Phil Cherner has represented the accused in Colorado trial and appellate courts, state and federal courts, since 1975. His professional experience includes over 160 felony trials, and numerous appeals. He  practices criminal defense and attorney grievance defense. He frequently testifies as an expert in criminal defense and attorney ethics. Mr. Cherner also specializes in serious charges, including homicide, sexual assault, drug cases, assaults, thefts, robberies and white collar defense. He has spoken before many professional groups, serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver Law School, and has published numerous law articles. He is a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Evidence Rules Committee, as well as many leading professional associations.

Warren C. Edson was one of the organizers of Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Law, Amendment 20. He is a Lifetime Member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and has been a member of its legal committee since 1995. He is a frequent speaker on all aspects of medical marijuana.

Dean Harris has worked as a Staff Attorney in Mountain States Employers Council’s Employment Law Services Department since 2006 and has advised member organizations on drug issues and drug policies since his arrival at MSEC. MSEC is a non-profit organization that advises its member on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Before joining MSEC, Dean practiced employment and criminal law, representing plaintiffs in employment and civil rights cases and defendants in criminal matters. His practice included representing criminal defendants charged with drug possession and employees disciplined at work for drug related behavior. Before he practiced law, Mr. Harris was a police officer in the Denver metro area for 15 years.

Jill Lemoureux Leigh owns Boulder County Caregivers (BCC), a medical marijuana dispensary in Boulder. She has seven employees, to whom she offers health insurance and plans to add 401(k) benefits. The services the dispensary offers include free massage therapy and counseling services for members, discounts for veterans, SSI/SSD and hospice patients, and home delivery education. BCC’s mission is to provide qualified patients with holistic care and a confidential, safe and professional source of natural products and support services. Ms. Leigh received her MBA from the University of Denver.

Joseph Saint-Veltri is an acclaimed defense attorney who has successfully represented clients throughout the United States and internationally for 35 years. He specializes in complex criminal litigation, including business fraud, forfeiture, Racketeering Influenced Crime Organization (RICO), Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE), electronic surveillance and extradition matters. Mr. Saint-Veltri’s name has appeared in each edition of Best Lawyers in America since its first publication in 1983. He currently represents Chris Bartkowicz, who was recently charged with federal crimes for growing medical marijuana in his Highlands Ranch home.

Brian Vicente is an active defense attorney and serves as executive director of Sensible Colorado, the state’s leading nonprofit working for medical marijuana patients and caregivers. He is the chairman of the Denver Mayor’s Marijuana Policy Review Panel and coordinates the Colorado Bar Association’s Drug Policy Project. He was awarded the prestigious Gideon award for his free speech advocacy during the 2008 Democratic National Convention and was selected as “Freedom Fighter of the Month” by High Times magazine in 2007.

J.B. Woods started his insurance career 19 years ago with Northwestern Mutual Life, then became an agent for Allstate Insurance for 10 years. His Greenpoint Insurance brokerage was founded in 2008. Mr. Woods has provided consulting services to insurance companies due to his knowledge of the industry and its products. He is licensed in property/casualty, life and health insurance in Colorado. He also maintains a non-resident insurance license in California. The Denver Post named Mr. Woods the “guru of ganja insurance” due to his firm’s concentration on the medical marijuana industry.

CLE INTERNATIONAL Managing Program Attorney
Heidi A. Ray, heidi@cle.com