SHABNAM MALEK CO-FOUNDED BRAND & BRANCH IN 2015 TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, NIMBLE, AND COST-EFFECTIVE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SERVICES.

Brand & Branch offers its services with flexible billing arrangements, including flat fees and monthly subscription plans to meet the needs of early- and mid-stage companies.

Our story.

2010 - Shabnam worked at O’Melveny & Myers LLP in San Francisco. As an associate, she worked in the Intellectual Property and Technology group, handling intellectual property litigation and trademark transactions.

2012 - In January 2012, Shabnam moved to Cobalt LLP in Berkeley, where she honed her skills in trademark prosecution, privacy, and gaming law.

2014 - In Spring 2014, Shabnam developed strong relationships in the cannabis business community, attending and speaking at cannabis industry events thorughout the country. She regularly speaks on labeling and advertising issues, trademark protection and enforcement, and copyright matters in the cannabis industry. In July 2014, Shabnam was asked to help launch the Bay Area chapter of Women Grow, a national organization founded to promote women entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. The Bar Area chapter was the second Women Grow chapter to launch.

2014 - Shabnam also teamed up with several colleagues to found the National Cannabis Bar Association, the first national lawyers’ group focused on the practice of cannabis business law. NCBA officially launched on June 30, 2015.

2015 - In May 2015, Shabnam co-founded Brand & Branch LLP.

2022 - Shabnam continues to provide intellectual property services here at Brand & Branch PC after seven successful years.

Brand and Brach co-founder Amanda Conley has recently transitioned to Conley Law: Counsel. Strategist. Human you enjoy working with.

Read more about Shabnam’s involvement with Women Grow and INCBA:

KAISTARA Women on Purpose: Shabnam Malek and Amanda Conley

Cannabis Now: Lawyers Cultivate A Community

SF Evergreen: Cultivating A Women-Friendly Industry

San Jose Mercury News: Bay Area Lawyers Launch Cannabis Bar Association

Listen to Shabnam discuss all things cannabis IP:

Brand & Branch on the Cannabis Economy Podcast 

AltLegal Trademark Podcast

Investing in Cannabis Show

SHABNAM MALEK

Partner

Shabnam Malek is a partner at Brand & Branch and founding President of the International Cannabis Bar Association. Shabnam's legal background is in trademark law, and she cut her teeth on all things intellectual property as a “big law” associate early in her legal career. Shabnam has a broad practice but takes great pleasure in advising clients on how best to grow, navigate risk, resolve disputes, and how to think creatively when balancing business needs and legal concerns. Recognized as an expert in the field of cannabis intellectual property, Shabnam’s clients and colleagues seek her out for her expertise in addressing particularly thorny and novel issues. She’s a creative thinker looking for solutions that help her clients succeed. Shabnam truly enjoys the role of counselor to large, global companies as well as smaller startups and individuals. 

In addition to serving the business community, Shabnam developed a robust pro bono practice representing imprisoned women before the California Board of Parole Hearings, as well as representing houseless San Francisco residents through the Coalition on Homelessness. 

During the launch of Brand & Branch, Shabnam and her law partner, Amanda R. Conley, founded the National Cannabis Bar Association, which recently expanded its reach to become the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA). Today, INCBA boasts a membership base of over 600 individual attorney members with a solid international presence. Shabnam and Amanda's vision for the organization was realized in the organization's flagship, annual two-day legal educational event, the Cannabis Law Institute. Shabnam is also the Chair of the PLI Cannabis Business Law program. Shabnam and Amanda also co-founded the Bay Area chapter of Women Grow in 2014.

Shabnam regularly speaks and writes on the topics of trademarks, brand expansion, regulated industries such as cannabis and hemp, and the role of women in creating change. Her professional affiliations include: holding a seat on the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association, membership with the International Trademark Association and California Lawyers' Association, where she serves on committees, and memberships with the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Lawyers Guild, the Queen’s Bench, and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Shabnam was named a Northern California Rising Star three years in a row by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Shabnam can be reached at shabnam@brandandbranch.com or by phone at 510-984-4285.

The Recorder: National Cannabis Bar Association's Shabnam Malek

Cosmopolitan: Why This Woman Is Bringing Together Lawyers Across the Country to Serve the Marijuana Industry

LEGAL SERVICES FOR REGULATED INDUSTRIES

The attorneys at Brand & Branch have experience with both litigation and transactions. This mix of expertise distinguishes us and gives us a unique perspective on counseling, deal-making, and disputes. We provide legal counseling from a holistic, 360-degree view because we've seen all sides of a deal go right and wrong. We understand that business can't ignore legal, and legal shouldn't alienate business. Our assets rest with our understanding of this relationship. 

Brand & Branch helps clients in the following areas:

AMANDA R. CONLEY

Co-Founder

Amanda R. Conley was a founding partner of Brand & Branch LLP and co-founder of the International Cannabis Bar Association. 

Amanda can be reached at Conley Law, by email at amanda@amandaconleylaw.com, or by phone at 510-500-5210.