Michelle Mabugat has a broad-based corporate and transactional practice that focuses on advising entrepreneurs and high-growth companies on matters that span the business lifecycle, from start-up through exit.

Often acting as outside general counsel, she assists clients with their general corporate and day-to-day transactional needs as well as their most critical transactions, including early- and growth-stage equity and debt financings, joint ventures and strategic alliances, licensing deals, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in both distressed and non-distressed situations. She also provides strategic advice to boards, management teams and investors on sensitive issues related to corporate governance, shareholder disputes, regulatory compliance and risk management.

She has earned significant accolades in her field, including being listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America in 2024 and Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2021 through 2023.

Michelle represents clients across all industries but, as Co-Chair of the firm’s Cannabis Industry Group, she has significant experience representing clients in the cannabis sector. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on cannabis law, she has been named a “Cannabis Law Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal and a “Top Cannabis Lawyer” by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal. 

An active member of the Los Angeles community, Michell provides pro bono counsel for the Cannabis Equity Retailers Association and to low-income applicants who qualify for the Los Angeles Cannabis Social Equity Program. She is also an Executive Committee Member for the Primerus Cannabis Practice Group; a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Committee Member for the Association for Corporate Growth - Los Angeles Chapter (ACG-LA); the Lead Member of the Policy Subcommittee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Cannabis Section; and an Amicus Committee Member for the International Cannabis Bar Association.

Publications

• Co-Author, “Legal Weed: A Comprehensive Guide to California Cannabis Law & Regulation"