Chambers and Partners has recognized Miller Nash’s cannabis practice in its 2021 Chambers USA Guide. Miller Nash is one of only 24 law firms ranked nationwide for Cannabis Law. Additionally, Miller Nash’s cannabis industry team leader, Christine Masse, as well as team member Ben Pirie were recognized for their work in Cannabis Law. The Chambers USA Guide ranks the top attorneys and law firms throughout the United States.
“Our cannabis team is at the forefront of how business is being conducted in the fast-moving legal cannabis industry,” said Kieran Curley, managing partner of Miller Nash. “This national ranking by Chambers USA recognizes our leading-edge work assisting clients with the full range of rulemaking, regulatory, transactional, legislative, and litigation challenges confronting the industry.”
About Miller Nash’s Cannabis Practice
Miller Nash's multi-disciplinary cannabis team was established in early 2013. The team works with a wide range of clients operating in each sector of the industry, including producers, processors, distributors/wholesalers, retailers, transporters, and quality assurance labs, as well as businesses that provide products and services to the cannabis industry. They assist cannabis clients with business formation, license application and updates, general business operations and contracting, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, employment matters, leasing, intellectual property protection, divestiture and dissolution, and tax planning. The team also provides litigation and dispute resolution services involving administrative compliance violations, fines and license suspension, high stakes cases against state agencies and authorities, business partner disputes, receiverships and tax disputes. The team also counsels numerous tribal clients on regulatory and transactional issues related to cannabis activities.
About Christine Masse
Masse chairs the firm's cannabis industry team and is a sought-after advisor, counseling start-up and established cannabis and hemp businesses. She represents industry licensees with their transactional, regulatory, and licensing needs, as well as businesses that provide services to the cannabis industry, such as banks, branding companies, consultants, developers, and investors. Masse leads a talented business, regulatory, and litigation team as they assist clients with the constantly evolving matrix of state law and federal enforcement priorities. Since legalization of adult use cannabis in 2012, Masse has been involved in rulemaking on all aspects of Washington’s cannabis laws, as well as legislation aimed at improving the current regulated system, including bills related to social equity, medical marijuana, tribal marijuana compacts, enforcement reform, intellectual property protection, and omnibus bills to improve the overall marketplace. Masse received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois before earning her law degree at the University of Washington School of Law.
About Ben Pirie
Pirie counsels cannabis businesses on a wide range of corporate and regulatory needs. He advises on mergers and acquisitions, negotiating complex contracts and corporate governance, as well as regulatory compliance in the emerging cannabis and hemp industries. Since the passage of Oregon’s Measure 91, Pirie has helped cannabis clients from labs to retailers to obtain and keep every type of recreational marijuana license from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. He is experienced in structuring complex transactions that provide cannabis brands with access to interstate markets without violating state laws or federal enforcement priorities. Pirie is active in engaging with federal, state, and local regulators in order to ensure common sense, business-friendly regulation of the marijuana industry. As a solo practitioner in 2015, he organized the LLCs that received some of the first OLCC retail licenses. Pirie received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University before earning his law degree at Lewis & Clark Law School.
About Chambers and Partners
Since its inception in 1990, Chambers and Partners has been known in the legal profession as “the gold standard” when it comes to finding the best lawyers and law firms around the world. The Chambers USA Guide recognizes outstanding attorneys and law firms across the United States. Independent researchers collect information on law firms and attorneys through client and professional peer interviews and assessment of recent work experience. Chambers’ researchers assess technical legal ability, client service, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, value for money and depth of team. Lawyers are not allowed to pay a fee to be recognized, nor is any purchase required. For more information about the Chambers USA Guide, click here.
