Holland & Hart announced that it has launched a Cannabis industry group with the arrival of partner Rachel Gillette, who will lead the firm’s new multidisciplinary team. Gillette joins Holland & Hart with a team of three lawyers from the Denver office of Greenspoon Marder.
Gillette is one of the country’s first lawyers to dedicate her practice to cannabis law and is nationally ranked as a Band 1 cannabis lawyer in Chambers USA.
“Rachel is a pioneer in the field of cannabis law, and few lawyers can match her level of expertise,” said Chris Balch, partner and firm chair. “This new industry group is a strategic opportunity for the firm and our clients, and we were determined to recruit a team with a significant presence. Rachel is the best of the best and we’re thrilled to welcome her and the team to the firm.”
Advising startups, established cannabis operations, investors, and entities providing goods and services at all points along the supply chain, Gillette is a sought-after strategic advisor. She brings more than a decade of experience helping clients navigate complex regulatory, financial, and operational challenges to capitalize on emerging business opportunities. She draws on experience interfacing with regulators and taxing authorities in multiple jurisdictions to counsel clients how to obtain licenses and permits and guides clients through tax audits, challenges, and adjustments at the local, state, and federal level.
“As the legal cannabis industry matures, businesses have increasingly sophisticated legal needs—particularly in corporate, tax, and intellectual property—that are best served by full-service law firms,” Gillette said. “My clients and my practice needed the support of a firm like Holland & Hart, which has top-notch lawyers across synergistic practice areas, a national client base, and offices in key geographic locations.”
Gillette has deep roots in the cannabis industry. She previously served as executive director of the Colorado chapter of NORML, the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, and is a founding member of Women Grow and the National Cannabis Bar Association (now, the International Cannabis Bar Association).
Joining Holland & Hart with Gillette are associates Stuart Knight, Allen Paxton, and Nabil Rodriguez, all of whom will be based in the Denver office.
Holland & Hart’s multidisciplinary Cannabis industry team leverages deep expertise in a variety of highly regulated areas to holistically support the legal and business needs of clients operating, developing products, investing, or evaluating potential opportunities in the rapidly-evolving industry.
About Holland & Hart
Founded in 1947, Holland & Hart is a full-service Am Law 200 firm with offices in eight states and in Washington, D.C. We deliver integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes in a diverse range of industries. For more information, visit www.hollandhart.com.