Lippes Mathias attorney Joseph W. Schafer, a co-leader of the firm’s cannabis practice team, served as a panelist at the New England Cannabis Convention’s (NECANN) New York Cannabis & Hemp Convention held October 25-26, 2024. Schafer’s panel, titled “New York’s Moving Target: Navigating Regulatory Changes Three Years into Adult-Use,” provided attendees with insights on how New York’s Office of Cannabis Management’s evolving regulations, including those recently impacting True Party of Interest (TPI), licensing, and marketing, continue to shape the industry landscape for licensees. 

Schafer, an attorney with Lippes Mathias’ corporate practice team and co-leader of the firm's cannabis practice team, assists clients with mergers & acquisitions, business formation and structuring, licensing, contract review, and other general matters. Schafer works across industries with a particular focus on sports transactions, representing leagues and teams at the major and minor league levels in a variety of corporate matters, including team acquisitions and sales, joint ventures, governance, licensing agreements, and other commercial transactions. As a former Division I athlete, coach, and administrator, he also advises colleges and universities, athletes, and sponsors on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and related NCAA compliance issues. Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Schafer gained extensive experience in commercial litigation, including breach of contract, antitrust, business disputes, cannabis, class action defense, and employment disputes. 

As a member of the firm’s cannabis practice team, Schafer advises clients on the full spectrum of New York State's cannabis program (medical, cannabinoid hemp, and adult-use) and has prepared adult-use applications for conditional cultivation, processing, and retail dispensary applicants. He also negotiates and drafts agreements for both plant-touching and non-plant-touching businesses and regularly consults on the ever-changing regulatory landscape facing cannabis entrepreneurs in New York and across the country. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with more than 200 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Year after year, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.