Cannabis

Expert Analysis

• Nissan Ex-CEO Illustrates Do's And Don'ts Of Image Repair

  

  Lawyers can draw a number of useful lessons about reputation management from the efforts of former Nissan executive Carlos Ghosn — who recently escaped house arrest in Tokyo — to restore his sullied reputation, says Elizabeth Ortega at ECO Strategic Communications.

• 5 Key Issues Raised In Most CBD Product Class Actions

  

  By becoming familiar with the most common problems raised in class actions against CBD products, cannabis suppliers and manufacturers can reduce risks associated with marketing, labeling and promoting their products, say Mark Goodman and Barry Thompson of Baker McKenzie.

• How Associate Life Has Evolved Over The Past Decade

  

  During the last 10 years, the need to embrace change was fundamental for law firms, and that change affected associates in many ways — most, but not all, for the better, says Brad Kaufman, co-president of Greenberg Traurig.

• What Pa. Employment Suit Means For Medical Cannabis Users

  

  In allowing Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Systems to proceed, a Pennsylvania state court joins a national trend to allow medical cannabis patients to proceed with unlawful termination claims based on off-site medical cannabis use, say Ruth Rauls and Matthew Smith of Saul Ewing.

• The Evolving Legality Of Lesser-Known Cannabis Compounds

  

  As products using cannabigerol and cannabinol — cannabis compounds that are less well-known than THC and CBD — become more popular, understanding the legal differences under existing food and drug laws is crucial for companies marketing such products, says Ian Stewart of Wilson Elser.

• Series

  Judging A Book: Dyk Reviews 'Democracy And Equality'

  

  In their new book "Democracy and Equality: The Enduring Constitutional Vision of the Warren Court," Geoffrey Stone and David Strauss provide valuable context for U.S. Supreme Court decisions under Chief Justice Earl Warren that have profoundly affected the country, but their overly protective attitude sometimes obscures reality, says Federal Circuit Judge Timothy Dyk.

• 7 Insider Tips For Working With In-House Counsel

  

  For outside firms wondering how to best support busy in-house lawyers, several practices can help navigate critical legal issues and novel business challenges while strengthening the working relationship, says Virginia Hudson, associate general counsel at Capital One.

• 50 Years Later, Interpretive Challenges Remain For RICO

  

  In the 50 years since the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was passed, courts' attempts to clarify the statute have had some success, but many interpretive dilemmas remain unresolved, says Randy Gordon of Barnes & Thornburg.

• Opinion

  States Should Not Follow ABA On Attorney Conduct Rules

  

  Because the American Bar Association's new rule on diversity continues to use the Model Rules of Professional Conduct as a cultural bludgeon, states should create independent codes limited to constitutionally valid purposes of attorney regulation, says Bradley Abramson of Alliance Defending Freedom.

• What Federal Cannabis Bills Mean For Private Lenders

  

  If approved by Congress, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act and the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act could provide private lenders with cannabis investment opportunities, increased competition, and a solid entry point into this lucrative market, say Tae Kim and Olivia Durnell at Geraci.

• How Courts And Litigants Can Benefit From Special Masters

  

  As we approach the first anniversary of the American Bar Association's adoption of guidelines for the appointment and use of special masters in civil litigation, retired U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, now at Stroock, explains how special masters can help parties and courts with faster decision-making and subject matter expertise.

• Bankruptcy Courts Remain Inaccessible To Cannabis Cos.

  

  Last year, the Ninth Circuit appeared to open the door for cannabis companies filing for bankruptcy, but lower courts in Colorado and Michigan subsequently slammed that door shut, holding that bankruptcy protection is unavailable to debtors who violate federal marijuana laws, says Mark Salzberg of Squire Patton.

• Uber Policy Calls For Refresher On ABA Confidentiality Rules

  

  Uber's recent policy update allowing drivers to audio-record passenger rides is a reminder for lawyers to observe the highest standard of care in protecting client information under the American Bar Association's confidentiality model rule, says Paul Boehm at Williams & Connolly.

• 5 Advertising Law Trends To Watch In 2020

  

  This year, advertisers face a world increasingly sensitive to privacy and data use, consumers who have grown savvy to influencer marketing and product placement, new social media challenges, and regulators’ increased focus on cannabis marketing, say Jason Gordon and Casey Perrino of Reed Smith.

• Rethinking Corporate Crisis And Litigation Communications

  

  While conventional wisdom among attorneys may be that no response is the safest response during a corporate crisis, recent examples demonstrate the consequences of failing to share timely and relevant information with key audiences, says Aidan Ryan of Goldberg Segalla.