Jennifer Cabrera is a partner at A.Y. Strauss and leads the firm’s Cannabis Group. With a background in litigation and a reputation as a persistent problem solver, Jennifer is known for her highly organized, responsive, and client-centered approach. She works tirelessly to help clients navigate the complex legal landscape of cannabis law with efficiency and precision.

Jennifer advises cannabis businesses throughout New Jersey and New York, providing strategic guidance on regulatory compliance, state and local licensing, and fundraising. She works with companies of all sizes, from startups to multi-state operators, and often serves as outside general counsel. Through her leadership, clients benefit from full-service legal support in collaboration with A.Y. Strauss’s broader capabilities.

Before joining the firm, Jennifer led the New Jersey branch at one of the nation’s top-ranked cannabis law firms for six years, where she supported the development and growth of businesses throughout the state. Earlier in her career, she managed her own boutique law firm focused on commercial litigation and arbitration. Jennifer began her legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she represented clients in complex commercial disputes.

Jennifer is deeply involved in leadership, education, and community initiatives. She serves on the board of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council and previously held a position on the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Club of New York City. In addition to her legal practice, she has served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law and St. John’s University School of Law, and as a visiting lecturer at Duke University School of Law. Jennifer is also a frequent speaker at cannabis industry conferences, where she lends her expertise to shape conversations around law, business strategy, and equity in the evolving cannabis landscape. Her accomplishments have been recognized by Best Lawyers in Cannabis Law (2023–2025) and New York Super Lawyers in 2022.

Publications/Presentations

• “Cannabis State Regulatory Agencies” LexisNexis Practical Guidance® Practice Note, January 2022

Professional Activities

• Board Member, National Hispanic Cannabis Council
• Member, Cannabis Association of New York
• Member, ArbitralWomen
• Member, New Jersey CannaBusiness Association
• Visiting Lecturer, Duke University School of Law
• Adjunct Professor, Fordham University School of Law
• Adjunct Professor, St. John’s University School of Law

Representative Matters

• Represented buyers and sellers from multiple cannabis dispensaries and cultivation facilities across New Jersey and New York.
• Guided dozens of businesses throughout New York and New Jersey through the application process for state and local licenses, successfully securing regulatory approvals to begin operations.
• Represented clients on both sides of equity and debt investments, handling regulatory disclosures and approvals for those transactions.
• Represented buyers and sellers in over a dozen transactions selling cannabis retail and cultivation licenses across New Jersey and New York.
• Assisted in the creation of management and other consulting companies working with retailers in New York and New Jersey.
• Supported clients in launching hemp brands across multiple states, including retail and e-commerce distribution channels.
• Assisted clients in crafting compliant advertising and marketing programs.
• Worked with real estate counsel on the negotiation of commercial leases for regulated businesses, including percentage rent and other payment structures permissible under applicable regulations.
• Appeared before municipal governing bodies and land use councils across New Jersey to obtain resolutions of support and zoning approvals required for New Jersey state cannabis application.
• Appeared before multiple Community Boards across Manhattan and Brooklyn for retail applicants complying with notice to municipality rules.
• Assisted clients in obtaining local community support for cannabis applications in communities in New York City and across New Jersey.

Honors, Awards & Recognitions

• Best Lawyers in America® – Cannabis Law (2023-2027)