Mary Shapiro
Board Member 2019-Present
Mary Shapiro is a cannabis attorney specializing in trademark and consumer protection. A former client of legal services, her focus is on effectively enhancing and protecting the value of her client’s intellectual property in a practical and efficient manner that makes business sense, as well as keeping a focus on consumer protection..
In her first career, Mary served in marketing positions in the book industry, including roles in retail, distribution and publishing. Mary started her legal career in 1999 at Townsend and Townsend and Crew, where she supported businesses in a variety of industries. In 2009, her cannabis practice began in earnest when she launched Mary L. Shapiro Law. In 2016, Mary rebranded the firm to “Evoke Law,” continuing to specialize in serving the cannabis industry. In 2024, Mary became Of Counsel at Crown, LLP.
Mary has been a leader in bridging federal intellectual property law, state cannabis regulations, and the cannabis marketplace. In 2015, Mary was a founding Board member of the National Cannabis Bar Association (NCBA), where she currently serves as an Advisory Board member at the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA). In 2016-2017, Mary collaborated with advocacy groups and legal colleagues to successfully persuade the California Secretary of State to register trademarks for cannabis products and services. In 2018, Evoke Law provided the USPTO with irrefutable scientific evidence that mature cannabis stalks do produce CBD in appreciable quantities without the commingling from other plant parts, debunking the USPTO’s incorrect position and resulting in the federal registration of a client’s trademark for a hemp-derived product (prior to the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill).
In 2020, Mary joined the Board of Americans for Safe Access, a non-profit organization with the mission to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. Crown, LLP continues to provide pro bono assistance to Americans for Safe Access, International Cannabis Bar Association, and Origins Council.
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