McElfresh Law, Inc.

08/18/2023

My career has been unique, though I can honestly say I'd do it again. I'm honored, and genuinely flattered, that the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association has invited me to speak during their ticketed section luncheon at CLA's Annual Meeting in San Diego September 21-23. I'll discuss Moving Cannabis into the Business and Professions Code - and how my own experience several years ago of being charged with seven felonies alongside clients reinvigorated my love of being a lawyer and being around lawyers, and reinforced my belief that attorneys and attorney-client privilege have been instrumental in California and the nation's gradual journey towards cannabis legalization.

I'm so fortunate to have this opportunity, and to get to talk about what I love about my work. Hopefully people will laugh, or at least smile. If you're going to be there, PLEASE come see me! And if you're on the fence, please consider coming. The entire CLA agenda is amazing.

Registration: https://lnkd.in/gG7a_CiS

Schedule for entire meeting (hope to see you there!): https://lnkd.in/gVSz35dF

05/25/2023

I can't stop, won't stop talking about International Cannabis Bar Association's Cannabis Law Institute - June 8-10 at GW Law in Washington DC - but I'm not sure if I've mentioned I am speaking with Shahiedah Shabazz, Katherine Bierwas, and Francine Whu Muhammad: Navigating the Highs and Lows of Cannabis Regulatory Compliance. I'm so honored to be with these superstars to talk about compliance and regulations on June 10!

05/24/2023

I know, I keep talking about International Cannabis Bar Association's Cannabis Law Institute in (approximately) TWO WEEKS in Washington, D.C. - and you can't stop me! If you haven't registered yet, DO IT TONIGHT! Prices go up $100.00 tomorrow. Our event gives you priceless value and company (and as these things go, the food is nice, too) - but seriously, why pay more than you need to? Don't wait, our website is standing by: https://cli2023.incba.org/

05/17/2023

We nearly always have an credit at International Cannabis Bar Association's Cannabis Law Institute and this year is no exception.

Join Joslin Monahan -- who I'm honored to have spoken with before and to have on INCBA's Ethics Committee, Shoran Reid Williams, Timothy Alger, and Shay Aaron Gilmore for a spirited discussion about Balancing Zealous Advocacy for Clients with the Duty of Candor (to Courts, to the government, to opposing counsel), and your own Conscience. Learn about federal illegality as a tactic or defense; balancing getting your client what they want within complex application rules (and when to tell them to take a hike); Commerce Clause challenges and so much more.

In addition to the topics -- and how our panelists square the reality of advising clients against the backdrop that cannabis remains a Schedule I Controlled Substance under federal law -- learn how they do their jobs, serve their clients, and reconcile this with their own beliefs at times.

05/17/2023

Please join me at International Cannabis Bar Association's Cannabis Law Institute June 8th to June 10th at GW Law in Washington, DC. This is our marquee event, and I'm so proud to be a Co-Chair of it this year, as well as the track lead for specialty credits (ethics, elimination of bias, and competence/wellness).

Please join me, the other co-chairs (Shabnam Malek, Fatima Afia, Mary Shapiro, Jason Horst), and so many amazing speakers!

Register now for tracks on state regulations (honored to be speaking on a panel for this myself, interstate commerce, what's happening at the federal level, international cannabis industry, current litigation trends, and so much more! Oh, and don't forget, THE SPECIALTY CREDITS.

CLI is packed with networking luncheons, off-site parties, and a full reception.

P.S. Did I mention the specialty credits?

05/17/2023

You really, really don't want to miss Unmasking Social Equity, organized by the incomparable Law Office of Marialle A. Bell, LLC, with Katy Young and David Ruskin at International Cannabis Bar Association's CLI in DC on June 9. This panel will qualify for elimination of bias credit, and will tackle what is, and is not, working in current social equity programs, and what could make them work better to achieve their goals. The discussion from this could go all night, and given that it is right before our final reception, it could easily spill into that. This one will be dazzling.

05/16/2023

May -- which is Mental Health Awareness Month -- may be half way over- but is a year-round priority. Join GuyseRae Guyse, Esq., Richard Y. Cheng, JD, CHC Mitzi Hensley Vaughn, and Jacquesline Walker, LICSW, CCTP, SMC - C. on June 9, 2023 at International Cannabis Bar Association
Cannabis Law Institute for a specialty credit for and . This will not be like all the others you've attended. After all, it's being put on by a cannabis law bar association!

05/09/2023

Just can't get enough of or ? Want to learn more about the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege? Or just good old conflicts of interest? I promise this will be way more fun than you think. Please join me for, "Cannabis, Conflicts, Crime-Fraud Exception, and More Ethical Issues" on May 24, 2023 at 12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST.

She is the Chair of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee and a member of its Board of Directors.

04/03/2023

In addition to ethics, I'll be at Practising Law Institute (PLI)'s Cannabis Legal and Business Fundamentals Program on 4/13, participating on Substance Abuse and Competence Issues in the Cannabis Industry panel. If you can't make it in person, that's okay, you can watch us online, too.

The cannabis industry continues to grow quickly, as does the legal industry supporting it. Firms of all sizes and attorneys in various practice areas are being asked to offer counsel and advice on regulatory compliance, large-scale disputes, national and international expansion, complicated corporat...

03/27/2023

Kick off 4/20 (LEARNING) early at California Lawyers Association
IP Section's Cannabis IP Law Conference on 4/19 in Santa Monica. I'll be speaking about ethics and learning about litigation in IP, dealing with registrations, and more. And, there's a happy hour! https://calawyers.org/event/ip-canna

03/27/2023

Want to hang out with some of the coolest people in cannabis law (and get CLE credits, too) on April 13? Join me at Practising Law Institute's Cannabis Legal and Business Fundamentals Program. https://www.pli.edu/programs/cannabis-law-business-fundamentals?t=live&Code=GPT3_FCLTY&utm_source=FCLTY&utm_medium=DISPLAY&utm_campaign=GPT3 P.S. There's a happy hour that day, or you can watch online.

The cannabis industry continues to grow quickly, as does the legal industry supporting it. Firms of all sizes and attorneys in various practice areas are being asked to offer counsel and advice on regulatory compliance, large-scale disputes, national and international expansion, complicated corporat...

03/14/2023

I'm honored to moderate "Crisis Communications: The Court of Public Opinion" INCBA's in the Symposium online next Monday, March 20.

Please join us for this online event by registering https://lnkd.in/gMXthYtG AND use “mcelfresh” for a 20% discount.

P.S. you can also use "mcelfresh" for a discount on INCBA membership: https://lnkd.in/g-5kkfs5 We have good events, good parties, and awesome committees.