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“Hilary is fantastic, she is very business-minded and she knows how to get deals closed.”

Chambers USA 2023

Overview

With a passion for organizational growth, Hilary advises clients in the cannabis, healthcare, and life sciences spaces on transactions, regulatory compliance, governance matters, and other corporate needs.

Hilary likes being a dealmaker: she values building collegial relationships with clients and other attorneys, and she loves helping clients create value and business opportunities. She also appreciates the in-depth strategies that transactions rely on.

Much of Hilary’s practice is devoted to mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions, as well as to serving as first point of outside counsel for certain clients. She also assists with entity formation and the drafting of various governance documents and asset portfolio management. In addition, Hilary advises clients on industry-specific regulatory compliance.

Hilary’s experience with the cannabis industry dates to 2010, when she began assisting medical cannabis providers with business questions. It was immediately clear to her that this emerging, growing industry had a massive need for corporate counsel, and she has advised cannabis clients—including many major national and international companies—ever since. Her experience includes cannabis licensing; marijuana and industrial hemp regulatory compliance; mergers and acquisitions; corporate and transactional matters, including negotiating management services agreements, fee slotting agreements, cultivation supply agreements, and intellectual property licensing agreements; receiverships; dissolution and wind downs; and financing and debt restructuring. In 2023, Hilary joined Husch Blackwell out of enthusiasm for the firm’s deep bench of innovators in the cannabis and healthcare space.

Hilary also devotes a significant portion of her practice to healthcare clients, including physicians, physician groups, and medical services organizations, and she represents clients regarding the off-label application of controlled substances.

Known for offering a commonsense business approach to legal questions, Hilary never gives legal advice in a vacuum. She provides clients with definitive guidance that has practical applications, adding value and supporting business goals.

“Hilary is fantastic, she is very business-minded and she knows how to get deals closed.”

Chambers USA 2023

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Chambers USA, Cannabis Law: Western United States, Nationwide, 2021-2024
  • Top 200 Global Psychedelic Lawyers and Policy & Regulatory Experts, 2021-2023
  • Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2021-2023
  • Top California Cannabis Lawyers, 2022
  • Business Insider Top Marijuana Industry Deal Attorneys, 2019
  • American Bar Association, Top 40 Under 40 On the Rise Attorney, 2017
  • Super Lawyers; Rising Star, 2014-present; Top Rising Star of Washington Women Attorneys, 2014-2015
  • Puget Sound Business Journal; Deal Maker of the Year, 2013; 40 Under 40, 2015

Education

  • J.D., University of Miami School of Law
  • B.A., Jacksonville University

Admissions

  • California
  • Florida
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Law360 Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board, 2024


*Hilary works remotely. Contact Hilary via e-mail or telephone for in person/virtual meetings.
2024 Pro Bono Contributor
Experience
  • Negotiated, drafted, and closed over $200 million in acquisitions of closely held Washington and California agriculture companies with associated real estate by multiple public companies, both international and domestic, in two-year period.
  • Represented Mexican family fund with real estate acquisitions, security interests, and investor relations in the United States.
  • Represented private equity fund with investment into multiple U.S. healthcare clinics while navigating corporate practice of medicine and securities laws.
  • Developed in-depth compliance program for multiple financial institutions entering highly regulated industry.
  • Represented the National Credit Union Administration regarding compliance programs for access to banking and compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act in highly regulated industries.
  • Represented multiple mid-size Washington and California companies in complex multi-party transactions involving the acquisition of real estate and regulatory licenses along with corporate mergers and scheduled spin-offs.
  • Acted as outside counsel for publicly traded, $6 billion food company regarding corporate and regulatory compliance in highly regulated industry, including advising food manufacturing subsidiary on a variety risk management issues and employee training.
Case Studies
Veterans' Weekly Coffee Group Grows to 700+ Members, Gains Non-Profit Status with Husch Blackwell's Help

Husch Blackwell's Communities for Change initiative helped the group formally incorporate in the State of Wisconsin and seek 501C3 tax exemption status to encourage those able to make donations to assist.

Blog | October 16, 2024
Intoxicating Hemp in Wisconsin
Blog | July 24, 2024
BOLO: Cannabis PPP Loan Audits
Blog | April 29, 2024
BOLO: Cannabis Qui Tam Actions
Blog | February 29, 2024
Cannabis Corporate Playbooks
Blog | February 14, 2024
What's in Your "THC Beverages"?
Blog | January 11, 2024
Wisconsin Medical Marijuana…Maybe
Blog | January 02, 2024
A Cannabis Pivot to Smokable Herbs
Blog | December 19, 2023
Top Cannabis Scams of 2023
Blog | December 04, 2023
California Cannabis ABCs
Blog | November 09, 2023
Ohio Marijuana Legalization Hits Home
Blog | November 06, 2023
Cannabis Drinks Hit Total Wine
Seminars | November 21, 2024
Exclusive Cannabis Law Meet-Up
Speaking Engagements | October 21, 2018
Speaker, "Cannabis Lawyer Tells All," The David Pakman Show
Outside the Office

A former Division 1 soccer player, Hilary still enjoys playing with a coed, indoor soccer league. Hilary is also a diehard Halloween enthusiast.

However, most of her free time is devoted to her family. She and her husband have three young children who enjoy visits to the park, trips to the beach, and playing sports.