LOS ANGELES—Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM), a full-service, AmLaw 200 law firm with a dedicated legal cannabis group, announced the publication of What You Should Ask Before Investing in a Cannabis Company: An IP Due Diligence Primer. Written by JMBM intellectual property (IP) lawyers Rod S. Berman and Jessica Bromall Sparkman, the primer explains the purpose of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents, and outlines the intellectual property issues that investors should know before investing in a cannabis-related company. The primer is available here: JMBM's IP Due Diligence Primer for Cannabis Industry Investors.
"In response to demand for cannabis-related products, numerous businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors poured billions of dollars into cannabis-related companies in 2018," said Rod Berman, Chair of JMBM's Intellectual Property Group. "But what important assets – including IP assets – do these cannabis companies own or control that justify such an investment? That's a question that all investors should be asking."
The primer covers trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, trade secrets, and patents, and includes the questions that investors should ask about intellectual property before investing in a company.
"IP due diligence is key for any investor making a major investment in any company," said Jessica Bromall Sparkman, a partner in JMBM's Intellectual Property Group. "In new industries like cannabis – where there is tremendous growth potential and where the regulatory framework is still developing – it is absolutely essential."
About JMBM's Legal Cannabis Group
JMBM's Legal Cannabis Group provides
businesses and entrepreneurs with all the resources and benefits of
a full-service law firm on business matters involving legal
marijuana and cannabis-related substances. We focus on the needs of
business and property owners, developers, investors, lenders,
commercial landlords and tenants, growers and producers,
processors, dispensaries and sellers, and creators of new cannabis
products. We can help on critical government approvals, compliance
and permits as well as on business structures, contracts,
securities offerings, leases, intellectual property and financing.
We handle all kinds of litigation, as well as labor and employment,
and tax issues.
About JMBM's Intellectual Property Group
JMBM's Intellectual Property Group
represents entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, middle-market
companies, startups, universities and the FORTUNE 500®. Our IP
lawyers handle patents, trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade
dress, trade secrets, and related licensing and litigation. We have
significant experience handling unfair competition matters as well
as the full range of IP issues that surround the internet. Our
approach is aggressive and efficient, and we keep a keen focus on
helping clients achieve their goals.