PRESS RELEASE

Hauser Named Co-Vice Chair of Firm’s Cannabis Law Team

SAN FRANCISCO, March 5, 2019 – Global law firm Reed Smith today announced that Marc Hauser has joined the firm’s San Francisco office as Counsel in the Global Corporate Group. Most recently with GVM Law in Napa Valley, where he headed the firm’s Cannabis Law Department, he will serve as Co-Vice Chair of Reed Smith’s Cannabis Law Team. Hauser brings significant experience representing business and investor interests in all aspects of the rapidly-growing international cannabis and hemp industries.

With more than 20 years of legal experience, including 15 years as in-house deal counsel to Chicago-based investor, Sam Zell, Hauser spent a portion of his early legal career at Sachnoff & Weaver in Chicago, which later combined with Reed Smith.  After leaving Sachnoff, Hauser continued to maintain close relationships with a number of Reed Smith’s lawyers, including Matt Petersen, co-head of the firm’s Global Corporate Group.

“I’ve known Marc for nearly two decades, and I’m thrilled that he has joined Reed Smith,” Petersen said. “Marc is a corporate attorney who has structured and advised on all types of complex transactions, bringing a practical approach to business and risk issues that impact all businesses and investors. His dual perspective, coming from both in-house and in private practice, is a great addition to our strong transactional practice.”

Claudia Springer, Chair of Reed Smith’s Cannabis Law Team adds that “Marc’s depth of experience in this relatively new area of law will dramatically enhance our capabilities as well as expand our growing client base.”

Hauser represents business and investors throughout the cannabis and hemp industries, where he does most of his legal work advising on transactions and risk, including public and private companies, MSO (multi state operators) and startups, as well as advising companies in other industries and disciplines working in CBD (cannabidiol) and cannabis. He has extensive relationships in the United States and Canada with industry players, capital sources, and service providers.  Hauser’s legal practice includes deal structuring, acquisitions and dispositions, private equity and venture financings, capital markets financings, strategy and risk management, corporate governance, real estate transactions, and complex tax structuring.

“Reed Smith’s global platform and full-service capabilities are a great fit for my clients, especially as state after state comes online legalizing the use of cannabis, and particularly with the recent federal legalization of hemp, opening up the door for national use and distribution of hemp-based CBD products,” Hauser said. “I have experience working with both MSOs and emerging players in this new and exciting industry, which continue to face challenging and complex regulatory challenges that require services across the board.”

Hauser serves as a member of the board of the Napa Valley Cannabis Association. He is a member of the National Cannabis Bar Association and the Napa Valley Bar Association.

He began his legal career at Goldberg Kohn Ltd. in Chicago, later moving to Sachnoff & Weaver, before joining Equity Group Investments, a Chicago-based private investment company founded by Zell, as Associate General Counsel, advising a team of investment and tax professionals on billions of dollars of corporate and real estate transactions.

“We are excited to have Marc join us in San Francisco. He has long-standing and deep connections in the cannabis industry, as well as years of experience in handling a broad range of transactions that will benefit all our clients,” said David Thompson, managing attorney of the firm’s San Francisco office.

Hauser earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Jewish Studies from Northwestern University, in 1995, and his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law in 1998.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Our belief is that by delivering smarter and more creative legal services, we will not only enrich our clients’ experiences with us, but also support them in achieving their business goals.

Our long-standing relationships, international outlook, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for the speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.

For further information, please visit reedsmith.com.