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Mergers and Acquisitions for the Cannabis Industry

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Experienced Dealmakers in Domestic and Cross-Border Transaction

Cannabis mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be a complex process with numerous questions from stakeholders. Harris Sliwoski is here to help you navigate them successfully and confidently. We are experts in the laws, regulations and industry practices in multiple jurisdictions around the world.

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Achieve your business goals with legal guides who know the marketplace inside and out.

Harris Sliwoski’s cannabis attorneys have the creativity and commercial sensitivity needed to make domestic and cross-border business transactions work for our clients. Our knowledge, professionalism, and experience are why we’re some of the biggest dealmakers in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis and ancillary businesses are often intriguing acquisition targets for market entrants and other cannabis businesses looking to expand. This emerging market is full of entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the next big industry in the United States.

Sales of ownership or significant assets fundamentally shift the operations and control of a business. An experienced legal advisor is therefore indispensable for navigating private equity, corporate governance, restructuring, debt management, tax ramifications, and other complex issues.

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Our team of transactional cannabis attorneys has assisted clients across the country with a range of deals involving public and private capital. From traditional asset sales to debt financing, to spin-off of company divisions, Harris Sliwoski’s cannabis mergers and acquisitions team gives our clients a critical edge in negotiating and closing their most important deals.

Our Cannabis M&A services include:

  • Strategic advising and transaction structuring
  • Due diligence
  • Purchase and sale agreements
  • Investment agreements
  • Contribution agreements
  • Ownership option contracts
  • Consultant agreements
  • Vesting agreements
  • Debt, convertible debt and other lending agreements
  • Security interest agreements
  • Collateralization agreements

Close your cannabis deals with trusted attorneys at the heart of the industry.

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Why Partner With Harris Sliwoski for Legal Advice on Cannabis Mergers and Acquisitions?

We’re a trusted source for counsel on cannabis M&A for many reasons, including our:

  • Extensive experience: We have an award-winning team of cannabis lawyers and firm expertise dating back to 2010.
  • Timely advice: Our team keeps up with regulatory changes and other events impacting the industry to provide timely legal advice.
  • Personalized strategies: No two businesses need the same legal guidance, so we tailor our advice to your specific circumstances.
  • Industry flexibility: We represent companies at any level of growth and in any industry capacity, from start-up cultivators to established dispensary owners.
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Full Legal Services Surrounding Cannabis Mergers and Acquisitions

Whether you want to grow your business or enter a dynamic new market, solid legal counsel from Harris Sliwoski can get you to a successful close. Request a consultation with our cannabis M&A team today.

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CANNA LAW BLOG

Understand your rights, responsibilities, and opportunities everywhere you operate.

Follow our Canna Law Blog for in-depth analysis and up-to-the-minute information on the laws and issues affecting the cannabis industry.

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Get in Touch with Our Cannabis M&A Team

Get started by filling out the form, or call 1-888-330-0010 to schedule an initial consultation.

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Our Clients' Successes

“Harris Sliwoski expertly guided us through the formation of our company. They continue to assist with necessary registrations and compliance with numerous regulations. They were able to promptly answer all our many questions and provide understandable options, explanations and practical advice. We expect to continue to use Harris Sliwoski on a regular basis as our company expands. They were also able to introduce us other professional experts. We would not hesitate to recommend Harris Sliwoski to any companies in need of legal advice.”

user icon Three Continents Foods LLC

This law firm was a huge help as our company went through the process of commercial licensing in the California cannabis industry.  They have helped us with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while clearly communicating with us throughout the process.  Everyone we’ve worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field and we have always felt that we were in good hands through our legal representation.

user icon Wil Crummer, CEO PRO Farms

Legal stuff is always scary. And I’ve had to play offense a couple times, begrudgingly. To have Harris Sliwoski have my back? It made things a lot less prickly. They quickly walked me through my options, and were refreshingly consistent in their communications, timing and billing. I’ve been lucky to stay out of the legal side of things my whole career, thankfully. When things went a little wrong, Harris Sliwoski quickly made things right.

user icon Aaron Draplin, Founder Draplin Design Co.

I am impressed with this law firm. They answered all my questions regarding cannabis businesses and the California cannabis framework, and they have helped me with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while always clearly communicating with us throughout the process. They also redirected me to other quality people for my business needs. Everyone I worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field, and I was in good hands throughout my legal representation.

user icon Corey T., CEO Thinc Cubed, LLC

I have been working with the lawyers at Harris Sliwoski for more than 20 years both as a business owner and as an executive at a large east-coast health system and that is because they have always efficiently provided high level and clear international law advice. Most recently, Harris Sliwoski provided legal support on many matters related to procuring medical products worldwide. Their support was particularly helpful to during the onset of COVID, when there was a big need for securing PPE quickly, all while navigating complicated international and domestic legal requirements. Harris Sliwoski’s team of international lawyers helped by conducting rapid-fire due diligence on potential suppliers, navigating the legal logistics for getting product from overseas and through U.S. customs, and drafting contracts to protect against various sorts of horribles. They did this by essentially providing what amounted to 24/7 service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

user icon Dan Pak Hospital Supply Chain Executive

Harris Sliwoski has represented our company in the legal cannabis industry for years. Harris Sliwoski has advised us in a wide variety of legal matters, and they are truly experts in their field. I would highly recommend Harris Sliwoski to anyone with questions about cannabis law, or any legal matters. They have been great for our Company, and will continue to guide us as our industry evolves

user icon Matt Hurt, COO Cannabis Nation

You won’t find a better partner than Harris Sliwoski when trying to navigate the complex world of healthcare regulations.  They not only give sound and reliable legal advice, but they are also very responsive and are able to guide you in a way that helps you reach your business objectives as well.

user icon Joseph Axelrod, General Counsel Irwin Naturals

When we started the process of building a ‘seed to sale’ cannabis company in Oregon, we saw the need for expert legal counsel.  The cannabis sector is fraught with potential peril at every turn, and we wanted the best legal advice we could find.  After talking to several firms and individuals, we feel extremely fortunate to have chosen Harris Sliwoski as our legal counsel.

user icon Tony Theiss, CEO and Co-Founder Redbarn Cannabis 

We use Harris Sliwoski on all our international legal matters, including on our international litigation matters. We have over the last few years been involved in a couple big international legal disputes and Harris Sliwoski’s international dispute resolution team provided us with expert legal assistance on both matters. They were always very careful to explain to us what they were doing and why and what their actions would likely cost us in legal fees. Most importantly, we did extremely well on both cases and I have no doubt Harris Sliwoski was a big factor in that.

user icon Kevin English, CEO We Are Camp

We have used Harris Sliwoski for legal help related to our international manufacturing. The lawyers with whom I worked had extensive familiarity with the international legal issues involved in our various projects and offered us key insights. I particularly appreciated how they always quickly and efficiently do what they say they will do and always within their cost estimates.

user icon Andrea Barona Valladolid, Senior Legal Counsel Fairphone

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve answered some typical questions about cannabis company acquisitions and mergers below.

What Happens to the Company's License in Cannabis Acquisitions? Do I Have to Get a New One?

In many jurisdictions, licenses are not transferrable because of the background checks required for issuance. As a result, the prospective new owner will likely need to obtain a new license. Our attorneys are familiar with the process in numerous states and can guide you through a successful submission.

Why Should I Consider Cannabis M&A Instead of Starting My Own Company?

There are many benefits to cannabis M&A opportunities. Expanding your market or entering the industry through an established entity is ideal for areas where authorities issue a limited number of licenses. Additionally, the target company likely already has robust compliance processes in place. Another potential advantage is that the existing business has secured the required physical location permits. One caveat is that leases are not necessarily assignable, so practical legal guidance is a must. Your Harris Sliwoski attorney will help you evaluate your options and provide effective advice.

Can You Help Me Negotiate the Price?

Our role as your legal advisor is to help you make informed business decisions. When we review the terms of your M&A deal, we’ll provide insight into potential issues and risks to help you fully assess them. We can assist in negotiating with the target company’s attorney once you’ve determined a fair value to offer.

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