Marijuana Business Magazine January 2020

Marijuana Business Magazine | January 2020 92 H oban Law Group (HLG) is undergoing a growth spurt of global proportions—literally. The Denver-based group, which focuses on marijuana, hemp and CBD legal issues, is opening offices or partnering with other law firms in countries from Colombia to China. In October, the firm began offering cannabis-focused legal services and regulatory advice in Brazil, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. This follows the firm’s expansion activities in 2017 and 2018, when Hoban opened its first locations in Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Holland and Poland, among other nations. At the same time, Hoban expanded its footprint across the United States, dovetailing with the opening of legal medical and recreational cannabis markets and the growth in the nation’s hemp industry. As of late October, the firm had more than 50 attorneys worldwide, with coverage across 25 states and 10 countries. Mapping Out Expansion What is Hoban’s expansion strategy? In short, the firm investigates regions in the United States and around the world that it identifies as areas where regulations, private equity investment and business development are emerging in the cannabis industry. Each year, Hoban sets a goal to establish an office in locations where the firm’s expertise and legal services will be in demand. The company aims to be the first law firm in new markets to offer clients legal services that include mergers and acquisitions, regulatory work, litigation, taxation and intellectual property protection. “We get boots on the ground that are reliable and a good representation of our organization,” said Robert Hoban, the firm’s founder and president. “This strategy enables HLG to maintain the ability to have real-time inside information about what is happening in a jurisdiction before the press or digital social media cover the issues, which will enable us to give our clients a leg up.” Location, Location, Location Hoban considers expanding into a new location after evaluating the local opportunities tied to individual cannabis companies as well as the nation’s industry and government policymakers. That evaluation involves meeting local stakeholders and analyzing a market’s growth potential and the geopolitical situation. “Our first meetings start with policymakers, political leaders or a financial company in that jurisdic- tion,” Hoban said, noting the goal is to recruit those players as clients for regulatory and business services. Hoban said he receives five to 10 emails a day from regional contacts who report on local developments. Hoban also gathers information in face-to-face talks with company offi- cials attending trade shows, and he reaches out to individuals mentioned in published stories. Establishing an office in a new location occurs by partnering with Growth Spurt By Mikell Knights Denver-based Hoban Law Group expands its national and international footprint via partnerships, acquisitions Business Strategies | Ancillary Denver-based Hoban Law Group has been expanding its national and international footprint the past few years, opening offices in locations stretching from Colombia to China. The firm, which focuses on cannabis legal issues, has expanded via part- nerships and acquisitions. Here are other details: • Hoban investigates regions in the United States and abroad to identify areas where cannabis regulations, private equity investment and busi- ness development are emerging. • Each year, Hoban sets the goal of establishing offices in locations where the firm’s expertise and legal services will be in demand. • The company aims to be the first law firm in new markets to offer clients legal services that include mergers and acquisitions, regula- tory work, litigation, taxation and intellectual property protection. • Establishing an office in a new loca- tion occurs by partnering with local legal counsel there. • Attorneys who are fluent in languag- es other than English assist with communications between the firm and foreign clients when it’s neces- sary to overcome language barriers. Robert Hoban Courtesy Photo