Anne Kelson

Anne Kelson is an attorney at Kelson Law Group, a law firm in Oakland, California. Anne’s practice areas include employment law, licensing, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, and outside general counsel for licensed cannabis businesses and other small to mid-sized businesses. Anne has represented small businesses and multi-state companies in state and federal courts, administrative proceedings, and arbitration regarding employment, business and other civil litigation matters. Anne routinely provides advice and counsel on a variety of employment related matters, including employee discipline, state and federal leave requirements, wage and hour compliance, employee handbooks and recent state and federal legislation. Anne also assists cannabis operators in navigating regulatory compliance matters, and state and local licensing.  

Anne served as an advisor to the Compassion Coalition, a group of California-based compassion programs who provide donated cannabis to the terminally ill, veterans and other patients with serious medical conditions.  For two legislative cycles, Anne worked with various stakeholder organizations and advocacy groups who contributed to SB 34, the Dennis Peron and Brownie Mary Act. She has also provided pro bono legal assistance to compassionate care programs.

Anne serves as Co-Chair of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s (“INCBA”) Appellation Rights Subcommittee and is a contributing member of the INCBA’S Continuing Legal Education Committee.  Additionally, Anne has also served as an advisor to stakeholder organizations working on cannabis appellations. 

Anne received a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. She is a graduate of U.C. Davis School of Law.