ForrestC-level attorney handling legal, compliance and HR for cannabis

Relevant Skills

Managing a legal team, Providing advice and counsel to different departments, Resolving pre-litigation disputes

Expertise Summary

Forrest is a licensed attorney with 7+ years of cannabis experience working for both a private law firm and public cannabis company.
- Currently, he is the Sr. VP of Corporate and Legal Affairs for a nationally recognized, vertically integrated cannabis company where he built and managed the legal team of 25 from the ground up.
For the last 5 years at a cannabis company, Forrest has been responsible for the day-to-day management of the legal, compliance, and human resources functions, including M&A, financings, contracts, litigation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, licensing, real estate transactions, and intellectual property.
- He proactively resolves pre-litigation disputes while overseeing a litigation case load with 30+ active claims nationwide.
- His day-to-day responsibilities include providing advice and counsel to all departments and touching on all legal matters, including contract negotiation, and public company requirements.
- He also supports mergers and acquisitions, partners cross-functionally to support the compliance and licensing teams, assists human resources with labor and employment issues, and manages litigation.
Forrest led a complex roll-up in advance of a go-public transaction, took the company public through a reverse takeover transaction, and successfully structured and closed 30+ transactions with over $1B of transaction value, having a 100% success rate and receiving regulatory approvals in 7 states.
Forrest is a trusted adviser to the board of directors and senior leadership on best practices, corporate governance, and fiduciary duties, while managing the corporate structure of 100+ subsidiary entities.
- With a background in litigation and corporate advice and counsel, he brings a unique cannabis industry experience gained by working on the ground floor of a cannabis start-up, building it to a nationally recognized brand.
Forrest was also a Corporate Associate for a private law firm, advising cannabis clients and investors on commercial contracts, M&A, joint ventures, entity formation, and intellectual property.
- He managed 100+ active clients on an ongoing basis.
- Forrest holds an undergraduate degree in business management and a Master of Business Administration.
- He understands the intricacies of a fast-paced and dynamic business.

LOOKING FOR:

Permanent

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:

7

EXPERTISE:

Legal, compliance, HR, and licensing

ForrestC-level attorney handling legal, compliance and HR for cannabis

Relevant Skills

Expertise Summary

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