Also reported in: NJBiz, ROI-NJ, and Bloomberg News.
Firm Adds Cannabis and IP Law Attorney as Cannabis Legalization and Regulatory Landscape Heats Up Across the U.S.
Florham Park, N.J. – Jan. 23, 2020 -- The law firm of Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. announced today that Jessica F. Gonzalez has joined the firm as an associate in its growing Cannabis Practice Group.
Prior to joining Bressler, she was the co-founding partner at MGA Law PC, a boutique firm with a special focus on cannabis. Ms. Gonzalez serves as outside General Counsel for the national organization Minorities For Medical Marijuana, sits on the Federal Policy Committee for the Minority Cannabis Business Association and sits on the board of advisors for QA Canna, a cannabis quality assurance company based in New Jersey.
“This is an extraordinarily exciting time in the cannabis industry and in our practice,” said Nikolas S. Komyati, chair of the firm’s Cannabis Law practice. “Legalization of cannabis has occurred in Illinois, voters will decide on legalization in New Jersey this November, and Governor Cuomo in New York has said that legalization is a priority for 2020. There is also movement at the federal level to pass the SAFE Act, which could open up banking to the cannabis industry. Now, more than ever, businesses in the cannabis industry need excellent, sound, experienced legal advice.”
Bressler’s Cannabis Law practice provides full-service representation for clients. The firm’s notable national practice in securities, banking, investments, and financial institutions, and its in-depth knowledge of regulatory and compliance guidelines uniquely position the Cannabis team to offer the solutions clients need to navigate the industry’s complex regulatory schemes.
Added Mr. Komyati “At a time when the industry is facing proposed regulatory reform and business in the space continues to boom, Jessica’s cannabis-related intellectual property, corporate, and litigation experience complements and fortifies our group’s core competencies. We are fortunate to have an individual with her depth of knowledge and experience in the legal cannabis industry join Bressler.”
Ms. Gonzalez assists cannabis clients navigate the legal cannabis and hemp industry in the tristate area. She has counseled start up and medium sized cannabis/CBD companies on various matters, including corporate entity set-up, state and local compliance, private offering documents and applications for state cannabis licenses. She also counsels corporate and individual clients on intellectual property procurement, prosecution, protection and enforcement for domestic and international trademarks.
As a cannabis advocate, Ms. Gonzalez has presented on both the municipal and state level on topics such as social justice/social equity, IP protection, cannabis legislation, state and federal banking and state cannabis licensing.
The firm’s practice group works with entities involved in the medical marijuana programs in New Jersey and Florida, and as the laws in New Jersey, Florida and other states develop, will counsel clients in additional markets.
Bressler advises cannabis industry participants in areas such as corporate and securities, regulatory and compliance issues, real estate, environmental, financing, licensing and employment law. The firm also has an established Financial Crime Compliance Practice which advises financial institutions on providing services to direct marijuana businesses in compliance with anti-money laundering laws.
Ms. Gonzalez earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 2016, and a B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Finance, from Boston University Questrom School of Business in 2013.