SPEAKER

Lauren Mendelsohn

Senior Associate

Law Offices of Omar Figueroa

BIO

Senior Associate Lauren Mendelsohn is an activist at heart who enjoys helping individuals and businesses navigate regulatory regimes and the justice system. An East Coast native with roots in New York and New Jersey, Lauren was named a Northern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers® in 2020 and 2021, and a “Lawyer of Distinction” in the area of Intellectual Property by Sonoma Magazine in 2021.

Lauren focuses on cannabis permitting and licensing, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, government affairs (including drafting local ordinances and citizen initiatives, lobbying decision-making bodies, and appearing for clients at administrative hearings), and post-conviction relief. She has spoken at numerous cannabis industry conferences and events, and has also taught several continuing legal education seminars in both live and virtual formats. She was recently selected as a judge for the 2022 Emerald Cup competition. 

For several years, Lauren has been involved in drug policy reform as well as other social justice efforts. She formerly chaired the Board of Directors of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), an international non-profit aimed at ending the counterproductive “War on Drugs.”  Lauren currently sits on the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) and on the Advisory Council of the Sonoma County Grower’s Alliance (SCGA). She also volunteers with the Sonoma County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Lauren earned her JD from the University of California, Irvine School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland. She is a proud member of the California State Bar, the Sonoma County Bar Association, the International Cannabis Bar Association, SSDP’s Sensible Society, California NORML, the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), Americans for Safe Access, and the ACLU. 

Full Bio