Brent has over 20 years of legal, finance and executive-level management experience at numerous small and large-sized growth companies, law firms and investment firms. He has managed, executed and participated in over $2 billion in capital raising, private equity, venture capital and M&A transactions. He has assisted in the oversight, management and
compliance of multiple investment funds with up to $100 million in assets under management. He routinely advises entrepreneurs, investors, executives, operators, fund managers and companies regarding entity formation, transactions, capital raising, structure, finance and operations. Brent is also an advisor and mentor to numerous companies and
investment funds in the cannabis industry.
In his legal practice, Brent specializes in the representation of closely-held entities and emerging growth companies through the whole business life cycle, including entity selection, formation, equity and debt financing transactions, acquisitions and the eventual transfer or sale of the business. In addition, Brent advises on capital raising transactions working extensively with companies looking for capital as well as venture capital and private equity funds. Brent also serves as outside general counsel to clients in support of operations, capital raising, corporate governance, commercial transactions, contract drafting and negotiation, intellectual property and general business matters.
Brent began his legal practice at a leading Silicon Valley high-tech, emerging growth law firm where he worked with venture capital firms and emerging growth and technology companies focusing on capital raising transactions, mergers & acquisitions, securities, public offerings and general corporate matters. He then joined a leading Denver-based law
firm where he represented public and private companies as well as venture capital and private equity firms.
Brent is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served on active duty in the Air Force for five years, rising to the rank of Captain. He also holds a JD from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Nebraska.
Larry Kropf earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph in 1987 and spent over 25 years in the food industry. He has held management positions in Sanitation, operations and quality control and has been exposed to all sectors of the food industry.
In 2014 Larry was asked to use his quality assurance knowledge to help an MMPR applicant obtain his license. Since then he has been working in various aspects of the Cannabis industry consulting on Quality systems, and facility design. He is working with suppliers to the industry to help them ensure they are compliant with Health Canada and cannabis grower requirements.
A & L Canada Labs has long had a software packaged that helped greenhouse growers manage their growing process.
Larry has been was asked to help develop, and market, this program to suit the needs of the Cannabis industry. Working with Alink Computer Systems Inc, the approach has been to develop an open text, modular based system to meet the needs of the industry while incurring minimal incremental cost. Clients can purchase whatever modules they need without having to invest in features already offered in existing software. The open text ensures easy data transfer between programs the clients already have and the systems Larry is helping to develop.
ALink is partnering with Accounting and Document Management software providers to provide all the needs of the industry in a single user interface.
David is a serial entrepreneur who loves bringing people together to make meaningful, useful, profitable programs and content. He has successfully started marketing and sales departments within creative agencies and Fortune 1000 corporations; as well as startups in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Taiwan. He started the Culinary Cannabis Association (CCA) to fight stigma, and to establish and refine standards and best practices for anyone interested in cooking with cannabis – helping chefs, diners, and medical patients explore culinary cannabis the way we currently explore fine wine. The CCA offers certification services seminars and interactive events that bring people, cannabis, and food together around relevant problems, ideas, and products.
Harnessing extensive scientific knowledge to protect client innovations
An accomplished doctorate recipient, Lei harnesses his advanced knowledge of biotechnology, biological science and chemistry knowledge to assist clients with protecting and strengthening their valuable innovations.
Lei drafts and prosecutes Canadian patent applications and coordinates the drafting and prosecution of patent applications in the United States. He counts among his clients pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities and research institutions.
Accomplished medical researcher and award recipient
Lei’s doctoral studies focused on cardiovascular, obesity and atherosclerosis research. During his studies, Lei received multiple prestigious awards including the Merck Frosst Schering Award and AstraZeneca Award for presentations delivered at the Canadian Lipoprotein Conference, as well as the Dr. Robert John Wilson Fellowship. He also took part in the Stroke, Cardiovascular, Obesity, Lipids, Atherosclerosis Research (SCOLAR) Training Program funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Skilled trademark lawyer helps brand owners protect, manage and monetize trademark portfolios
A highly experienced trademark lawyer, Graham’s counsel is sought after by brand owners focused on building and protecting their brands and reputations through efficient trademark clearance and prosecution. He regularly advises clients on effective strategies to manage and monetize their trademark portfolios and has successfully enforced clients’ trademark rights in Canada’s Federal and provincial courts.
Graham’s practice spans all aspects of trademark counselling, prosecution and litigation. He counsels brand owners through trademark selection, clearance and prosecution, as well as opposition proceedings, section 45 cancellation proceedings and section 57 expungement proceedings. His previous experience at the Canadian Trademarks Office benefits clients looking to defend their trademark applications and registrations before the Trademarks Opposition Board.
Graham counsels many famous brand owners, from leading professional sports teams to popular social media platforms to renowned consumer electronic companies to famous fashion houses, in the enforcement and protection of their IP rights in Canada.
Seasoned litigator and expert counsel for IP crime and anti-counterfeiting matters
Graham’s litigation practice covers both the Federal and the provincial courts and extends to actions and summary applications for passing off, trademark and trade dress infringement, depreciation of goodwill and the importation, distribution, marketing and sale of counterfeit goods.
As the firm’s leading expert in anti-counterfeiting, Graham is also experienced in protecting brand owner’s marks both online, across online marketplaces and social media platforms, and at Canada’s borders, working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency to enforce clients’ trademarks and copyrights and prevent the importation of counterfeit goods and pirated works.
He sits on the Steering Committee of the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network, and is a member of the Canadian Subcommittee of the International Trademark Association’s Anticounterfeiting Committee.
For over 20-years, David Cohlmeyer was the Governor General Award-winning producer of high-quality vegetables for Canada’s most acclaimed chefs. He accomplished this by learning what these plants need to fully express their flavour and nutrients. Growing premium cannabis is no different. He will share the elements of developing healthy soil, selecting preferred genetics, following optimal production practices, and developing effective marketing.
David has a B.S. in Industrial Management from Purdue University and years of corporate business consulting. With this combination, he knows how to incorporate full costs of production with agronomic, market, and labour requirements for devising profitable business plans. This scenario of combining indoor and outdoor production is a result of David’s unique experiences.
Yu Seon’s practice focuses on the areas of intellectual property and regulatory law. Prior to joining Torys, Yu Seon obtained a PhD in Biochemistry and an Honours BSc (molecular biology) from McMaster University.
Yu Seon advises clients on intellectual property and regulatory law, in the areas of food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, natural health products and cannabis. Yu Seon provides guidance on product licensing, packaging and labelling, promotion, compliance and privacy issues.
Yu Seon also has experience advising clients on patentability, validity and infringement, conducting prior art searches, and patent drafting and prosecution in a variety of fields including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and food. She has prepared various intellectual property agreements, including IP licensing, IP assignment, and supply and distribution.
Trevor is Chief Operating Officer of GroPro and is responsible for all facets of commercialization for this technology. He has spent 25 years in sales and marketing and has successfully started, run and exited his previous start-up company. Trevor looks forward to learning more about the Cannabis business, and how the GroPro technology can help.
As Chief Operations Officer for Labstat and Labs-Mart, Mr. Fishback is responsible for developing and executing strategic operational goals to deliver exceptional client and employee experience required to sustain ongoing profitable growth of the organizations. Prior to joining Labstat in 2019, Mr. Fishback was VP and GM, Food Science and Safety Services for Maxxam Analytics (a Bureau Veritas Company), where he was responsible for national business development and laboratory operations for Maxxam’s Microbiology, Food Chemistry and Food Residue services. Mr. Fishback is passionate about creating innovative, customized solutions to address client needs while simultaneously ensuring the highest level of quality, safety and regulatory standards compliance. Mr. Fishback holds a M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Guelph and a 6-Sigma Black Belt from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
Les Bryan grew up on Vancouver Island and enjoyed playing in many varsity sports such as volleyball, soccer and football. As his children were growing up, Les volunteered kids sports, eventually becoming President of Victoria Rebels Football Club.
Les has been in sales for over 35 years and has worked with many national and international companies in Canada, US, Europe and Asia.
In 2012 Les joined Gaia Water Ltd as a director, eventually becoming Vice President of sales in 2014.
Les has specialized in the fast growing Cannabis industry in Canada and now his efforts have been opening up distributors in US and Europe.
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