Ethics 201: What You Must Write Down - Drafting Agreements, Advisals, and Waivers

Matthew A. Goldberg Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Harris Sliwoski LLP

Matt Goldberg’s practice ranges from litigation and alternative dispute resolution to business and real estate law. Matt previously served as General Counsel of Emerge Law Group in Portland. Matt also previously practiced at K&L Gates and Kell Alterman & Runstein. Matt has litigated in state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington for clients ranging from Fortune 500 and other large companies to small businesses and individuals. Matt is one of few litigators with actual experience and proven results representing cannabis industry clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation. Matt is a former extern to the Honorable Elizabeth L. Perris (ret.) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar’s Debtor-Creditor Section. Matt is also a former Editorial Board member and Associate Editor of the ABA publication Litigation News. Prior to becoming an attorney, Matt was a journalist for magazines and newspapers and an Internet-company executive in New York City.

Michelle Mabugat Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Greenberg Glusker LLP

Michelle Mabugat has a broad-based corporate and transactional practice that focuses on advising entrepreneurs and high-growth companies on matters that span the business lifecycle, from start-up through exit.

Often acting as outside general counsel, she assists clients with their general corporate and day-to-day transactional needs as well as their most critical transactions, including early- and growth-stage equity and debt financings, joint ventures and strategic alliances, licensing deals, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in both distressed and non-distressed situations. She also provides strategic advice to boards, management teams and investors on sensitive issues related to corporate governance, shareholder disputes, regulatory compliance and risk management.

She has earned significant accolades in her field, including being listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in 2024 and Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2021 through 2023.

Michelle represents clients across all industries but, as Co-Chair of the firm’s Cannabis Industry Group, she has significant experience representing clients in the cannabis sector. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on cannabis law, she has been named a “Cannabis Law Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal and a “Top Cannabis Lawyer” by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal. 

An active member of the Los Angeles community, Michell provides pro bono counsel for the Cannabis Equity Retailers Association and to low-income applicants who qualify for the Los Angeles Cannabis Social Equity Program. She is also an Executive Committee Member for the Primerus Cannabis Practice Group; a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Committee Member for the Association for Corporate Growth - Los Angeles Chapter (ACG-LA); the Lead Member of the Policy Subcommittee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Cannabis Section; and an Amicus Committee Member for the International Cannabis Bar Association.

Jonathan Robbins Related Seminars and Products

Chair, Cannabis Practice Group

Akerman LLP

Jonathan Robbins serves as chair of Akerman’s Cannabis Practice, counseling clients on the evolving, complex legal and business issues impacting companies with interests in the regulated substances industries. Ranked by Chambers USA as a top lawyer in Cannabis Law and recognized in 2018 by the National Law Journal as one of the country’s “Cannabis Law Trailblazers,” he has been published and quoted in national media outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, The American Lawyer, Politico, Washington Post, Bloomberg News, and Law360. He is a founding board member of the National Cannabis Bar Association and is also an active member of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Jonathan brings deep experience representing public and private companies and individuals in complex regulatory and litigation matters in the regulated substances sectors. His experience encompasses investigations and administrative and enforcement proceedings brought by federal, state, and self-regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Florida Attorney General’s Office, Florida Department of Financial Services, and Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

In addition to his growing cannabis practice, Jonathan also represents public and private companies and individuals in complex regulatory and litigation matters in the financial services and regulated substances sectors. His experience encompasses investigations and administrative and enforcement proceedings brought by federal, state, and self-regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Florida Attorney General’s Office, Florida Department of Financial Services, and Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. He is a go-to resource for broker-dealers and registered persons in securities-related cases filed in both federal and state courts, as well as in FINRA arbitration proceedings addressing both customer and sector disputes.

Jonathan has represented numerous broker-dealers and clearing firms ranging in size from smaller, regional broker-dealer and investment advisory firms to major national wirehouses. He serves as an arbitrator in securities arbitrations between both customers and members and associated persons and members. He frequently represents clients adverse to the SEC while working with the enforcement agency as counsel for receivers appointed by U.S. District Courts.

Shoran Williams Related Seminars and Products

General Counsel and Chief Regulatory Officer

FLURESH

Shoran Reid Williams’ litigation practice spans more than 25 years.  It ranges from in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 insurance company to law firm practices in both Georgia and Michigan.  In addition, she has spent several years as an adjunct law professor, author and small business owner.
Litigation Practice

Ms. Williams’ litigation practice experience extends into the areas of administrative law, civil litigation, appellate law, personal injury and family law.  Regardless of the type of dispute, as an experienced lead attorney she is adept at working with a wide-range of clients on:

Advising on legal implications
Drafting and arguing briefs
Negotiating agreements
Resolving cases through appropriate dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration and trial
Ms. Williams has successfully obtained favorable results for her clients in state and federal courts and before government agencies.

Cannabis and Hemp Industry

Ms. Williams is a trusted advisor on legal issues related to the rapidly growing and evolving cannabis and hemp industry in North America.  Two noteworthy bills that have accelerated the interest in the industry are the United States 2018 Farm Bill and Michigan’s activation of authority pursuant to the United States 2014 Farm Bill being utilized to launch the State’s Industrial Hemp Ag pilot.

Ms. Williams is familiar with the ins and outs of the 2018 Farm Bill and including the fact that marijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug in the U.S.  She can counsel Michigan entities on the licensing process, THC testing procedures, inspections, disposal of plants carrying >0.3% TNS and record keeping.

Ms. Williams assists business owners with issues related to being in the cannabis and hemp industry or wanting to do business with growers and suppliers in this industry.  Some of the legal issues that intersect including: compliance, trade secrets, finance, interstate transportation, dispute resolution, and acquisitions.

Change Agent and Thought Leader

Ms. Williams works with clients to gain their respect through realistic, strategic initiatives that anticipate the changing needs of the workforce, building a winning culture and driving continuous improvement. She endeavors to decrease the costs and complexity of initiatives in order to optimize resources focused on business outcomes.

Ms. Williams is an advocate for sustainable change with regard to diversity and believes that requires involving the right parties and effectively engaging with them on issues.

Professional Affiliations and Activities

Ms. Williams is a member of the American Bar Association Personal Injury Law Section.  She is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  She is licensed in the state of Georgia and practiced in Atlanta for a number of years. She continues to be a member of the Georgia State Bar, and is a past member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys.

Ms. Williams was an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law for several years. She created and taught the Personal Injury Law course in addition to Pre-Trial Litigation and Contract courses.

In 2020, Ms. Williams was accepted into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows Program.  The program accepts mid-career attorneys with strong leadership and relationship skills who are committed to fostering diversity within the country’s leading law firms and largest companies, and the legal profession at large.

Publications and Presentations

Ms. Williams is the author of “Waking the Sleeping Demon: 26 Hours of Terror in Atlanta”, a non-fiction account following the life of a prosecutor during the hours that Brian Nichols escaped from and eluded police.  The book was selected as a Freshmen Reading Experience by Tiffin University and was later made into a MSNBC documentary.  She spoke across the country on topics raised in the book.

She is a requested presenter and author for topics related to the burgeoning hemp industry.  In Winter 2020, Ms. Williams authored the article, “The Best-Laid Plans. Social Equity Programs and the Cannabis Space.” in MiCIA Magazine, the official trade journal of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association.  In June 2019, Ms. Williams presented “Is Hemp Worth the Hype?” at the Business of Marijuana in Michigan seminar in Grand Rapids. The conference offered continuing education credits and was hosted by the Rossdale Seminar Group out of Miami, Florida.  She is also sought-after by civic organizations and community groups for monthly meetings.  In addition, Ms. Williams was interviewed for the article “A Legal State: Women in Marijuana Give Their Perspective on Michigan’s Green Frontier” in West Michigan Women’s Lifestyle magazine in the March 2019 issue.

Community Activity

Ms. Williams is always exploring avenues and ways to give back to the community especially in areas that impact women and families. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Womens’ Resource Center and is a member of Inforum – women’s alliance.

Education

Ms. Williams earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1994.  She participated in the St. Anne’s College of Law Program at Oxford University.  She was on the National Moot Court Team.  Ms. Williams received a Bachelor of Public Administration degree from Miami University in Ohio in 1991.

She is licensed to practice in Michigan and Georgia.