Nicole Stanton, previously carving a place for herself in the growing cannabis industry, has made a strategic move back into the legal sphere. The former managing partner at Quarles & Brady LLP left the green pastures of her general counsel role at Trulieve to join the Phoenix law office of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a partner, with her new role taking effect from January 1. Stanton, recognized for her astute legal mind and impeccable ethics, is dialing back into litigation and legal ethics, sectors where her prowess is well-proven.
This homecoming is not just an exercise in professional realignment but a re-integration with the community fabric she has long been a part of. Stanton's pivot comes after a vital stint at the Florida-based dispensary and cultivation company, which acquired Arizona-based Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. in a 2021 merger. According to an interview with Phoenix Business Journal, Stanton describes her tenure in the cannabis business as one where she "was building the plane as we were flying it," due to the nascent and often tumultuous nature of the industry.
Scott Jenkins, who once was recruited by Stanton and remained at Quarles for seven years, played a part in her return as he now oversees the Phoenix office of Dorsey & Whitney. Speaking to Phoenix Business Journal, Jenkins lauded Stanton as "a highly experienced attorney who is well-respected in the community." Under Jenkins, the Phoenix office has grown to a team of 26 attorneys and has diversified its practice areas to include commercial litigation, which Stanton will now be a part of.
While her time in the cannabis industry was challenging due to an intense regulatory landscape, Stanton's background is expected to enhance her role at Dorsey & Whitney. Last year, Stanton experienced the federal inconvenience of having her bank accounts, as well as those of her children, terminated due to her involvement with a cannabis business. This very personal dealing with the friction between state and federal laws underscores why she is hopeful for Congress to enact legislation that rectifies such issues for industry employees. "I had to scramble to find another bank to get my life in order," Stanton recollected in a statement obtained by Phoenix Business Journal.
Despite her professional accomplishments and agenda, her family ties have always been kept separate from her career decisions. Stanton's husband, Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton (D), has been active in the push for federal reforms favorable to the cannabis industry, although she insists that her position at Trulieve was unaffected by her husband's political endeavors. "Greg has very high ethical standards, and [my work at Trulieve] was never an issue for him," Stanton said.
