Fatima Afia

‍Fatima Afia, Esq. — Cannabis & Real Estate Attorney | Regulatory Compliance & | NY Real Estate Law

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Fatima's landmark litigation experience and commitment to social justice empower minority-owned businesses to navigate complex regulations. With Fatima's guidance, women and minority entrepreneurs secure a strong foothold in the burgeoning cannabis market.

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Fatima is a cannabis attorney at Rudick Law Group, PLLC specializing in matters such as regulatory compliance, state cannabis licensing, commercial transactions, New York cannabis real estate and leasing, advocacy and policy, corporate law, and cannabis business law. Fatima has a diverse background in land use and landmarks law, disability insurance law, impact litigation, and business and commercial litigation.

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Fatima first came to the cannabis industry in 2017 as a litigator and member of the legal team that brought Washington v. Barr, a pro-bono lawsuit brought against the federal government seeking a declaration that the mis-classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug is unconstitutional. As a litigator on that case, Fatima garnered overwhelming amicus support, including the support of preeminent scientists and members of the U.S. Congress, for an appeal before the United States Supreme Court. Fatima thereafter pivoted to state-level social advocacy and policy work in the adult-use cannabis industry, successfully advocating for an expedited license application-review process for women and minority-owned businesses in Massachusetts.

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Fatima provides high-quality legal services to a wide range of plant-touching and ancillary cannabis businesses and entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on women and minority-owned businesses, small businesses, and newly-formed start-ups. Fatima guides clients through cannabis business license application processes in multiple jurisdictions, including New Jersey and New York, and brings additional regulatory experience from her earlier advocacy and policy work in Massachusetts' adult-use cannabis market. She provides regulatory compliance support and advice to businesses already operating in constantly-evolving regulatory landscapes. Fatima also helps clients navigate a host of commercial transactions — including real estate matters central to the cannabis industry, such as commercial lease negotiations and landlord-tenant issues unique to cannabis operators in New York — utilizing her cannabis regulatory knowledge and experience to manage risk in a quickly-evolving industry. As a licensed New York real estate broker, Fatima brings a unique, dual perspective to the property transactions cannabis operators regularly face.

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Fatima is an article contributor for Marijuana Venture and a thought leader on LinkedIn. There, she provides insightful commentary on breaking news and litigation updates in the Tri-State area with an emphasis on New York’ adult-use cannabis market.