Shay Aaron Gilmore

With over 20 years of experience as a California attorney, Shay Aaron Gilmore advises and counsels successful cannabis and hemp operators and investors through the complexities of California’s legal cannabis and hemp markets with foresight, unswerving integrity, and a focus on client service.

Shay’s law practice includes outside general counsel services for cannabis and hemp operators and investors regarding business formation, financing and governance, commercial transactions, local permitting, state licensing, land use, intellectual property and regulatory compliance across the cannabis and hemp supply chains. Actively involved in local, state, national and international cannabis and hemp legislative and regulatory efforts, Shay serves on the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association, and as Chair of the California Lawyers Association Cannabis Practitioners Group.

California’s largest-circulation legal newspaper, The Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal, has recognized Shay as one of the Top 20 Cannabis Lawyers in the state. Super Lawyers® Magazine has listed Shay as a Northern California Super Lawyer in Cannabis Law and in Business & Corporate Law, and as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California across all practice areas.

Prior to founding The Law Office of Shay Aaron Gilmore, Shay practiced law at major national and international law firms, where he distinguished himself in a range of complex matters including commercial litigation, employment litigation, and regulatory compliance examinations. Shay also served as in-house corporate counsel in the legal departments of two major financial institutions, providing advice and counsel on corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, commercial transactions, product development, government affairs, corporate litigation, and regulatory compliance matters. 

Today, Shay’s work with California cannabis and hemp operators and investors includes:

• private mergers & acquisitions,
• joint ventures,
• private equity financings,
• supply chain contracts,
• licensing and product development,
• employment and labor law counsel,
• real estate acquisitions,
• administrative law counsel,
• venture capital counsel,
• regulatory compliance guidance, and
• land use and zoning counsel

honed to protect and expand access to legal, reliably tested, environmentally sustainable and socially equitable cannabis and hemp throughout every corner of California. Shay volunteers his time with the San Francisco Office of Cannabis to provide pro bono legal services to verified equity applicants under San Francisco’s Cannabis Equity Program. Appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Shay serves on the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee.

Recognized by the State Bar of California with the Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Service Award, Shay has also served as a Commissioner on the State Bar of California’s Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission. Shay holds a B.A. in Economics from Rice University and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.