to U.S. Bankruptcy Code protections, marijuana companies must turn to out-of-court restructurings and state law insolvency proceedings.

Public Companies Can Now Own Cannabis Licenses in Colorado

By Charles Alovisetti, Jessica Scardina, Ben Leonard, Carl Werner, and Justin Johnson
Nov 18, 2019

HB-1090 is live and Colorado's cannabis industry is officially open to publicly-traded companies and out-of-state investors. Find out what we've learned so far about this brand-new system.

Blue Sky Laws and the Cannabis Industry

By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Oct 7, 2019

In addition to federal securities laws, each state and territory has its own securities laws, often referred to as blue sky laws. Cannabis company compliance with these rules may be more important due to heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Budding Companies Part 3: Governance, Exits and Investors

By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Sep 9, 2019

The third post in our “Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups” series, where we explore different issues involved in the formation of new marijuana and hemp companies. In this post, we will focus on governance, exits, and investors.

Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups

By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Sep 6, 2019

The first post in our “Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups” series, where we explore different issues involved in the formation of new marijuana and hemp companies. In this post we will focus on entity choice and taxation.

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