A Speaker, Writer and Consultant.
CV
Professional Summary
A committed citizen, I previously served as Mayor Libby Schaaf’s appointee to the Oakland Cannabis Regulatory Commission and received a commendation from San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen in 2017 for my service to San Francisco’s African American community.
I also served on the Board of Directors of the California Growers Association and as the Interim Chapter Director for the organization’s San Francisco/Oakland Chapter. I have been a featured lecturer and speaker at Stanford Law School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Boalt Hall, Fast Company’s Innovation Festival as well as The Emerald Cup, International Cannabis Business Conference, the National Cannabis Industry Association Cannabis Business Summit & Expo, the National Cannabis Festival. My expertise and advocacy in the cannabis space has been featured in C-SPAN, Forbes, The Root, Black Enterprise, The Establishment, Vice, Politico, NPR, The Guardian, Forbes, and Culture Magazine.
Skills
Business Strategy Writing IP Protection Cannabis Policy & Law
Public Speaking Lectures Moderating Creative Initiatives
Work Experience
2019-2020
Flow Kana / Vice President, Legal Affairs
Successfully supervised all legal and compliance activities as sole in house counsel for a Series B company that employed over 200 employees across 10 locations at its height. Collaborated with finance department to secure banking relationships. Provided legal advice relating to all company legal matters including review and drafting of real estate, sales, commercial, and technology contracts. Partnered with VP of People Operations on day-to-day labor and employment issues, including employee trainings and separation strategies; lead legal efforts on workforce realignment reducing 20% of workforce. Partnered with VP of Policy to assess the impact of legal and regulatory developments on the local, state, and federal level on business strategy and operations including licensing strategy and diligence.
Created company intellectual property protection strategy and manage outside counsel to trademark, copyright and patent protection.
2018-2019
Hinman & Carmichael LLP / Associate
Advised portfolio of public and private company clients on the laws relating to the production, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages including licensing and qualification, business and marketing practices.
2017-2018
Privateer Holdings / Corporate Counsel
Counseled manufacturing, marketing, business development, and other business teams on legal issues related to international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to cannabis, consumer protection law, privacy law, advertising law, and intellectual property
Provided support to other subsidiary entities on an as-needed basis, including helping develop intellectual property protection and enforcement plans for Leafly and Tilray as well as provide compliance guidance arising from existing and contemplated cannabis regulations.
Education
2012
Stanford Law School
2006
Stanford University
Honors & Leadership
Lecturer / Stanford Law School LLM Program, 2018 & 2019
Recipient / Commendation from San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen, February 2018
Appointee, Office of the Mayor / Oakland Cannabis Regulatory Commission, 2016-2017
Ruth Chance Lecture / Berkeley Law, October 2016
Co-Founder / Supernova Women, 2015
Founding Member / Peddie Leadership Council