GINA AUSTIN, FOUNDER

Gina Austin is the founder and managing partner of Austin Legal Group and is the head of the company’s Cannabis, Securities, and Corporate and Land Use Departments. Gina brings a wealth of practical experience and knowledge to her practice and clients as a result of her broad range of experience during her 25-year career.
Prior to starting Austin Legal Group, Gina was the General Counsel for California Vision, Inc., a start-up company in the water conservation space. Prior to joining California Vision, Gina was an associate attorney at Worley, Schwartz, Garfield, and Prairie, focusing on land use projects related to master-planned communities, zoning, redevelopment, and environmental issues.

In addition to her focus on general corporate and securities transactions, Gina’s extensive experience with the legal cannabis industry allows her to counsel her clients on regulatory affairs and compliance matters, intellectual property licensing, and M&A activity. Gina is also the founder of ALG Strategies, a cannabis consulting firm that assists prospective and existing cannabis license holders through the complex application, licensing, and permitting process both at state and local levels. Prior to obtaining her law degree, Gina provided strategic and business planning advice and consulting services to early-stage technology companies. As Managing Director of Knowledge Transfer from 1996 to 2003, Gina worked with companies to define technology and product development strategies, evaluate and develop business and operational plans, create funding roadmaps, and prepare executives for public speaking engagements. During this time, she was also a business plan and panel reviewer for the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology and the City of San Diego Emtek Program.

Memberships

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, member of the Public Policy Committee and Cannabis working group
National Cannabis Industry Association, member
California Cannabis Industry Association, member
International Cannabis Bar Association, member
San Diego County Bar Association, member Land Use Law and Business & Corporate Law Sections

Education

J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Cum Laude
M.A., San Diego State University
B.A., San Diego State University