Lane Powell Bolsters Cannabis Team With Additions in Washington and Oregon


Lane Powell continues to grow its Cannabis Team, adding three well-recognized industry leaders to its roster.

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Joshua Ashby and Sativa Rasmussen have joined the firm from Ashby Law Group PLLC in Seattle, and Ben Pirie has joined from 7 Point Law in Portland. Team Co-Chair Justin Hobson shared, “The experience these three bring with them strengthens our ability to help legal cannabis businesses navigate the complex regulatory environment in both Washington and Oregon and achieve long-term success.”

AshbyJAshby will assume Lewis Horowitz’s role as Co-Chair of the team, serving alongside Hobson. He is one of Washington’s most experienced recreational marijuana transactional lawyers and authored the seminal guide on the state’s cannabis industry, Lost in the Weeds. Asbhy advises cannabis businesses on general corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate transactions while guiding clients through the industry’s highly regulated landscape. He received his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, and his B.S., summa cum laude, in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

When asked why Lane Powell was the right fit, Ashby commented, “The interdisciplinary nature of the firm’s Cannabis Team allows us to provide a better client experience by offering a holistic approach to address all of our client’s legal needs from trademark procurement and brand protection to employment practices and beyond.”

Rasmussen SRasmussen advises cannabis businesses on corporate governance and contract law, internationally and domestically. She also represents businesses in highly regulated industries with their transactional, regulatory and compliance needs. Rasmussen has extensive experience negotiating transactions, drafting documents, and communicating the needs of her clients to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and other administrative agencies. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law and B.A.s in Political Science, magna cum laude, and Criminal Justice, magna cum laude, from Washington State University.

piriebPirie counsels cannabis businesses on a wide range of corporate and regulatory needs, including contracts, entity formation and governance, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and compliance. He is active in engaging with state and local governments in order to ensure common sense, business-friendly regulation of the cannabis industry. Pirie received his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and a B.A. in Art History and Chemistry from Duke University.

Lane Powell’s Cannabis Team monitors developments in the law and shares updates on The Pipeline: Cannabis Law Advisor blog, maintains close ties with regulators and anticipates the impact of proposed rule changes to their clients’ businesses. The interdisciplinary team provides a myriad of legal services such as compliance strategies, business transactions and solutions, real estate, plant and process patents, dispute resolution, sophisticated state and federal tax counseling, and more.

Lane Powell is a Pacific Northwest law firm with a national — and international — reach. Our approximately 200 attorneys are trusted advisors, counsel and advocates for individuals, small and large businesses, including Fortune 50 companies. Since 1875, clients have relied on Lane Powell’s exceptional legal acumen and forward-thinking approach to resolve their most complex business, litigation and regulatory challenges. lanepowell.com