Our Team of Dedicated & Professional Team Members Are Here & Ready to Help

Anessa serves the legal community in leadership positions within the Florida Bar and with the Florida Blockchain Business Association – Florida's dedicated blockchain lobbyist organization. She often lectures at select events, including at the National Press Club and on Capitol Hill, and for the Florida Bar. She has received several recognitions for her work in blockchain, such as the Top 100 People in Finance, Solo Female Entrepreneur of the Year from the Stevie Awards, and the Best ESG/SDG Token from Coinstreet Partners, among others. She is a proud alumna of Oxford's Saïd Business School, where she studied Blockchain Strategies and Financial Technology.

During his time as CLO at Public Storage (NYSE: P.S.A.), Jack orchestrated Public Storage's $5 billion hostile acquisition of rival self-storage operator, Shurgard Storage Centers, Inc., which was the first hostile and first all-stock acquisition of a Real Estate Investment Trust. In addition to his experience with REITS, Jack's specialized industry experience includes the Insurance & Financial Services, as well as Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Distribution sectors.

In addition to practicing with Cogent, Jack is currently the S.V.P. for Business Development & Legal Affairs for Global Medical Solutions, Ltd., specializing in manufacturing and distributing diagnostic, therapeutic, and outsourced nuclear medicine products and services throughout Asia & the Pacific Rim.

Jack's combined experience includes more than 30 years advising boards of directors and senior management teams in all forms of complex corporate transactions, securities offerings, acquisitions, joint ventures, investment advisory registration, and all types of strategic business development initiatives.

Jack has developed expertise in cryptocurrency transactions and currently counsels Cogent clients regarding securities law aspects of I.C.O. transactions and structuring transactions and private placements under Regulations D, A, and C.F.

Jack received his B.A. from Columbia University and J.D. from Harvard Law School. Jack is admitted to practice law in New York.

In addition to her cannabis licensing and regulatory practice, Adrienne also advises start-ups and mid-size companies on corporate law matters. She is seasoned at forming corporations and L.L.C.s, explaining formal corporate governance issues to clients, and familiarizing them with various fundraising options, including traditional forms of debt and equity financing, as well as newer ones such as convertible notes, SAFEs, and crowdfunding. Adrienne also counsels businesses on planning for other significant corporate events, such as structuring equity awards to partners and early hires, the disposition and acquisition of assets, and real estate transactions.

Adrienne began her career at Credit Suisse Securities U.S.A. in New York City as a Compliance Specialist in the General Counsel's Office. Prior to joining Cogent Law, Adrienne served as a partner at a Boston-based boutique corporate and securities law firm.

Through his law practice, Mark advises individuals and businesses in various areas, including business formation, intellectual property, employment, contract formation and litigation, compliance, and real estate. Most recently, Mark's practice has been geared towards building, refining, and auditing AML/BSA compliance programs and providing ad hoc compliance counsel to registered Money Service Businesses (M.S.B.s) and small banks with high-risk lines of business, including those centered on cryptocurrency/Bitcoin transactions and international trade financing. Mark also advises pro bono clients through the Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Law Project at the New York City Bar Association, where he also served on the International Trade Committee.

He has worked with a number of companies, including General Counsel for an international company, counseling on corporate governance and structure, security of distributed ledgers, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), intellectual property rights regarding blockchain, and licensing and contract issues. He has represented Standard & Poors and private developers in several deals, and his experience includes complex transactions involving energy construction projects in the $500 million range. In the Healthcare Sector, he has been a frequent speaker in Boston, Hartford, and Washington DC, among other places, on issues related to securities offerings/I.C.O.s/S.T.O.s, mergers and acquisitions, privacy/HIPAA issues, and patient data ownership.

He has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty at George Washington University for more than 15 years, where he teaches graduate-level courses that cover corporate governance, securities, and international transactions, including contract formation, applicable laws and treaties, letters of credit, and blockchain and cryptocurrencies. He holds advanced degrees from both Stanford University and Case Western Reserve University. He is a member of the DC Bar and has been admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. He also holds a commercial pilot license, instrument rated.

Jim also has developed expertise regarding the taxation of cryptocurrency transactions. He has contributed articles to CoinBase magazine addressing tax aspects of cryptocurrency transactions (including hard forks and crypto-to-crypto "like-kind" exchanges). Jim regularly counsels Cogent clients regarding tax aspects of I.C.O. transactions and structuring crypto businesses to achieve favorable tax treatment.

Josh is also Co-Founder and C.E.O. of the P.B.C. Conference, which is the B2B conference for payments, banking, and compliance in the cannabis industry. Josh's clients, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and companies in all stages of development value his dynamic approach to business strategy due to Josh's unique position as someone who both advises businesses and runs a business himself. Josh is a zealous advocate for his clients and has spoken on Capitol Hill, conferences, and other public forums on issues related to financial services in the cannabis and virtual currency industries.

Josh's clients are innovative and courageous and launch/operate their businesses in emerging industries like virtual currency or cannabis. These emerging industries are highly regulated environments, and strong client relationships are necessary. Josh prides himself on having a solid relationship with every one of his clients.

Due to Josh's extensive network and connections he has built throughout the years, Josh can help solve any business problem a client may have, from finding a bank to the right C.P.A.; his Rolodex is full.

Evan's strategic advice on corporate and I.P. issues draws on decades of experience in forming companies, raising funds, and protecting, enforcing, and licensing patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He has been an advisor to hundreds of fast-growing companies that built valuable portfolios in the medical, electronic, internet, computer, and mechanical fields.

Evan has represented patent holders and accused infringers in federal courts nationwide. His extensive litigation experience includes:

• Successful enforcement of a key power-over-ethernet patent (ultimately generating $38 million in royalties).
• Similarly successful enforcement and licensing of a fintech patent portfolio across the U.S. financial industry.
• Resolution of numerous trademark cases.
  

Evan received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University, his M.B.A. from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the DC and Virginia bars and admitted to practice in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prior to practicing law, Kevin’s career trajectory through roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) demonstrates a steadfast commitment to helping improve people’s lives in some of the most challenging environments on earth by optimizing economic growth and fortifying private sector participation. From spearheading a team managing a $500 million economic growth portfolio in order to pioneer economic growth initiatives across the Middle East, his leadership was instrumental in channeling strategic, high-impact interventions in complex environments throughout the Middle East. His innovative approaches and strategic foresights have influenced policy-making and fostered strategic international partnerships, particularly in conflict-stricken countries.

Prior to his foreign service tenure at USAID, Kevin managed negotiations for the purchase and sale of businesses at IDP Group, LLC, and optimized fixed income derivative portfolios at Bank of America’s Global Investment Banking Division. Whether advising clients on sophisticated estate planning strategies, to working with senior U.S. Government officials on private capital mobilization issues, or devising tools to safeguard against derivatives market exposure risk, Kevin interweaves his analytical acumen with strategic planning and caring for his clients.

In addition to numerous awards while at USAID, Mr. Martin received his JD and LLM from Loyola University Chicago and an MBA from The University of Chicago. He is a Committee Member of the D.C. Bar’s Estates, Trusts and Probate Law, as well as a Board Member of D.C. Refers.

Because of his extensive experience in this area, both as a regulator and BSA officer, Chris is uniquely qualified to advise your financial institution on starting its own successful cannabis banking program, ensuring that it adequately manages the risks associated with these accounts, developing policies and procedures that adequately reflect adherence to the 2014 FinCEN guidance, and advising on ways in which to effectively implement these policies and procedures. Chris is also able to advise on practical ways your financial institution will be able to gain traction in this sector, maintaining and growing your customer base, while generating significant revenue.