An Interview With Vicente Sederberg Partner & Composite Agency Co-Founder Jeffrey Welsh

photo credit Angel OoriggiNow, this is a part of the cannabis business that I’m intrigued to know more about…I have a very personal reason why the work of respected counsel Jeffrey Welsh resonates with me. Jeffrey Welsh: I was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, and began my career on the performance side of the entertainment industry. After several years of touring and recording professionally as a saxophonist, I decided my skill set would be best served on the business side of the entertainment industry, and headed to Pepperdine Law School in 2010. In this position, my goal was to develop an understanding of the entertainment industry while concurrently connecting entertainer-advocates with projects and groups actively working in the cannabis space. In 2015, Luke and I decided that it was time for us to hang our own shingle, and founded Frontera Law Group to help entrepreneurs and businesses navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape of the emerging cannabis industry in California. At an early age, my parents instilled strong work-ethic into my core makeup, and have been endlessly supportive throughout my professional career permutations (from musician to lawyer to entrepreneur). In terms of the legal community specifically, the role of a California cannabis lawyer five years ago was not to create a successful business enterprise for their client, but to keep them out of jail. Insurance and bank accounts are challenging to obtain and maintain, traditional advertising and marketing methods are highly restrictive, licensure requires millions in financing, and legitimate cannabis businesses still have to compete with a very healthy black market, which will be a constant presence until States have generated enough tax revenue for meaningful enforcement. In terms of specific food, I have to go with the classics: chicken parmesan, pasta with homemade gravy (Italians refuse to call it sauce), and fresh warm bread. I am fortunate to still be able to perform in the greater Los Angeles area about once a month, and it’s very important to stay active in the music community, as I feel it’s both a meaningful differentiator but also keeps the creative side of me alive.