General Cannabis, a service provider to the cannabis industry based in Denver, announced on Monday that it hired its first general counsel.

The company announced the hiring of Brett Wendt as the company's executive vice president and general counsel. In the announcement, the company said that General Cannabis is seeking to target larger acquisitions and expand in different states. It said Wendt's role will be critical to its business strategy.

Wendt joins the company from Kutak Rock, a law firm in Denver. His first date on the job was Monday.

“Joining General Cannabis is a tremendous opportunity that allows me to utilize all of my business and employment law experience over the past two decades, and put it to use in accelerating the growth of a company that is poised to do great things,” Wendt said in an emailed statement. “I'm excited to be joining a leadership team that I know respects the perspective I can bring, while at the same time learning from those who have been navigating the Cannabis space for many years.”

This is not Wendt's first time venturing in-house. He previously served as the senior vice president and general counsel for UtiliQuest, the largest underground utility company in the United States.

“As the markets continue their rapid evolution in relation to cannabis, and the regulatory environment remains in constant flux across the country, the role of General Counsel quickly became a top priority for us,” CEO Robert Fritchel said in a statement. “Collectively, Brett's is a skillset that can be a critical driver of our growth, while helping us maintain the most productive and rewarding work environment in the industry.”

A graduate of the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver, Wendt has worked at law firms White and Steele and Linquest & Vennum. He also served as a board member for the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association and the USA Ski Cross. He served as the Colorado state chairman for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and as the Colorado representative for the Defense Research Institute.

General Cannabis provides consulting, financing, branding, business development and other services to marijuana companies.

The story has been updated to add comment from Wendt and clarify his start date.