“Cannabis Group Of The Year: Dykema”

Law360 profiled Dykema’s Cannabis Industry Group as part of its recognition as a “Practice Group of the Year” in Cannabis Law for 2024. Dykema was one of only a select few firms recognized in this category. This marks the second time in the past three years that the firm has earned this recognition.

In the profile “Cannabis Group Of The Year: Dykema,” Law360 highlighted the firm’s major achievements in regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters within the cannabis sector. The article covers:

• Landmark Sponsorship Deal: Dykema played a key role in securing a first-of-its-kind sponsorship agreement between cannabis brand Primitiv and Detroit’s Ford Field for the 2023 and 2024 Quick Lane Bowls. Given cannabis’s federal illegality and the NFL’s restrictions, the firm navigated complex regulatory hurdles to ensure Primitiv became the exclusive CBD partner for the games.

• Election Law Victory: The firm successfully argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals to keep a Keego Harbor charter amendment on the ballot, reinforcing voters’ rights in cannabis-related local measures. Dykema leveraged its deep experience in election law to challenge the city’s attempt to block the measure.

• Business Dispute Resolution: Dykema helped online cannabis marketplace LeafLink address a high-stakes intellectual property dispute. The firm’s national reach and cross-practice collaboration allowed it to resolve suits filed in Oklahoma and New York efficiently.

• Regulatory Defense Success: The firm secured a favorable outcome for Trucenta LLC in a dispute with Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency, significantly reducing a proposed $100,000 fine related to financial filing requirements. This result set a precedent that lessened regulatory exposure for the broader cannabis industry.

The profile also pointed out that Dykema’s Cannabis Industry Group differentiated itself by drawing on its full-service capabilities, offering strategic counsel on licensing, compliance, M&A, intellectual property, and litigation.