Arthur E. Cirulnick

Partner
Cirulnick Arthur

Art Cirulnick is a co-chair of the Cannabis Law Group at Venable. Art is an experienced business attorney who focuses on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and corporate matters. Art represents domestic and international companies in a wide variety of industries that pursue aggressive acquisition programs. Art maintains a special emphasis on emerging growth companies in technology, eCommerce, telecommunications, regulated substances, and government contracts. Art also advises clients on general business issues related to investing, transacting, raising capital, and operating in the cannabis industry, along with related M&A matters.

He counsels clients on day-to-day and long-term business issues and transactions, including:

  • Equity formation and planning
  • Equity and debt financing from venture capitalists, commercial lenders, and private investors
  • Key employee incentive compensation arrangements
  • Acquisitions and dispositions of businesses
  • Joint ventures
  • Corporate disputes among business owners

Art advises numerous management teams in structuring and implementing M&A strategies and has been lead counsel on more than 300 M&A transactions. In addition to his experience as a general business attorney, Art has a broad and complementary background in tax law.

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represents the acquirer of approximately $4 billion of spectrum from the FCC
  • Represented the leading banking and payment solutions company operating in the U.S. cannabis industry 
  • Represents the founder of one of the largest cannabis dispensaries in the United States
  • Represents a major DC-based government contractor and handled the entirety of its M&A work
  • Represents the developer of a major shopping center on the Las Vegas Strip
  • Represents a DC-based venture capital company with respect to its investments in portfolio companies

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. magna cum laude University of San Francisco School of Law 1979
  • B.A. University of California at Santa Barbara 1975

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • California

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Member, Board of Governors, University of San Francisco School of Law, 2016 - 2022
  • Former adjunct professor in business planning, George Washington University National Law Center
  • Wrote numerous materials for American Law Institute – American Bar Association publications
  • Authored "Shareholders Agreements," in Negotiating Business Transactions (Wiley Law Publications)

Recognition
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  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated