Cannabis Arbitration Summit
2 General CLE Credits Available
When: October 1st from 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. with reception to immediately follow
Where: CBA offices, virtual option available
What to expect: Learn & network with peers. Complimentary food, wine and beer will be served.
The Cannabis Arbitration Summit will focus on the intersection of cannabis law and arbitration, bringing together cannabis arbitrators, attorneys for cannabis businesses, clients, and other professionals for a conversation including the scope of available arbitration services and how arbitration can better serve the cannabis community. This exploration of arbitration of disputes within the cannabis sector will include:
- Industry Insights into challenges and opportunities faced by cannabis businesses and how arbitration can effectively address these issues.
- Practical examples and lessons from arbitrating cannabis-related disputes.
- Networking opportunities at a reception immediately following the program to connect with other professionals in law, arbitration, and the cannabis industry to network, share experiences, and build relationships.
The Cannabis Arbitration Summit will serve as a platform for learning, collaboration, and the advancement of best practices in resolving legal disputes within the dynamic and rapidly growing cannabis sector. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of the unique legal issues facing the industry and promote effective dispute resolution strategies tailored to cannabis-related matters.
Schedule:
- 3:00 - 3:20pm – Q&A session with Ean Seeb, Governor Polis’ Special Advisor on Cannabis and Natural Medicine
- 3:20 - 4:20pm – Panel 1
- 4:20 - 4:30pm – Break
- 4:30 - 5:30pm – Panel 2
- 5:30pm – Reception
Panel Topics:
- What can arbitration providers provide to parties and counsel in cannabis cases?
- What are the concerns and needs of cannabis industry arbitration users and how can they be better served in arbitrations?
Moderator: Rachael Ardanuy - Founder | Regulatory Business Attorney, RZA Legal
New Speaker: Ean Seeb - Governor's Special Advisor on Cannabis and Natural Medicine
Ean Seeb has a storied history in Colorado's cannabis industry as a seasoned entrepreneur and founding partner of Denver Relief Consulting - one of the nation's first cannabis consulting firms, which he co-founded in 2011. He previously co-owned one of Colorado's oldest and most successful medical cannabis businesses - Denver Relief, which he dismantled and sold to Willie Nelson's team as well as Terrapin Care Station in 2016. Mr. Seeb has served on multiple boards, including the first cannabis child resistant packaging company - Dymapak, Manna Molecular Science, as well as others - including one of the very publicly traded cannabis related companies. He is the former two term Chair of the Board of National Cannabis Industry Association. Ean left the private industry in 2019 to further advance the progression of cannabis normalization in Colorado through policy as a public servant. He currently serves as the Special Advisor on Cannabis to
Governor Jared Polis. Ean is a 3rd generation native of Denver, Colorado.
Panelists:
Lance Tanaka - Vice President, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
As Vice President, Lance manages large, complex arbitration and mediation cases for the Association while spearheading market development efforts across a 14-state super region. He also leads panel recruitment initiatives and trains arbitrators and mediators. Additionally, Lance directs the development of ADR services in key industries such as cannabis, energy, franchise, and sports, resulting in the establishment of National Industry Panels to ensure expertise within the AAA's Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators.
Cara Thornton - Partner, Fortis Law Partners, LLC
Cara is a skilled lawyer who regularly serves as outside general counsel for corporate clients, advising them on a litany of issues such as contract and employment-related matters, formation and dissolution, and risk management. Cara also leads Fortis’ trademark practice group and is a member of the firm’s Chambers-ranked litigation team, where she regularly handles complex commercial litigation cases in a wide range of matters, including intellectual property and trademark, cannabis, real estate, employment, business torts, and other business-related disputes in state and federal courts and arbitrations nationwide.
Tom Downey - Director, Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, P.C.
Tom is a regulatory attorney with significant experience as both a government official and private attorney. Tom helps his clients navigate all aspects of regulatory law and is well-known for untangling complicated issues that are regulated by local, state, federal agencies. The majority of his practice consists of advising and representing corporate clients in the administrative, transactional, and disciplinary processes related to liquor licensing, legalized marijuana and professional licenses governed by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
Jay Kotzker - Managing Partner, Holon Law Partners, LLP
Jay possesses 20 years of legal experience in all areas of intellectual property and general business law, including brand development and protection, entity formation, contract negotiation and drafting, and guiding clients through cannabis business licensing and operational matters. Jay also has extensive experience in regulatory compliance, risk management and training, and dispute resolution. Within the cannabis industry, Jay has been an active participant in various state and local stakeholder working groups and counsels clients in the cultivation, manufacturing and retail sectors around the country on licensing, operational compliance, business development, brand development and protection, as well as exit strategies.
Dean Richardson - Director of Business Litigation, Fennemore Craig, P.C.
Dean is a trial lawyer with extensive litigation experience representing a variety of clients in commercial, cannabis, trade secret, real estate, and franchise disputes. He offers counsel in cases involving business torts, contracts, securities, director and officer defense and franchise law. Dean also protects and enforces client interests in shareholder disputes, and situations related to a breach of fiduciary duty. Within the scope of his real estate practice, Dean provides counsel in real property conflicts related to land ownership, construction defects, and title insurance defense.
David Tenner - Special Counsel, Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur, P.C.
David Tenner is an attorney, arbitrator, a mediator, and a special master appointed by state and federal trial courts. His trial practice focused on the representation of businesses and individuals in both state and federal court and in arbitrations. He tried complex business, intellectual property, and tort cases to both judges and juries. He also tried complex claims in both domestic and international arbitrations. He is a member of the commercial, large complex case, and employment panels of the American Arbitration Association. He is a past co-chair of both the ABA’s Arbitration Training Institute and the Dispute Resolution Section’s Arbitration Committee. He has also been selected as Colorado’s Best Arbitrator by Law Week Colorado in nine of the last eleven years.