Meet Laura Bianchi, co-founding partner of Bianchi & Brandt and one of the nation’s top experts in cannabis law, compliance, M&A, and strategic expansion.

With over a decade in the industry, she has closed hundreds of millions in transactions, guiding clients from startups to large corporations through the complexities of highly regulated markets. Her expertise has earned her features in Forbes, Bloomberg, O Magazine, and more. A true power player in cannabis law, Laura is shaping the future of the industry.

What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space? 

It was absolutely by accident. I’m a corporate attorney, and when the Medical Marijuana Act passed in Arizona, we had clients who became interested in the rulemaking process. They wanted to see the application and understand the business perspective, what it looked like, voice their concerns, and get recommendations for the process. In the beginning, it was odd. The American Bar Association and many lawyers said we shouldn’t help clients because we could lose our licenses. However, since this was approved by Arizona voters, it didn’t make sense not to assist.

The only way to protect clients and handle deals, especially with significant money involved, was through contracts. To me, contracts are individual puzzles that need solving, which makes them fun. It was trial and error—figuring out what worked and what didn’t and addressing issues as they arose. It evolved in real time. Looking back, it’s a unique experience to have been a part of history, building a business and department to help clients.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received and how has it shaped your approach to your business?

This is what I say all the time: you can be right, or you can be successful. You can’t be both. Sometimes, I think professionals working for someone else don’t understand the necessary compromises that come when you have your own business. You have to put your people first. It’s stressful, but you have to take care of your people and have a great culture.

One of my mentors always told me, “Laura, you have to look at your people as the most important. Those salaries are an investment.” Some people think, “I hire more people, I have to pay more money.” It’s not that. To be successful and keep growing, you have to see the value of what you’re paying them as an investment in that person, your business, and everyone’s success.

What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond? 

It takes hard work to understand and figure out where you want to go and what type of business you want to start. You’ve got to know your value and know your worth. A lot of times, you really have to fight for the type of business you envision; it’s not always easy, and especially in the cannabis industry. We had a moment where we were doing great as far as having a lot of women in executive roles.

I think that has certainly lessened over the years, unfortunately, so in a lot of ways, it’s become another male-dominated industry again. It’s a challenging industry, and there are complications that you will not find in any other industry. But that also means there’s a lot of opportunity for success and advancement because a lot of people aren’t willing to dig in and do what it takes to be successful in this industry.