Gowling WLG (UK) LLP

Gowling WLG has established itself as a leader in advising cannabis businesses across a range of legal matters and services. Our team of experienced professionals are deeply versed in the complexities of cannabis law and regulation and have extensive experience advising businesses in the cannabis and CBD industries on multiple fronts including with respect to public listings, financings, mergers and acquisitions, business development, licencing, product regulatory issues and distribution requirements. 

Our UK Cannabis group recently won the ‘Law Firm of the Year’ award at the Business of Cannabis Awards 2024 and we were acknowledged for the high number of commercial transactions we have advised on over the past year. 

Our firm has a proven track record of providing effective legal representation and advocacy for leading cannabis businesses worldwide. Some of our notable matters include:

• Counsel to several global investment banks on English cannabis regulatory advice and IPOs of cannabinoid-based pharma companies.
• Counsel to numerous CBD and medicinal cannabis companies on seed-round fundraisings, pre-IPO fundraisings, IPOs, dual-listings, acquisitions, restructuring and debt advice and English regulatory advice.
• Counsel to Voyager Life on its proposed acquisition of Tree of Life and other proposed acquisitions.

• Counsel to Infused Products International in relation to their UK based CBD wellness brand, Infused Amphora.
• Counsel to GW Pharma, a global leader in cannabinoid-based medicines.

• Counsel to Britannia Life Sciences on its strategic partnership with a UK laboratory services provider and numerous bolt-on acquisitions.  

• Counsel to Kanabo Group, a pan-European medicinal cannabis company, on its acquisition of The GP Service Limited, related prospectus work and on a retained basis.

• Counsel to Celadon Pharmaceuticals plc on a retained basis.

The firm’s Head of UK Cannabis Group, Samantha Myers, is consistently ranked as a Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyer by Cannabis Law Report and Cannabis Law Journal. With experience of acting for companies, or their advisers, on IPOs and secondary transactions, Samantha regularly advises on a range of domestic and cross border M&A transactions, including public takeovers. She also has significant experience in a range of sectors including retail and consumer, life sciences, healthcare, and natural resources.

Samantha’s career history includes a secondment to the Corporate Finance team of Singer Capital Markets. She also co-authored the AIM chapter in ‘World Stock Exchanges – A Practical Guide’, having over ten years’ experience advising AIM listed clients, and contributed to the English law report in the World Law Group’s 2020 Global Report on Cannabis Policy. Samantha is a vice president on the board of the Canada UK Chamber of Commerce.

Gowling WLG’s Cannabis Group actively shapes the legal landscape of the cannabis industry through scholarly, thought leadership, and advocacy efforts. We contribute to the World Law Group’s Global Report on Cannabis Policy, providing insights into cannabis laws in England and highlighting significant legal issues, including legislation, requirements, and risks. 

The firm is an advocate for the sector, regularly hosting cannabis events and conferences. We have sponsored the Cannabis Invest UK event, bringing together industry leaders and investors to discuss trends and developments, and hosted the Cannabis Industry Council and Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society event during Medical Cannabis Awareness Week, featuring discussions on therapeutic uses of cannabinoids. 

Internationally, we have hosted discussions with the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce about legalising medical cannabis globally.

Gowling WLG’s areas of expertise extends beyond the Cannabis sector, such as:

• IPOs & private placements
• Private & public M&A
• Debt & equity financing transactions
• Legislative and regulatory frameworks
• Commercial litigation
• Product liability & risk management
• Consumer protection
• Licensing & distribution
• Packaging & labelling
• Advertising
• Intellectual property
• Real estate & municipal zoning
• Tax
• Employment & labour issues

Our People

Samantha Myers – Gowling WLG (UK) LLP