Luke Stanton, left, and Jeffrey Welsh, Vicente Sederberg partners (courtesy photos)

Denver-based Vicente Sederberg, an influential player in the cannabis industry, has added the two founders of another influential cannabis law firm, Los Angeles-based Frontera Law Group, as partners. 

Luke Stanton and Jeffrey Welsh co-founded Frontera in 2015 with the idea that there was a market for helping businesses navigate the murky waters of California's cannabis laws. Vicente Sederberg announced Tuesday that the pair will be joining the firm's Los Angeles office.

"We are proud and excited to join a firm with such a strong national presence and rich history of leadership in the field of cannabis law and policy," Stanton said in a statement. "Vicente Sederberg is known for its unparalleled knowledge, experience, and influence in the marijuana and hemp industries. We could not be more thrilled with this transition and what it means for our clients and the cannabis industry as a whole."

Unlike many Big Law firms that have established cannabis practices to mix into their existing portfolio, both Vicente Sederberg and Frontera were formed with cannabis law as their primary focus, and Vicente Sederberg appears intent on leaning into that strategy.

In addition to hiring Stanton and Welsh, Vicente Sederberg also brought on cannabis law compliance attorney Christina Sava as an associate in October. Sava works out of Oakland. 

"We are pleased to welcome these exceptionally talented attorneys to Vicente Sederberg," founding partner Josh Kappel said in a statement. "This expansion of the firm's partnership, as well as the addition of a highly qualified attorney in the Bay Area, will create a host of new opportunities for our clients and further establish VS as a global leader on cannabis law and policy."

While at Frontera, Stanton and Welsh worked with clients such as cannabis delivery pioneer Eaze, Arizona cannabis grower Sunday Goods and Calgary-based cannabis grower and processor Sunniva.

As both of its founding partners exit, Frontera will cease to exist in its current form, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Vicente Sederberg, which was founded in cannabis-friendly Colorado, has expanded to include offices in Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Jacksonville, Florida, with around 40 total attorneys. Its lawyers have worked with clients in 21 states as well as Canada, the firm said. 

As Big Law continues to expand into what used to be a niche market for specialty firms such as Vicente Sederberg and Frontera, cannabis boutiques will need to capitalize on their years of experience and client relationships to compete with the much larger and oftentimes better-funded full-service firms that occupy the Am Law 200.

For Vicente Sederberg's California lawyers, that also means defending their home turf.  

Just this year, California-based Big Law firms Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan announced the formation of their respective cannabis practices, both of which have more head count at formation than Vicente Sederberg currently has firmwide.  

"Luke and Jeffrey built Frontera from the ground up into a premier cannabis law practice and leader in the California cannabis business community," Kappel said in a statement. "Their diversity of experience and deep understanding of the state's legal and regulatory landscapes will play a critical role in VS's continued growth in California and beyond."

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