is a partner at the Los Angeles office of Harris Sliwoski LLP, an international emerging markets law firm. He has represented hundreds of clients in highly regulated, controlled substances markets. Mr. Thorne's practice includes M&A, commercial transactions, real estate leasing and dispositions, equity and debt finance transactions, and general regulatory guidance. He also assists clients with specific regulatory issues from applying for competitive and non-competitive local and state government licenses, through day-to-day regulatory compliance. Mr. Thorne began his career litigating high-stakes intellectual property and commercial litigation cases at one of the largest law firms in the United States, where he argued motions before state and federal courts and the California Court of Appeals. As a former litigator, he is intimately familiar with common contract negotiation and drafting issues that can lead to business and contract disputes. Mr. Thorne was one of the leading vice chairs in the first panel of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Cannabis Section. He writes weekly for the Canna Law Blog, and has written a variety of cannabis-related articles for a number of legal publications. Prior to beginning his legal career, Mr. Thorne studied music at the University of California, Berkeley. After Berkeley, he attended law school at Loyola University of Chicago, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal.

is counsel at the Washington, D.C. office of Venable LLP, where he counsels U.S. and non-U.S. financial institutions and financial services providers on regulatory, supervisory, and enforcement matters. Mr. Bonici represents clients in prudential bank regulatory matters, applications and other filings, and powers/structure questions before U.S. bank regulators and in U.S. and cross-border internal investigations and due diligences. He counsels clients on enhancing policies and procedures and implementing remediation steps. Mr. Bonici regularly works on matters involving the Bank Holding Company Act, International Banking Act, National Bank Act and Dodd-Frank Act, including the Volcker Rule, among others. He also counsels emerging fintech and other tech companies on bank regulatory matters. Mr. Bonici represents U.S. and non-U.S. financial institutions, their non-bank affiliates, vendors, and other financial services providers on U.S. financial laws and core bank regulatory issues; involving the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and state banking regulators. He counsels clients on issues involving powers and permissible activities, structure and control, charter choice and conversions, Volcker Rule compliance, branching, affiliate transactions, third-party relationships, crypto and digital assets, bank-fintech partnerships and vendor issues, FDIC deposit insurance applications and coverage issues, FDIC recordkeeping requirements, passthrough insurance, and advertising rules. Mr. Bonici also advises and manages regulatory applications for de novo institutions and activities, bank holding companies, business combinations, controlling and non-controlling equity investments, charter conversions, U.S. entry options for non‑U.S. financial institutions; including the establishment of U.S. branches and representative offices, and licensing and compliance considerations for fintechs and technology companies, bank partners, and non-bank financial services providers. Prior to private practice, he worked at the FDIC and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mr. Bonici also serves as general counsel to Women in Housing and Finance; a premier, nonpartisan association of women and men that actively promotes its members in the fields of housing and financial services, while retaining a focus on its female members. He earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from George Washington University and his J.D. degree from George Washington University.

is a partner and chair of Harris Sliwoski LLP's corporate practice group, and managing attorney of the firm's Salt Lake City office where he helps entrepreneurs, companies, and venture capital and private equity funds with international and domestic business transactions. His clientele stretches across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Mr. Bench has worked and consulted in the U.S., Asia and South America and is fluent in Chinese and Cantonese. National and global trade organizations regularly invite him to speak regarding international business transactions, particularly foreign direct investment to and from the U.S. and China, as well as alternatives to the China market. Mr. Bench is also on the Board of Directors for World Trade Center Utah and mentors entrepreneurs through various nonprofit organizations. He is an emerging legal expert in the fast-moving and complex web3 ecosystem, including business and regulatory issues surrounding decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), smart contracts, decentralized finance (defi), cryptocurrencies, coins, and tokens, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Mr. Bench has worked on wide-ranging blockchain projects involving various international DAO communities, NFT artists and studios, layer-2 blockchain developers, metaverse companies, and celebrity brand influencers. He is a regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog, where he shares his practical insights into navigating business activities in China and with Chinese companies. Mr. Bench also frequently writes for our HS Blog and various legal publications on global business matters and blockchain legal developments. Recently, he was recognized as a top author on Lexology. Mr. Bench earned his B.A. degree from Brigham Young University, his M.B.A. from The George Washington University School of Business and his J.D. degree from The George Washington University Law School. He is a member of the Utah State Bar, Washington State Bar Association and the Maine State Bar Association.

, JD, MBA, successfully advises and represents clients on healthcare, cybersecurity, securities, qui tam compliance, transactional litigation, and government enforcement matters. She is an affiliated member with the Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, where she teaches bioethics. Ms. Rose is often quoted as an expert. In addition to being extensively published and a sought-after presenter and quoted expert, she holds an M.B.A. degree, with minors in healthcare and entrepreneurship, from Vanderbilt University; and a law degree from Stetson University College of Law, where she graduated with various honors, including the National Scribes Award. Ms. Rose also attained a certificate in negotiation and leadership from Harvard University. She is licensed in Texas, and is a fellow of the Federal Bar Association. Currently, Ms. Rose serves as a director on the FBA's National Board. She is a member of and the immediate past chair of the Federal Bar Association's Government Relations Committee, member of the Advisory Board of the Federal Bar Association's Qui Tam Section, co-editor of the American Health Lawyers Association's Enterprise Risk Management Handbook for Healthcare Entities (2nd Edition), and a co-author of the ABA's books The ABCs of ACOs and What Are International HIPAA Considerations? Ms. Rose is extensively published and presents on a variety of matters related to her practice. She has been named consecutively to the Texas Bar College, National Women Trial Lawyers Association's Top 25, Houstonia Magazine's Top Lawyers (healthcare law), National Trial Lawyers Association's Top 100 and The Nation's Top One Percent. Ms. Rose was awarded 1st Healthcare Compliance's 2019 and 2022 Top Presenter Award. In 2023, she was selected for Super Lawyers (healthcare). Ms. Rose may be reached through her website www.rvrose.com.

is a partner in the Minneapolis office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He is the chair of the firm's data analytics practice group, and applies his intellectual curiosity, technical and research savvy, and penchant for innovation to create a broad spectrum of analytics and strategic review of clients' corporate transactions, reorganizations, and intellectual property endeavors. Mr. Stignani earned his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law while working for Alliant Techsystems. He previously had completed postgraduate work in robotics and control systems at the University of Minnesota and National Technological University, while working at Honeywell, Inc. Further, Mr. Stignani is a certified information privacy professional (CIPP). He offers his insights through dozens of webinars annually, and serves as a regular lecturer at colleges and universities across the state of Minnesota. Mr. Stignani also is a frequent speaker at for various associations and conferences, including Reel Lawyer, Black Hills IP Analytics Series, LES International and Practicing Law Institute.

is an attorney at Votre & Associates, P.C. He practices commercial litigation, taxation, tax litigation, international business litigation, legal malpractice, and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Votre earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Bridgeport, as well as his J.D. degree, magna cum laude. He earned his LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of Bridgeport and his LL.M. degree in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Votre is admitted to practice law in Connecticut; New York; U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; U.S. Tax Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal and Second circuits; U.S. Court of International Trade; U.S. Supreme Court; and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

is the owner of Law Office of Bryce Denny, L.L.C., where he primarily practices labor and employment law. He is admitted to practice in both Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Denny was re-appointed in 2017 to a three-year term on the Louisiana State Bar Labor Law Advisory Commission. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Louisiana State Bar Association. Mr. Denny earned his B.A. degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and his J.D. degree from Baylor University.