Biography

Joshua is Co-Chair of the firm's Cannabis Law practice and is ranked by Chambers USA among the nation’s leading Cannabis Law attorneys.

Industry leaders such as PharmaCann and Trulieve, as well as emerging cannabis and hemp businesses, rely on Joshua’s sophisticated knowledge of this unique sector to help them access new markets and clear the multistate regulatory hurdles that complicate commercial transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and capital raises.

Joshua leads a national team — named 2021 Cannabis Group of the Year by Law360 — that serves the diverse needs of businesses in the legalized cannabis and hemp sector, providing regulatory compliance, employment, licensing, banking, real estate, corporate financing and other services for new and established businesses.

Recognized by The National Law Journal as a Trailblazer in Cannabis Law, Joshua is a respected authority on the complex legal issues that arise in this rapidly growing and diversifying industry. He has advised Philadelphia City Council on the employment law challenges posed by Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program as a representative of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee. He was also a guest lecturer for cannabis law courses at Stockton and Villanova universities.

Joshua is a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee. Joshua is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Cannabis Law Journal.

In addition, he is an editor of Fox’s In the Weeds blog which helps cannabis entrepreneurs stay informed on developments in the law and legislation.

Financial Services

Co-Chair of the firm’s Securities Industry Practice, Joshua has deep experience in serving the needs of major financial services companies throughout the country. He has represented financial advisory companies, individual advisors and counselors in FINRA examinations, enforcement and arbitrations. He has also represented individual brokers on disciplinary matters before FINRA and state securities commissions, and has represented companies and individuals in SEC investigations.

Joshua’s practice also includes the representation of the premier merchant card processing company in various matters, including class actions, throughout the country.

Joshua is Co-Chair of the firm's Cannabis Law practice and is ranked by Chambers USA among the nation’s leading Cannabis Law attorneys.

Industry leaders such as PharmaCann and Trulieve, as well as emerging cannabis and hemp businesses, rely on Joshua’s sophisticated knowledge of this unique sector to help them access new markets and clear the multistate regulatory hurdles that complicate commercial transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and capital raises.

Joshua leads a national team — named 2021 Cannabis Group of the Year by Law360 — that serves the diverse needs of businesses in the legalized cannabis and hemp sector, providing regulatory compliance, employment, licensing, banking, real estate, corporate financing and other services for new and established businesses.

Recognized by The National Law Journal as a Trailblazer in Cannabis Law, Joshua is a respected authority on the complex legal issues that arise in this rapidly growing and diversifying industry. He has advised Philadelphia City Council on the employment law challenges posed by Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program as a representative of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee. He was also a guest lecturer for cannabis law courses at Stockton and Villanova universities.

Joshua is a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee. Joshua is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Cannabis Law Journal.

In addition, he is an editor of Fox’s In the Weeds blog which helps cannabis entrepreneurs stay informed on developments in the law and legislation.

Financial Services

Co-Chair of the firm’s Securities Industry Practice, Joshua has deep experience in serving the needs of major financial services companies throughout the country. He has represented financial advisory companies, individual advisors and counselors in FINRA examinations, enforcement and arbitrations. He has also represented individual brokers on disciplinary matters before FINRA and state securities commissions, and has represented companies and individuals in SEC investigations.

Joshua’s practice also includes the representation of the premier merchant card processing company in various matters, including class actions, throughout the country.

Representative Matters

  • Represented PharmaCann in raising $120 million with sale of senior secured notes to finance future growth plans.
  • Represented PharmaCann in securing $110 million investment in the form of an acquisition option by Cronos Group, a leading Canadian cannabis company.
  • Served as U.S. regulatory counsel to Trulieve in its $2.1 billion acquisition of Harvest Health & Recreation, creating the most profitable multistate cannabis operator in the United States.
  • Represented Trulieve as regulatory counsel in its $60 million acquisition of Keystone Shops, expanding the client’s retail footprint in Pennsylvania.
  • Served as regulatory counsel to GR Companies Inc. (Grassroots) in its sale to Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. to create the world’s largest cannabis company by revenue and the most diversified vertically integrated cannabis company in the U.S. Helped the client navigate multistate regulatory obstacles in order to complete the deal.
  • Represented PharmaCann in raising $120 million with sale of senior secured notes to finance future growth plans.
  • Represented PharmaCann in securing $110 million investment in the form of an acquisition option by Cronos Group, a leading Canadian cannabis company.
  • Served as U.S. regulatory counsel to Trulieve in its $2.1 billion acquisition of Harvest Health & Recreation, creating the most profitable multistate cannabis operator in the United States.
  • Represented Trulieve as regulatory counsel in its $60 million acquisition of Keystone Shops, expanding the client’s retail footprint in Pennsylvania.
  • Served as regulatory counsel to GR Companies Inc. (Grassroots) in its sale to Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. to create the world’s largest cannabis company by revenue and the most diversified vertically integrated cannabis company in the U.S. Helped the client navigate multistate regulatory obstacles in order to complete the deal.

Client Resources

In the Weeds Blog
In the highly regulated cannabis industry, success is reserved for those who take a thoughtful and strategic approach to entering this market. In the Weeds aims to help keep today’s cannabis entrepreneur well informed. Josh tracks developments in marijuana law and business, including regulatory framework in states where cannabis has been legalized for medical and/or recreational uses and the unique issues that businesses in the cannabis industry face. Join this blog team in their examination of issues that are distinct to companies in the legal marijuana space, as well as the interplay of collateral businesses to the cannabis industry.

Webinar: Dodd-Frank Fallout: What's in Store for the Investment Management Industry?
In this webinar, attorneys in Fox Rothschild's Securities Industry Group explore and explain how Dodd-Frank will affect investment advisers, hedge funds, money market funds, mutual funds, broker-dealers and other investment management industry participants.
Download the Presentation (PowerPoint File)

Webinar: Practical Risk Management for Financial Advisors and Supervisors
This practical webinar is designed for executives responsible for monitoring, measuring and controlling risks. Whether you must deal with or are a regulator, board member or senior management, this presentation highlights best practices.
Download the Presentation (PDF File)

Attorney Authored Resources

Beyond Fox Rothschild

Joshua is a member of Cannabis Law Journal’s Editorial Advisory Board.

Honors & Awards

  • Named to the Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers list by Cannabis Law Report and Cannabis Law Journal (2024)
  • Selected as "Chair of the Year" by Philadelphia Bar Association Business Law Section (2023)
  • Selected to the list of "Cannabis Power Lawyers" by Metro Philadelphia (2022)
  • Selected to the "Best of the Bar" list by Philadelphia Business Journal (2019)
  • Named to a list of "Distinguished Leaders" by The Legal Intelligencer (2019)        
  • Recognized in the Chambers USA Guide for Cannabis Law - Nationwide (2019-2025)
  • Named a Cannabis Law Trailblazer by The National Law Journal (2018)
  • Named to a list of 250 Cannabis Law Experts by Databird Research Journal (2018)
  • Named a "Rising Star" by Philadelphia Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine (2006)

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Education

  • Widener University School of Law (J.D.)
  • Skidmore College (B.A.)

Memberships

  • International Cannabis Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
    • Co-Chair, Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee
  • Cannabis Law Journal, Editorial Board Member 
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
    • Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Committee
  • Legal Policy Council, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry

National Cannabis Bar Association Silver Member Badge