Attorney
Chris is a member of the CH& corporate finance and business transactions group. His practice focuses on advising and assisting businesses with a wide range of corporate needs, including entity formation, governance, regulatory compliance, commercial contracts, and mergers and acquisitions. Chris has extensive experience negotiating complex transactions, drafting agreements, and communicating the needs of his clients to government and administrative agencies. He has also worked closely with state and local governments and advocated for clients on various highly-regulated matters.
Prior to joining CH&, Chris was the lead transactional attorney at a local law firm where he largely assisted companies operating in or ancillary to Washington State’s licensed cannabis industry. During this time, Chris interpreted and applied new and rapidly changing regulations with little or no context or caselaw. Chris has been recognized as one of the leading experts in cannabis law and brings valuable experience in assisting and advising clients with regulatory and compliance needs. Along with being a resource and advocate for clients, Chris has also spoken at conferences and educated other professionals on the cannabis business industry.
Introduction
Chris is a member of the CH& corporate finance and business transactions group. His practice focuses on advising and assisting businesses with a wide range of corporate needs, including entity formation, governance, regulatory compliance, commercial contracts, and mergers and acquisitions. Chris has extensive experience negotiating complex transactions, drafting agreements, and communicating the needs of his clients to government and administrative agencies. He has also worked closely with state and local governments and advocated for clients on various highly-regulated matters.
Prior to joining CH&, Chris was the lead transactional attorney at a local law firm where he largely assisted companies operating in or ancillary to Washington State’s licensed cannabis industry. During this time, Chris interpreted and applied new and rapidly changing regulations with little or no context or caselaw. Chris has been recognized as one of the leading experts in cannabis law and brings valuable experience in assisting and advising clients with regulatory and compliance needs. Along with being a resource and advocate for clients, Chris has also spoken at conferences and educated other professionals on the cannabis business industry.
Experience & Results
- Assisted Northwest Fiber, LLC d/b/a Ziply Fiber, a northwest telecommunications provider, in its acquisition of numerous fiber and wireless telecommunication providers.
- Assisted FileOnQ, Inc., an industry leader in providing software solutions for public safety and justice, in its acquisition by Sloane Street Partners investment fund.
- Assisted Vimly Benefit Solutions, a leader in the benefits administration space, in its $80M acquisition by Rubicon Technology Partners, a private equity firm.
- Assisted HWA Geosciences Inc., a geotechnical engineering firm, in its $185k purchase of certain assets for use in its geotechnical engineering services business.
- Represented cannabis technology and financing company in formation and initial rounds of financing.
- Assisted local chocolate company in its issuance of preferred stock and debt restructuring.
- Assisted IDL Precision Machining, an engineering-focused manufacturer of aerospace and defense end components, in its $42M acquisition by CORE Industrial Partners, a manufacturing focused private equity firm.
Education
- Central Washington University (B.A., with honors, 2007)
- Seattle University School of Law (J.D., 2014)
- Editor in Chief, Seattle Journal of Environmental Law
Admissions
- Washington
Honors & Recognition
- Named on the Washington Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers® Magazine (2020-present)
- Listed in 250 Cannabis Law Experts, November 2018, Databird Research Journal
- Cover Story and Feature Article, “A New Crop of Lawyers: Alumni Embrace Budding Opportunities in Cannabis Law,” Lawyer Magazine (Fall 2015)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Washington State Bar Association, Business Law Section; Corporate Counsel Section
- Wonderland Child and Family Services, Board of Directors
Publications/Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, “Cannabis Business Operations: Fundamentals for Attorneys Seeking Clients in the Cannabis Industry,” The Seminar Group’s The Lucrative Business of Marijuana in Washington State, Seattle, WA (November 21, 2019)
- Presenter, “Marijuana Business Law in Washington,” National Business Institute’s Marijuana Law, Seattle, WA (August 17, 2018)
- Panelist, “Workplace Law for Canna-Businesses,” Fisher Phillips’ 2nd Annual Workplace Law Seminar for Canna-Businesses, Seattle, WA (March 15, 2017)
- Chairperson and Speaker, “Transportation Licenses, Out-of-State Financing, and Merging of Medical Marijuana into Recreational,” 4th Annual Northwest Marijuana Law Conference, Seattle, WA (November 4, 2016)
- Panelist, “Marijuana Law Q&A,” 3rd Annual Northwest Marijuana Law Conference, Seattle, WA (November 13, 2015)
- Editor and Co-Author, Lost in the Weeds: An Introduction to Legal Issues for Business People Leading Cannabis Companies (2015)
Personal
- Outside of the office, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, rooting for the Seattle sports teams, and generally finding a quiet place to relax.