Cannabis IP Litigation Expert Witness

Intellectual property disputes in cannabis are technically complex, factually dense, and increasingly high-stakes. I provide expert witness and litigation support in these cases, working from both sides of the problem: the plant science and the IP framework.

I hold a PhD in plant science and spent years as a senior patent analyst in biotechnology and sequence analysis, performing freedom to operate evaluations, validity analysis, and prior art assessment. That means I can speak to how a cannabis patent is constructed, what makes a cultivar legally distinct, how genomic data supports or undermines an IP claim, and where the scientific record is strong or vulnerable.

What I provide

Prior art identification and analysis. Genomic and scientific literature review to identify prior art relevant to patent validity challenges, with assessment of novelty and non-obviousness from a plant science perspective.

Cultivar distinctness analysis. Scientific determination of whether a claimed cultivar is sufficiently distinct from existing varieties to support protection under patent, PVP, or breeder's rights frameworks.

Technical claim construction support. Working with legal teams to understand and construct technical claim language in cannabis plant patents and related instruments.

Expert reports and testimony. Written reports prepared to litigation standards, plus deposition and trial testimony in state and federal proceedings.

Case Types

Cannabis plant patent infringement. Utility patent disputes involving cannabis genetics or production methods. Trade secret misappropriation of breeding programs or proprietary cultivars. Licensing agreement disputes involving genetic material. Inter partes review and patent validity challenges.

Where these cases get difficult

Cannabis IP disputes fall in a gap. A patent attorney understands the legal framework but often can't evaluate the underlying genetics. A cultivator understands the plant but can't interpret a patent claim or assess prior art. The technical and legal questions are entangled, and answering one usually requires answering the other.

There's a second problem underneath that one. Cultivar identity claims are frequently built on phenotype, and phenotype, including chemotype, changes with environment. The genome is the one identity layer in a plant that holds still. Legal paperwork without genomic data is still just a name on a label.

That's usually where these cases turn: not on whether the paperwork was filed, but on whether the underlying scientific record can support what the paperwork claims.

Disclosure and conflicts

I'm a co-founder and CEO of True Cut, a cannabis genomic identity and IP verification platform. My expert witness work operates independently of it, and I don't serve as an expert in matters where True Cut has a prior or existing client relationship. That separation is deliberate.

I run a conflicts check before every engagement.

Retain me

Available nationwide for retained engagements, case review, and rebuttal work. Request a conflicts check, my CV, and fee schedule.

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