Ryan R Agnew is with The Law Office of Ryan R. Agnew, PS, where his practice is dedicated to business entities working in the hemp, adult-use, and medical cannabis sectors, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance and corporate counsel. To best serve his clients, Mr. Agnew takes an interest in the varied land-use and policy approaches taken by state and local jurisdictions. In his spare time, you can find him volunteering with the National Cannabis Bar Association and The Washington State Cannabis Alliance. Mr. Agnew earned his B.A. degree from Evergreen State College and his J.D. degree from Western New England University School of Law. He is licensed to practice in Washington, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Gina M Austin is the managing attorney with Austin Legal Group, where her practice areas include corporate and securities transactions as well as land use entitlements. Ms. Austin represents medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives with regard to regulatory compliance and funding strategies. Her experience in land use entitlement provides a foundation for great success obtaining permits from local municipalities. As a seasoned securities attorney, Ms. Austin also advises cannabis companies on funding strategies and the public markets. She is admitted to practice in California and Hawaii. Ms. Austin earned her B.A. degree from San Diego State University, her M.A. degree from San Diego State University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Alireza Behrooz is of counsel with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP. A patent attorney with a Ph.D. in molecular biology and microbiology, he helps small to large multinational companies and universities protect intellectual property connected to inventions in the life science, biologics/pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Mr. Behrooz earned his J.D. degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center; his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from Case Western Reserve University; his M.S. in Biology from Long Island University and his B.S. in Mathematics Applied Sciences from UCLA. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Missouri and Virginia. In addition to his state bar admissions, Mr. Behrooz is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Yolanda R Gallegos commenced her legal career as a fellow at Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Public Representation. She was one of only three fellows selected in a nationwide search for the paid fellowship. That same year, the D.C. Bar selected her for its Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award. From Georgetown, Ms. Gallegos worked in private practice and developed an expertise in higher education law. The first ten years after law school, she practiced in Washington, D.C., and served as the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia in 1997. In 1998, Ms. Gallegos established her law firm, Gallegos Legal Group, and continued representing colleges and universities. She has represented private sector schools throughout the country for 30 years. Her practice focuses on guiding postsecondary schools through critical events such as governmental and accreditor investigations, corporate expansion and downsizing, and operational adjustments required in response to regulatory changes. Ms. Gallegos has served as an expert witness in federal and state courts on matters related to the regulation of student financial aid, and is a frequent speaker and writer on a variety of regulatory topics affecting higher education including her chapter on the Violence Against Woman Act Regulations, which was published by Thomson Reuters in its book, Emerging Issues in College and University Security. She has successfully defended dozens of institutions in program reviews and audits before the U.S. Department of Education and has extensive experience in accreditation and state licensing. Ms. Gallegos earned her J.D. degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law and her LL.M. degree in Advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Illinois bars.
Jeffrey Gard is a Colorado attorney with Gard Law Firm, LLC, specializing in marijuana law. He represents numerous patients, doctors and marijuana businesses throughout the state of Colorado and has advised people from all over the country. Mr. Gard advises both state and local governments in their development of medical marijuana business regulations. He is widely considered one of Colorado's leading marijuana attorneys. Since the passage of Amendment 64, which legalized adult possession and cultivation of marijuana in Colorado, Mr. Gard has been working with state and local officials in developing regulations for the retail marijuana industry and was appointed by the state to participate in the rule-making progress. Over the last year, he has been working with the U.S. Congress to assist with an analysis of the Federal Code to determine the various areas which are impacted by the state marijuana laws in hopes of reconciling state and federal law in the near future. Mr. Gard now shares his knowledge and experience with other attorneys and has given several CLE lectures on various aspects of marijuana law. By way of background, he is a Colorado native and a cum laude philosophy graduate from the University of Colorado, where he also was elected Phi Beta Kappa. While attending the law school, Mr. Gard won the William De Souchet Award for best individual performance in trial advocacy and won a multi-state moot court competition during his first year of law school. After graduation, he accepted a position with a respected litigation firm in Boulder, Colorado, and later formed his own firm in downtown Boulder, Colorado.
Brian R Landry is a partner with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, where he draws on a broad base of intellectual property experience involving patents, designs, trademarks, and copyrights and technical expertise to help clients identify, protect, and enforce their intellectual property. Mr. Landry has significant experience in the medical devices field, as well as consumer products, building materials, devices and software having research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. He also counsels clients involved in inventorship and priority disputes arising under interference and derivation rules. Mr. Landry earned his B.S. degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and his J.D. degree from Suffolk University School of Law. He is a member of the Boston Patent Law Association. Mr. Landry is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
Igor Pleskov is a partner with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, where he advises clients on real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing of property. He represents major institutions, owners of building portfolios, developers, REITs, lenders and end-users across the United States, including several clients in connection with major redevelopment projects in the Philadelphia area. Mr. Pleskov earned his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from The College of New Jersey and his J.D. degree, Senior Editor, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
