Emerging Markets: Adult-Use – The Newest States Taking it to a Higher Level

Andrea Steel Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Frost Brown Todd LLP

Andrea is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group as well as a member of the Hemp Industry Team, focusing her practice on both affordable housing and cannabis business law.  In the cannabis space, Andrea has deep rooted knowledge and experience with both hemp and marijuana regulatory and business law. Andrea’s cannabis business clients come from across the supply chain spectrum from cultivators to retailers, as well as distributors, testing labs and more. She advises on regulatory compliance, risk analysis and mitigation, hemp/medical marijuana licensing, cannabis-related business issues and contracts, product labeling/marketing, policy-making participation and real estate issues.

Andrea frequently advises clients on issues unique to the industry, such as delta-8 and other novel cannabinoids, conducting state-by-state research and providing guidance and analysis on proposed laws to policymakers and others. She serves on the Executive Committee of the International Cannabis Bar Association's Governing Board as its Vice President of Operations, as well as co-chairs its Legislative Advisement Committee. She has also been a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Cannabis Law and Policy Committee since 2021. Andrea is a sought-after speaker at industry events, providing insight into recently approved and proposed laws, rules and regulations and other cannabis business matters. At her prior firm, she successfully launched, led and grew their cannabis business practice group.

In the affordable housing area, Andrea represents both for-profit and non-profit developers across the country, including public and private entities, as well as public housing authorities and tax increment reinvestment zones. Her work is concentrated on the legal representation of developers of affordable housing utilizing both 9% and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax exempt bond financing, CDBG and HOME Program funding and other federal, state and local subsidy and economic development programs, as well as the stimulus grants created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 including the Tax Credit Assistance Program, Tax Credit Exchange Program (Section 1602 Program) and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Andrea has represented developers in complex transactions which have combined federal and state Historic Tax Credits with LIHTCs and tax-exempt bonds, and transactions which have involved multiple layers of funding including EB-5 and tax increment financing. Her practice also includes closing construction, bridge and/or permanent loans, conventional as well as Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae loans, FHA-insured loans, and state and local financing. Incorporating various economic development incentives is another area in which her creativity and experience allows her to excel.

Andrea’s work with public housing authorities (PHAs) includes closing transactions that include HUD funds and/or HUD-insured mortgages, including Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and mixed-finance transactions, those involving Section 8 financing, 221(d)(4) & 223(f) FHA mortgages, Federal Home Loan Bank AHP loans and CDBG Disaster Recovery funds. She has worked with PHAs throughout Texas in addition to Louisiana, Arkansas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Andrea is also experienced with assisting developers navigate through various state agency processes, including assistance with funding applications, appeals, and compliance issues. Her work also encompasses obtaining ad valorem tax exemptions for qualified projects, and she also assists clients with real estate acquisitions and dispositions.

With both affordable housing and cannabis being industries that necessitate guidance across a wide range of practice areas, Andrea enjoys collaborating with other team members at Frost Brown Todd to provide clients a full suite of legal services on any issue impacting their businesses, including trademarks, patents, e-commerce, tax matters, debt and equity financing opportunities, corporate structuring and more.

Eliyahu Scheiman, J.D. Related Seminars and Products

CEO

CannaLorem, Inc.

Rob DiPisa Related Seminars and Products

Cole Schotz P.C.

As Co-Chair of the firm’s Cannabis Law Group, Rob counsels clients regarding regulatory compliance, risk management, governmental affairs, licensing and the leasing and acquisition of real property in connection with cannabis related uses. He employs a grass-roots approach that is pivotal in breaking the stigma associated with cannabis and its derivatives. He is a frequent presenter on the health and economic benefits, lectures courses on cannabis law and is a member of several trade organizations including New Jersey CannaBusiness Association and REVEL. In addition, Robert is a contributor to national publications on this topic such as MarketWatch, Bloomberg Law, Marijuana Business Daily and the Wall Street Journal. Robert was recently recognized as a “Cannabis Law Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal, a “New Leader of the Bar” honoree by New Jersey Law Journal as well as a "Leader in the Law" by NJBIZ for his work in this sector.

Eric D Postow Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Holon Law Partners

Eric Postow is a partner at Parlatore Law Group and focuses his practice on advising those in the cannabis industry, primarily with risk mitigation, compliance planning, business development, negotiations, litigation support, and outside general counsel.

Mr. Postow brings a business-focused approach to his legal practice as former top producer for a Washington, DC based staffing firm. By working in the recruiting trenches, he saw first had the day-to-day business, staffing and legal needs of diverse companies spanning multiple industries. As a skilled negotiator, Mr. Postow has earned a reputation of being a shrewd advocate and deal maker for his clients. Eric assists companies progress from startup to mature market participants with composed counsel and thoughtful advice. In Virginia, Mr. Postow primarily advises clients in the staffing, human resources and cannabis industries.  

In addition to his legal work, Mr. Postow is also a veteran of the United States Marines in a variety of management and leadership roles, having earned two personal military decorations (Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Commendation Medal). Additionally, Mr. Postow has been actively involved in supporting civil rights issues, most recently as a member of the NAACP. Eric is a regular contributor for Cannabis Business Executive Press.