Chicago—Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, announced today that Eric P. Berlin has joined the Firm as a partner in the Health Care practice and will help to lead the Firm’s team of lawyers representing clients in, and doing business with, the cannabis industry.He will be resident in the Firm’s Chicago office.

For more than five years, Berlin has focused his practice on the emerging area of cannabis law and regulation.Berlin also worked with state legislators in Ohio and Illinois to draft bills and see them through passage to create medical cannabis programs. His practice includes counselling clients in the cannabis industry on regulatory compliance, risk management and strategic transactions.

Berlin’s clients include large, publicly traded companies that sell cannabis products and services,institutions that provide financing to and invest in the industry, testing labs, and others within the industry.

“We are very pleased to welcome Eric to Dentons,” said US CEO Mike McNamara. “He is a recognized, leading practitioner in this emerging area in the US and will complement our Chambers’ ranked Canadian practice and create synergies across North America to benefit our clients.”

Berlin, along with Kathryn Ashton, chair of the Health Care practice, will lead a team of lawyers focused on serving the needs of clients navigating the regulatory framework of the cannabis industry. As an extension of the Firm’s unrivaled global cannabis capabilities, including those in Canada, Europe and South America, the multidisciplinary team of lawyers in the US have worked with clients on regulatory, licensing, corporate and securities matters.

“Adding one of the pre-eminent legal authorities in the cannabis industry expands our commitment to address the increasing client needs in this industry,” said Ashton. “The Firm’s ongoing willingness to reflect the innovation and strategic direction of the business community has been critical to the Health Care practice’s success.”

“Dentons’ innovative culture was a tremendous draw for me to join,” said Berlin about his move to Dentons. “This is a dynamic industry and to have the support of a firm known for its ability to act swiftly and decisively is extremely important to my ability to provide my clients with the highest level of service.”

Berlin holds a JD, cum laude, from University of Wisconsin, where he was senior articles editor for the Wisconsin Law Review, and his BA, with high honors, from Dartmouth College. He is president of both the University of Chicago GI Research Foundation and the Illinois Cannabis Bar Association and a former long-time director with the Better Government Association.

Dentons nationally-recognized Health Care practice is one of the largest in the US, comprised of more than 100 lawyers, consultants and policy professionals with deep experience counseling health care and life sciences organizations. The Health Care practice serves clients operating in virtually every sector of the health care industry.

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