January 23, 2018, Denver, CO - TCMS Global continues to expand operations to accommodate the urgent needs of its clients in the burgeoning cannabis industry, according to a press release. Despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions' latest moves against the industry, new state markets continue to expand. Regardless of federal policy, global markets will continue to provide new high-growth opportunities. The once cottage-industry is evolving. Protection of intellectual property, patients, trademarks and their adherence to the rule of law is fundamental.
Preparing to formalize your company’s intellectual property is a strategic progression within the business lifecycle. When properly executed, the IP increases the organization’s value and furthers its ability to expand, brand and innovate. TCMS Global welcomes attorney Mr. Weatherspoon, Ph. D., to the team to guide our clients through the next phase of their business and beyond.
Mr. Weatherspoon is a patent and trademark attorney specializing in patent and trademark law with over 15 years’ experience practicing patent law in both technological and pharmaceutical industries and critical to the next evolution of the cannabis industry. He has an impressive career spanning major cities such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Houston, and globally, including China. Mr. Weatherspoon has experience advising on the growth of companies globally and is a partner with the cross-border accelerator VesaliuX. He is licensed in D.C. and Maryland and a registered U.S. patent attorney; and possesses a doctorate in pharmacology from George Washington University, juris doctor in intellectual property law from George Mason University and bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Duke University.
Of the new role in an emerging industry and relationship, Mr. Weatherspoon states that, “It is a real honor and privilege to be joining TCMS Global. Larisa Bolivar and Noel Billingsley are already recognized for their unparalleled leadership, expertise, experience and excellent service to their clients in the cannabis industry, and TCMS Global is a true full-service cannabis consulting firm. I am very fortunate to be joining such an incredible team.”
Mr. Weatherspoon’s services that TCMS Global will be adding to its current suite of business strategy and development consulting services, include licensing of intellectual property rights, trade secret protection, IP due diligence, freedom-to-operate analysis, compliance with FDA labeling requirements, strategic partnerships/joint ventures/collaboration agreements, risk mitigation strategies, trademark protection, I.T.C. practice, technology transfer, patent evergreening strategies, competitive landscape analysis, best practices to maintain proper ownership of IP and using intellectual property as valuable collateral. These services are essential to provide clients with the business and brand development strategies necessary to grow and compete.
TCMS Global founders and managing partners are really glad that Mr. Weatherspoon is joining their team. Bolivar recalls that “I met Mr. Weatherspoon on the train in Northern Virginia headed into D.C. several years ago in 2010, and quickly became friends. We were both in tech at the time, an industry that I cut my teeth on when I was a recruiter in the mid to late 90s. I remember discussing cannabinoids with Mr. Weatherspoon, and talking about the discovery of anandamide. I knew then we were meant to do something great together.” Billingsley continues, “This is perfect timing for the direction the cannabis industry is going. Intellectual property is part of company valuations, and with more companies entering the space, it is critical to start defining what your intellectual property to not only protect, but to attract the funds necessary to grow.”
Patent and trademark legal services join the suite of services provided by TCMS Global to offer cannabis and hemp businesses, whether plant touching or a vertical in the space, to provide clients with complete business development and management strategies. Services that TCMS Global provides includes cannabis business licensing (our team has won multiple licenses in highly competitive states), business plans and pitch decks, compliance plans, security plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), seed-to-sale tracking, organizational development, due diligence, financial strategy and more. For more information regarding TCMS Global’s services, please visit www.tcmsglobal.com.
Eric Sandy
