Unrivaled Brands Inc (OTCQX:UNRV) revealed that it had named experienced corporate attorney Robert Baca as interim Chief Legal Officer (CLO) as it focuses on becoming a dominant West Coast cannabis company.
A California cannabis industry veteran, Baca has over a decade of experience as a corporate attorney and consultant, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and leveraged finance transactions, said the multistate cannabis operator,
The vertically integrated Santa Ana, California-based company with operations in California and Oregon said Baca’s appointment follows the naming of Sabas Carrillo as interim Chief Executive Officer on August 12.
READ: Unrivaled Brands reports sixfold increase in 2Q revenue; gross profit more than triples
Baca is Sabas’ first appointment as he focuses on executing the company’s ongoing business transformation.
“We thank Ms (Erika) Rasch for her leadership as CLO of the company over the past several years and wish her the best as she pursues another opportunity,” said Sabas. “Per the company’s engagement with Adnant, we promised to bring in a strong executive team. Fortunately, we can add a powerhouse like Robert at no additional expense to the company.”
Before representing clients in the cannabis industry, Baca practiced as a corporate attorney while at institutions, including the New York offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Paul Hastings LLP, and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS). He has represented US and foreign financial institutions, private equity sponsors, and public and private companies in connection with M&As, securities offerings, and commercial financings, including secured and unsecured credit facilities and acquisition financings.
Baca is the Manager of Legal Affairs and Innovation at Adnant LLC, an accounting and consulting firm advising cannabis companies on technical and operational accounting, strategic transactions, and the public offering process.
He is also an adjunct professor of law at the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, teaching The Practice and Business of Cannabis Law.
Prior to Adnant, Baca oversaw the licensing and compliance efforts of cannabis companies in Northern California involved in retail, manufacturing, distribution, and cultivation during the turn of adult-use legalization in California. He was also a founder and executive director of the Sacramento Cannabis Industry Association. He later received the Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award.
“Robert is an aggressive and experienced advocate appropriate for this moment in Unrivaled’s history. His experience in cannabis and in corporate transactions will make him an important part of the Unrivaled team,” said Sabas.
Baca graduated with a BA from Dartmouth College with honors, a JD from the University of Chicago Law School, and a Master of Science in Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He is a licensed member of the State Bars of New York and California and a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Cannabis Section Policy Subcommittee.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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