OREGON:  As the cannabis industry expands, so do the number of workers in weed.  Managing a rapidly expanding organization can present a myriad of challenges for any new business, and business operators in the heavily-regulated licensed marijuana industry face additional complexities.  Employment law and the legal cannabis industry is the topic of  “Don’t Go Up In Smoke,” a half-day seminar exploring employment-related legal issues, including personnel management, pay practices, avoiding government investigations, and protecting your trade secrets and other confidential information.  The event, a production of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and sponsored by Fisher Phillips, takes place on May 11th, 11AM-4PM at The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 1025 SW Stark St., Portland.

Fisher Phillips attorneys from California, Oregon, and Washington, and a number of leading industry experts will explore these issues in-depth and provide practical tips for compliance:

Panelists

Alex Wheatley

Attorney, Fisher Phillips

Alex is an attorney in the firm’s Portland office, specializing in representing businesses in the cannabis industry. He has worked with a number of growers, processors, and retailers to implement effective workplace policies and has represented businesses in the industry when they have received complaints and lawsuits. Alex gets great satisfaction helping canna-businesses comply with the law and protect themselves from exposure to lawsuits and administrative claims. Having worked with a number of employers in the industry, Alex understands the unique issues faced by such businesses and has experience solving the problems such businesses commonly face.

Ashley Preece-Sackett

Executive Director, Ethical Cannabis Alliance (ECA)

ECA is a nonprofit and voluntary certifying body for cannabis/hemp labor and environmental best practices nationwide. Ashley holds a degree of Horticulture Science from Boise State University and is on the brink of two decades of experience in horticulture sciences. She co-founded Cascadia Labs, one of the leading cannabis analytical labs in the nation, as well as helped launch the Portland Chapter Women Grow networking group, which is still the largest-growing cannabis networking platform in the nation.

Clarence Belnavis

Partner, Fisher Phillips

Clarence Belnavis is a partner in the Portland and Seattle offices. He is a trial attorney with a primary emphasis in employment litigation, including disability, racial and gender discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and wrongful discharge. He also represents employers in wage and hour claims, employment class actions, and traditional labor matters. Clarence routinely provides client trainings and speeches to cannabis industry groups regarding current and developing employment law issues in Washington and Oregon.

David Rheins

Founder, Marijuana Business Association (MJBA)

The MJBA is the leading business organization in the fastest growing industry in America. The MJBA provides business intelligence, professional networking, and commercial opportunity for participants in the legal cannabis industry. David is a frequent speaker and moderator at Seattle Hempfest, CannaCon Shows, Cannabis Creative Conference, Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo, and a regular columnist for Freedom Leaf Magazine. A proven business leader with 30+ years of experience building and operating best-of-breed media and marketing organizations, David has an impressive track record as a senior executive for Rolling Stone, SPIN, I Village, Corbis, Time Warner and America Online.

Jason Geller

Regional Managing Partner, Fisher Phillips

Jason Geller is the managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office. Jason represents employers in all facets of employment law matters. Jason has extensive experience defending employers in federal and state courts, as well as in investigations by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the DFEH, United States Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In addition to defending his clients in litigation, Jason frequently counsels employers to assist them in avoiding litigation.

Kara Bradford

Chief Talent Officer of Viridian Staffing

Kara co-founded Viridian Staffing in 2013, the first bona fide professional, full-service staffing, recruiting and HR consulting firm in the cannabis industry. Kara’s 15-year career has spanned multiple Fortune 100 companies and start-ups in a wide variety of industries where she specialized in Talent Acquisition, Workforce Planning, Employer Branding and Organizational Design. Kara has an MBA in Human Resources & Organizational Behavior and is PRC, CIR, and CSSR Certified.

Neil Juneja

Founder, Gleam Law

Neil Juneja is the founder of Gleam Law, a cannabis-focused law firm with offices in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon and is a licensed patent attorney. The majority of his practice focuses on trademark protection of cannabis brands in state and federal law. In addition, Neil has written numerous article on cannabis law and intellectual property as well as spoken at many events including in the National Mall in Washington DC and at the Seattle Hempfest. Some of Gleam Law’s notable clients include the first Seattle recreational marijuana retailer, several world-famous musicians branding cannabis products, and many publicly traded companies working in the cannabis industry. Neil has also appeared in Newsweek, Time Magazine, and on several documentaries for his work in the cannabis legal industry.