With more than a decade of experience in highly regulated industries, Alyssa Samuel advises clients on corporate structure, fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory matters in the cannabis, hemp, alternative protein, food and beverage, and hospitality sectors.
Alyssa represents emerging and high-growth companies with respect to strategic transactions where corporate and regulatory matters intersect. She oversees mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, and other transactions, negotiating terms, drafting agreements, and advising clients on the best strategies to achieve their business goals. Her extensive regulatory experience in alcohol, cannabis and consumable hemp enables her to structure transactions that account for licensing requirements, safety issues and other industry-specific concerns.
Alyssa devotes a specific portion of her practice to hemp-based food and beverage clients and serves as a key contact for that sub-practice group. She helps clients navigate the patchwork of state regulations that emerged following the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill), providing practical guidance on business operations, distribution, and regulatory compliance. Her practice also includes work with alternative protein companies and other emerging food technologies, focusing on entrepreneurs, emerging companies and their investors.
Alyssa began working with cannabis companies when the industry was still nascent, developing specialized skills for guiding early-stage companies in emerging industries. When she first began assisting growers and providers, Colorado was just beginning to navigate the regulation of cannabis – an experience with no roadmap and no precedents. She draws on this background when advising clients on critical corporate transactions within complex regulatory frameworks, from securing venture-backed funding for hemp-based beverage companies to acquisitions of cannabis operations.
In addition to her transactional work, Alyssa helps clients communicate with regulatory and administrative agencies and advises on general compliance matters. She is well-versed in labeling laws, trade secret questions and food safety matters. She also has experience with the complexities of alcohol licensing in the hospitality industry, particularly in related real estate and hotel transactions.