As a legal strategist and business operations partner for publicly traded companies and VC/PE-backed companies alike, I’ve spent my career helping visionaries found, build, and monetize pioneering new ideas—specializing in highly regulated cannabis, tobacco, and psychedelics, as well as agribusiness, biotech, consumer packaged goods, and healthcare.

During that time, I built and scaled five companies from early concept to fully operational concerns in high-margin industries, including an IPO and an exit—helping drive hundreds-of-millions in revenue through groundbreaking partnerships, product offerings, and distribution channels.

Along the way, I’ve been privileged to counsel more than twenty boards and five C-suites in the development of new ventures, value-creation strategies, and governance models, while navigating risk, opportunity, and change.

I’ve also structured and negotiated transactions up to $1.5 billion (e.g., M&A, equity and debt offerings, IPOs, joint ventures), closed and integrated 20+ acquisitions, built workforces of up to 1,100, and managed P&Ls up to $60 million.

As a regulatory advocate, I’ve secured one-of-a-kind governmental approvals and authorizations with the DEA, FDA, U.K., USDA and EFSA, as well as with states including Florida, Kentucky, New York, Texas, and Virginia. Regulatory compliance, registration, and filing experience includes the SEC, FTC, HHS, OSHA, and TTB.

With degrees in business, economics, and the law from Columbia University School of Law and Washington & Lee University, I currently hold memberships with the Food & Drug Law Institute and New York State Bar Association. Previously, I held memberships with the American Health Lawyers Association and Hemp Roundtable, and served as board director for Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk, NY, where I chaired the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee.

A leading cannabis attorney and advocate for nearly 15 years, Meital is the Managing Partner for Manzuri Law, leading a diverse team of attorneys and licensing specialists in cannabis and hemp law.  Meital serves as the secretary of the executive committee of INCBA and also the chair of the leading issues committee where they identify cutting edge legal issues for the hemp and cannabis industry and for INCBA members and lawyers serving those industries.

Meital has served as General Counsel for various trade associations responsible for influencing cannabis laws and policies in Los Angeles.  Her other duties include: Vice-Chair of communications for the LA County Bar Association, Cannabis Section, member of the social equity committee to interpret and provide clarity to the industry on LA’s ever evolving cannabis laws and active participation on the pro bono panel for Los Angeles for SEIA.

Meital serves as general counsel for hundreds of cannabis & hemp businesses throughout the country advising on regulatory, corporate and transactional matters and general business law. She has authored hundreds of partnership deals, procured licenses for 200+ different businesses, defended thousands of people accused with cannabis crimes, and her tenure includes some of the most seminal cases in federal and state court.

Meital is the mother of three young children, serves on the board of AYSO and coaches soccer for fun.

Michelle is Co-Chair of the firm's Cannabis Industry Group and is a corporate and transactional attorney representing entrepreneurs, start-ups and middle-market companies.

She advises companies and their principals across a broad range of business sectors, but she has deep industry expertise in branded consumer products, manufacturing & distribution, commercial cannabis and industrial hemp.

Frequently acting as general counsel for her clients, Michelle’s practice is broad in scope and she has extensive experience in handling significant transactions whether it’s a merger or acquisition, capital raise, joint venture or licensing deal. Her early experience in litigation paired with her bold approach to business strategy allows her to creatively get deals done.

Michelle is also consistently recognized as one of the most prominent attorneys in the emerging cannabis space. With over a decade of experience handling cannabis and hemp-related matters, nothing gives her more satisfaction than helping cutting-edge companies thrive in highly-regulated industries. Due to her significant industry and regulatory experience, she has become the go-to lawyer for handling high-stakes cannabis matters. Seasoned in crisis management, she regularly appears before state and local regulatory agencies to defend clients in enforcement actions and administrative hearings.

In addition to her corporate work, Michelle is equally dedicated to the advancement of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the business and legal communities. As a member of the inaugural DE&I Committee for the Association for Corporate Growth - Los Angeles Chapter (ACG-LA), she will work to help reflect and enhance the diversity of the Los Angeles middle market. As a member of the Legislative Advocacy Committee for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, she helps identify bills and public policy issues that will impact the LGBT business community. In her roles with the Cannabis Equity Retailers Association, the Cannabis Pro Bono Panel for the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Minority Cannabis Business Association, she provides pro bono counsel for restorative justice initiatives. She has also provided pro bono counsel to low-income applicants who qualify for the Los Angeles Cannabis Social Equity Program.

Alexis is an Associate Attorney at Manzuri Law, advising cannabis businesses across the state of California.

Alexis Lazzeri is a corporate and regulatory attorney advising cannabis businesses across the state of California. Ms. Lazzeri has been critical in assisting cannabis industry businesses with obtaining the necessary permits, local approvals and requisite licenses to lawfully participate in the State regulated market. Alexis daily works with clients to maintain regulatory compliance. Ms. Lazzeri has conducted legal and regulatory due diligence for several M&A deals and as part of her work, she has drafted memoranda on several novel cannabis and hemp and FDA related issues.

While at UC Hastings, Alexis externed for San Francisco Superior Court Judge Andrew Y.S. Cheng. She also served as President of Law Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Executive Notes Editor of the Hastings Business Law Journal. There she published an article about products liability issues relating to cannabis edible products.

Andrea Golan is counsel in Vicente Sederberg’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s regulatory compliance and hemp practice groups. Her practice focuses on advising businesses in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for cultivating, processing, testing, marketing, and selling cannabis and hemp products- including advising businesses with respect to the intersection of federal, state, and local laws.