
Texas
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law
B.A., University of Houston
Overview
Shane Pennington serves as counsel in Vicente Sederberg's New York office. His practice focuses on federal appeals and regulatory issues related to cannabis and hemp. As a former law clerk to federal judges on the D.C. Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, and the D.C. District Court, Shane’s unique insights can also assist clients in evaluating potential or pending cases involving complex regulatory issues.
In addition to his work related to cannabis and hemp, Shane advises clients on federal psychedelics law, including DEA regulations governing registration to handle schedule I psychedelic substances under the Controlled Substances Act and efforts to reschedule or deschedule. He regularly litigates issues with important implications for the federal regulation of psychedelics before federal appellate courts across the country.
Shane is recognized as “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers in America® and as a “Texas Rising Star” in Appellate Law by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers. He provides commentary regarding administrative law issues to the Yale Journal on Regulation "Notice & Comment" blog. He is also a regular contributor to the “News From the Circuits” column published in the American Bar Association’s Administrative and Regulatory Law News.
Experience
Leadership & Community Involvement
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Vice-chair, Cannabis Law and Policy General Committee, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
- Co-chair, Amicus Committee, International Cannabis Bar Association
Case Highlights
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Scottsdale Research Institute v. DEA (D. Ariz.). Co-lead counsel in FOIA suit to force release of a secret 2018 opinion of DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel, “Licensing Marijuana Cultivation in Compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.” Within weeks of filing complaint—and without filing a FOIA request—secured settlement requiring DOJ to disclose OLC opinion barring DEA from processing medical research applications under the Controlled Substances Act until DEA brought its regulations in line with federal law and United States treaty obligations.
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In re Scottsdale Research Institute (D.C. Cir.). Co-lead counsel in mandamus action seeking order requiring DEA to process clinical research applications after years of delay. In response to order from D.C. Circuit calling for its response to petition for writ of mandamus, DEA capitulated, processed 33 overdue applications, and announced at long last its intent to move forward with a comprehensive program. In May 2021, DEA announced that it had preliminarily approved Scottsdale Research Institute’s application to grow marijuana for research purposes. DEA and Scottsdale Research Institute are currently negotiating a Memorandum of Agreement to govern Scottsdale Research Institute’s federal grow license going forward.
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Sierra Frac Sand, L.L.C. v. CDE Global Limited (5th Cir.). Defended appeal of district court order dismissing claims against Northern Irish company on forum non conveniens grounds. Fifth Circuit canceled oral argument and issued published opinion affirming ruling in client’s favor.
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California State Lands Commission v. Plains Pipeline LP (Cal. App.). Briefing and oral argument on behalf of party appearing as amicus curiae; in opinion favorable to client, state appellate court expressly rejected federal appellate court’s ruling in client’s case presenting same important and novel issue of California law.
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Sabre Travel International, Ltd. v. Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Tex.). Successfully represented airline before Texas Supreme Court; secured ruling that federal Airline Deregulation Act did not preempt airline’s state-law claims against third-party vendor.
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Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, Inc. (U.S.). Merits briefing on behalf of petitioner resulting in a unanimous Supreme Court opinion in client’s favor holding that securities-fraud defendants must be afforded an opportunity to rebut the presumption of reliance before class certification with evidence of a lack of price impact.
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Baker Botts LLP v. ASARCO, LLC (U.S.). Certiorari- and merits-stage briefing in case questioning whether Bankruptcy Code permits bankruptcy courts to award attorney fees to counsel or other professionals employed by the bankruptcy estate for work in defense of fee application in court.
Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Appellate Law, 2021-2022
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Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2020-2021
Publications
On Drugs Blog
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Author, "The Medical Marijuana Research Act (H.R. 5657)," April 5, 2022
- Author, "The Source Rule is Dead," April 4, 2022
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Author, "The Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act (S. 253)," March 25, 2022
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Author, "America's Exit Drugs," March 3, 2022
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Author, "The Hemp Advancement Act and the 167:1 Problem," February 15, 2022
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Author, "From "Crack Houses" to "Safehouses": DEA's Untapped Power to Save Lives," January 3, 2022
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Author, "There Is No Excuse for Blocking Cannabis Research," December 15, 2021
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Author, "Anslinger's Treaty Trap," December 13, 2021
VS Insights
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Author, "Why POTUS Should Take Reps. Mace and Lee's Proposal for UN to Deschedule Cannabis Seriously," March 25, 2022
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Author, "What is the Process for Federal Psilocybin Registration?" October 18, 2021
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Author, "The Battle to Allow Smokable Hemp in Texas," September 13, 2021
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Author, "Psychedelics As Medicine: Right To Try Case Versus DEA," August 9, 2021
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Co-author, "Memo to the INCB Regarding Draft Guidelines on Control Requirements for Medical and Scientific Cannabis," May 24, 2021
Audio
- Contributor, "Why DOJ Released a Confidential Memo on Marijuana Research," Global Cannabis Compliance Blog Podcast, June 2, 2020
External Publications
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Author, "McGirt v. Oklahoma’s Potentially Sweeping Regulatory Implications for the Oil & Gas Industry," The Texas Lawbook, July 20, 2020
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Author, "Fifth Circuit Review – Reviewed: Judge Smith Listens To Strict Scrutiny," Yale Journal on Regulation Notice & Comment, March 12, 2020
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Author, "Some Thoughts on How Kisor and Chevron Differ," Yale Journal on Regulation Notice & Comment, November 16, 2019
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Author, "Fifth Circuit Review – Reviewed: Article III Cowboy Hat Tips and D.C. Circuit Exceptionalism," Yale Journal on Regulation Notice & Comment, November 13, 2019
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Author, "Fifth Circuit Review – Reviewed: Circuit-Split Edition," Yale Journal on Regulation Notice & Comment, July 12, 2019
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Author, "Fifth Circuit Review – Reviewed: Inaugural Edition," Yale Journal on Regulation Notice & Comment, May 7, 2019
- Co-author, "Questions Raised By Laws That Use Copyrighted Standards," Law360, August 2, 2018
Events
- Speaker, INCBA Cannabis Law Institute, "Moot Court: Sisley v. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,” Washington D.C., June 10, 2022
- Speaker, SXSW 2022, "Sue 'n the DEA: Breaking the 50-year NIDA Monopoly,” Austin, March 15, 2022
- Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE, "Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Symposium,” Webcast, September 24, 2021
- Speaker, INCBA , "Federal Agencies 101,” Webinar, August 18, 2021
- Speaker, INCBA CLE, "Federal Agencies 101 - Cannabis: Federal Regulation Basics,” Webinar, August 15, 2021
- Speaker, INCBA, "Appellate Law 101,” Webinar, July 14, 2021
- Speaker, INCBA CLE, "Appellate Law 101,” Webinar, July 14, 2021
- Speaker, Hemp Industries Association, "Hemp Industry Litigation in Response to DEA Overreach,” Online, May 15, 2021
- Speaker, INCBA, "Key Issues Impacting Cannabis Litigation,” Webinar, March 11, 2021
- Speaker, Texas Marijuana Policy Conference, "Cannabis Lawsuits: Federal and State Challenges to Current Law,” Online, November 21, 2020
- Speaker, INCBA Cannabis Law Institute, "Disputes and Litigation with the Regulators,” Online, October 13, 2020
- Speaker, NCIA, "Policy Council Conversations: Just Say No - Keep the DEA out of Cannabis Research,” Webinar, June 03, 2020
- Speaker, Informed Texas, "Ask the Doctors featuring Dr Ethan Russo and Dr Sue Sisley,” Online, May 12, 2020
- Speaker, SXSW 2020, "Sue 'n the DEA: A Quick Trip to Federal Court,” Online, March 12, 2020
- Speaker, Business Issues in Cannabis & Industrial Hemp Conference, "Federal Law & Policy Update,” Oakland, February 27, 2020
- Speaker, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Cannabis Law Conference, "In Legal Limbo: Federal Cannabis Laws At the Crossroads,” Chicago, September 19, 2019
- Speaker, Texas Marijuana Policy Conference, "Legal and Scientific Issues in Increasing Medical Cannabis Research,” Austin, August 30, 2019
In the Media
- Law360, "DC Circ. Affirms 'Hot' Hemp Is Fair Game For Enforcement," June 10, 2022
- Tuscon Daily , "Study Stall: Federal bills languish as researchers ask for more money," June 9, 2022
- The Paper, Albuquerque's Independent News, "Ganja Gardener: Seeding the Future," May 27, 2022
- Green Market Report , "Dying Patients Are Suing For Access To Psilocybin," May 4, 2022
- The Bulletin , "DEA's authority over hemp extract debated in court," May 4, 2022
- Cannabis Now , "DEA Voices New Cannabis Seeds Decision," May 4, 2022
- Ganjapreneur , "Experts Warn Against Mailing Cannabis In Light of Recent DEA Ruling," April 27, 2022
- Above The Law , "Did The DEA Seed Letter Abolish The ‘Source Rule’?," April 21, 2022
- Hemp Today, "DEA and hemp group’s lawyers spar over THC and Farm Bill’s intent," April 20, 2022
- Los Angeles Times, "Congress says it’s liberalizing pot research laws. What pot researchers really need is money," April 6, 2022