Akshita Singh Related Seminars and Products

Corporate Associate

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Akshita is an associate in Taft’s Chicago office and focuses her practice on corporate law. Akshita has experience working with public and private companies, particularly in capital markets and bank finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulatory work, and general corporate matters.

Previously, Akshita worked as an industry group coordinator for the Cannabis group of a large international law firm. She has also served as a legal intern with a local cannabis and medical marijuana company, assisting in state applications for medical and recreational cannabis for dispensaries, processing, and cultivation licenses, as well as performing compliance and regulation research for both medical and recreational cannabis in various states.

Akshita earned her J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law and her bachelor’s degree in government and business from the University of Texas at Austin. While in law school, Akshita was an active member of Women in Law and the Trial Advocacy team.

Katy Young Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Ad Astra Law Group, LLP

Lauren Rudick Related Seminars and Products

Managing Principal

Rudick Law Group, PLLC

Lauren previously co-founded of Hiller, PC's cannabis law practice. What started as a
passion project in patient rights during a brief residency in California, Lauren has become
one of the Nation’s preeminent cannabis attorneys. Her practice is centered upon the
representation of start-up organizations and investors. With her diverse background in
corporate law, litigation, and land-use and zoning, she provides clients with the most up-
to-date information necessary to operate and invest in successful cannabis and ancillary
businesses. Lauren has run successful applications in competitive medical cannabis states
and adult-use markets alike, and represents a broad spectrum of cannabis and hemp
clients, including plant-touching breeders, cultivators, processors, and product
manufacturers; investors, including family offices and angels; and multiple ancillary
businesses, including networking associations, packaging businesses, ingredient
manufacturers, medical professionals, and industry consultants. Lauren is also a member
of the legal team that brought an action against former Attorney General Sessions and the
federal government seeking, among other things, a declaration that the mis-classification
of cannabis as a Schedule I drug is unconstitutional, on, among other things, due process,
equal protection, free speech, and commerce clause grounds.

Lauren is an Expert Contributor to Marijuana Venture Magazine, a frequent
speaker at national and local cannabis events, including, among others, MJ Biz Con, the
Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition, NCIA, Emerald Cup, and the Women
Grow Leadership Summit and provides pro bono legal and advocacy services to the
Cannabis Cultural Association, among others. Lauren also serves on the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors for the International Cannabis Bar Association, as
the organization’s Treasurer. Lauren enjoys an extensive network of cannabis
professionals nationwide, enabling her to provide full legal and business services to her
clients.

Casey Grabenstein Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Saul Ewing LLP

Casey Grabenstein handles complex commercial litigation for clients nationwide across an array of industries. His litigation experience includes class actions involving securities, consumer fraud, and ERISA, including defeating class certification in multiple cases for a leading insurance company. Casey is also a member of the firm's Cannabis Law Practice and has successfully handled multiple high-profile cannabis lawsuits.

Casey also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to the litigation funding industry. He serves as both due diligence counsel and as primary counsel for funded cases. Casey is also a regular writer and speaker on litigation funding topics.

In addition to his litigation experience, Casey acts as general outside counsel for companies, particularly in the food, beverage, and cannabis industries. His work in this area includes providing legal advice on contractual and business matters, assisting with licensing, and developing compliance programs. 

Casey has an extensive pro bono practice that includes getting a death sentence vacated for a Texas man on death row for eight years and obtaining asylum for a Tanzanian woman following an immigration trial. He also has handled numerous Section 1983 cases involving prisoners and arrestees.