Marshall Custer

Career

Marshall co-leads Husch Blackwell’s Cannabis team of more than 80 attorneys dedicated to state-regulated marijuana and industrial hemp clients.

Marshall has worked with the cannabis industry since its inception in Colorado, serving as primary outside counsel for clients that are active in or entering into the regulated cannabis market in the state and nationally. He has earned national rankings in this practice area, working closely with executives and individual entrepreneurs on matters of marijuana and industrial hemp regulatory compliance, corporate structuring, debt and equity financing, governance, securities compliance, and mergers and acquisitions.

His representation of these companies and investors has often included:

- Developing, executing and managing the strategic acquisition plans for large multi-state marijuana operators, investment funds and traditional businesses entering the marijuana industry

- Representing mid-to-large sized operators in exit transactions, including pre-transaction preparation, go public events, tax efficient mergers and assets sales

- Providing strategic guidance in connection with clients’ state and federal lobbying efforts

- Advising emerging growth companies in connection with corporate formation, seed and series A financing and commercial contracts

- Assisting clients with the preparation and submission of new market marijuana applications in competitive jurisdictions

- Overseeing client regulatory compliance processes through HB Compliance – a full service regulatory compliance solution for marijuana operators available to clients in all states that have an authorized marijuana licensing program

- Structuring financing and commercial contracts consistent with the regulatory requirements

- Protecting and commercializing intellectual property

- Providing clients with ongoing regulatory, employment, tax, corporate and securities legal advice

The Cannabis team Marshall co-leads is one of the country’s largest and most experienced, having grown with our clients to provide full-service representation to many of the largest cannabis operators in the U.S. and Canada. The practice is part of the firm's Food Systems unit, applying the insights and experiences gained from representing some of the world's largest commercial seed, food production and alcohol and beverage companies to the rapidly maturing cannabis industry.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

Colorado Bar Association

National Cannabis Industry Association, Legal & Banking Committee, Board Member