Jonathan S. Berck – Offit Kurman

Jonathan S. Berck is a principal attorney at Offit Kurman, where he leads the firm’s Cannabis Law Practice Group. Jon provides strategic legal counsel to businesses in the cannabis industry, guiding them through complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. He advises cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers, making him a trusted advisor in the industry. Jon stays ahead of industry trends, helping clients navigate challenges and seize opportunities in this rapidly evolving sector. 

In addition to his cannabis practice, Jon is an integral member of Offit Kurman’s Business Law and Transactions and International Law Practice Groups. His corporate practice includes domestic and international business transactions, joint ventures, business succession planning, mergers & acquisitions, and project finance. He serves clients across numerous industries—including oil and gas, telecommunications, real estate, agriculture, and banking—in jurisdictions as diverse as the U.S., U.K., Germany, Kazakhstan, Qatar, and Kenya.

Jon’s international experience is extensive, having practiced law in Germany for many years. Before joining Offit Kurman, he practiced in Washington, D.C., Frankfurt, and London with major U.S. law firms. He has also contributed to the legal field as an educator, teaching international business law at the University of Alabama School of Law in Tuscaloosa and the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. Jon is fluent in German.

Jon holds a J.D. cum laude from the Harvard Law School, an M.A. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and a B.A. with Highest Honors from Swarthmore College. He also studied at the Eberhard-Karls-University in Tübingen, Germany, as a Fulbright Scholar. Jon is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, and England & Wales, and many federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Practice Areas

• Cannabis Law
• Business Law and Transactions
• Business and Corporate Advisory
• Business Formation
• International
• Mergers and Acquisitions

Industries

• Oil & Gas
• Telecommunications
• Art
• Real Estate
• Insurance
• Life Settlements
• Agriculture
• Banking

Recognitions

• 2024 Top Lawyer by Hudson Valley Magazine

Publications

• New York Supreme Court Extends Injunction on Cannabis Retail Licensing Program Amid Legal Controversy
• CannaBlast: First Dispensary Licenses Issued in New York

Languages

• German

Education

• Harvard Law School (J.D. cum laude)
• Columbia University (M.A.)
• Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen (Fulbright Scholar)
• Swarthmore College (B.A. with Highest Honors)

Bar Admissions

• New York
• New Jersey
• District of Columbia
• England & Wales (non-practicing solicitor)

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Socials

• LinkedIn