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Professional headshot of Susan Burns, Partner at Omnus Law. She is a corporate and regulatory attorney recognized among the Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers worldwide, advising cannabis, food, healthcare, and technology companies on governance, compliance, and international expansion.

Susan Burns

Minnesota
- Partner
(612) 306-4143
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About

Susan Burns is a corporate and regulatory attorney with decades of experience helping growth-stage companies navigate legal complexity, scale across borders, and align strategy with compliance. She works with clients in the hemp, cannabis, food, healthcare, and technology sectors to implement governance systems, lead international expansion, and mitigate regulatory risk. She has been consistently recognized as a top 200 cannabis lawyer, underscoring her leadership and reputation in this evolving industry.

Susan is the founder of S Burns Legal PLLC, a Minneapolis-based firm where she served as general counsel and strategic advisor to businesses ranging from startup to acquisition. Her work included negotiating strategic contracts, supporting acquisitions, leading cross-border labor audits, launching compliance programs, and advising non-resident companies entering the U.S. market. She also served as General Counsel to Hotel Networks Corp, overseeing legal operations across the U.S., Mexico, and the Bahamas. Prior to launching her own firm, she practiced at Faegre Benson LLP (now Faegre Drinker), where she gained experience on complex matters in a nationally recognized legal environment.

Recognized as a thought leader in food and agricultural law, cannabis regulation, and emerging technologies, Susan frequently speaks at international forums on trade, regulation, and innovation. She is active in the American Bar Associationโ€™s International Law Section and brings a global, client-focused approach to every engagementโ€”helping clients anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and scale sustainably.

Experience

  • Advises cannabis, food, healthcare, and technology companies on governance, regulatory compliance, contracts, and strategic growth

  • Background includes service as General Counsel to Hotel Networks Corp, founder of S Burns Legal PLLC, and corporate practice at Faegre Benson LLP

  • Recognized as a Top 200 Cannabis Lawyer, with thought leadership in food and agricultural law, cannabis regulation, and emerging technologies

  • Experienced in cross-border transactions, labor audits, compliance programs, and guiding non-resident companies entering the U.S. market

  • Fluent in Spanish and proficient in German, with international speaking engagements on trade, regulation, and innovation

  • Panelist, Global Cannabis Regulation and Trade โ€” American Bar Association, International Law Section Annual Conference, 2023
  • Speaker, Food Law and Agricultural Innovation โ€” International Forum on Trade and Regulation, 2022
  • Conference Chair, The Global Business of Cannabis Conference โ€” ABA International Law Section, Nov. 10โ€“12, 2021 | Denver, CO
  • Panelist: Cannabis & Alcohol, Hospitality & Tourism, Public Safety vs. Arbitrary Regulations: Itโ€™s a Whole New World
  • Panelist, Cross-Border Compliance for Emerging Industries โ€” American Bar Association, International Law Section, 2021
  • Panel Chair & Speaker, GMOs | Litigation | International Trade | Human Rights โ€” ABA Section of International Law, Spring Meeting, Apr. 12, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
  • Speaker, Regulations in Cell-Cultured Proteins โ€” Minnesota State Bar Association, Agricultural & Rural Institute, May 16, 2019 | St. Cloud, MN
  • Speaker, Hot Topics in the Regulation of Cell-Cultured Proteinsโ€”What You Need to Know โ€” Association of Food and Drug Officials, Jan. 22, 2019 | Webinar
  • Moderator, Women in Law and Agriculture โ€” ABA Mexico Committee Event, 2019
  • Moderator, Negotiating Trade Deals in a Diverse Landscape โ€” ABA Section of International Law, Mexico City Conference, Nov. 7, 2018 | Mexico City, MX
  • Panelist, Whereโ€™s the Beef? Hot Topics in the Regulation of Food Disruptors: Lab-Created Protein and Gene Editingโ€” AALA Symposium, 2018 | Portland, OR
  • Speaker, International Expansion for Cannabis Companies โ€” Global Business Forum, 2018
  • Panel Chair, NAFTA Renegotiated: Agriculture โ€” ABA Section of International Law, Jan. 24, 2018 | Chicago, IL
  • Panel Chair & Moderator, What Lies Ahead for NAFTA: Are Unilateral Changes on the Horizon, or Will Long-standing, Positive Economic Relationships Prevail? โ€” ABA Section of International Law, Spring Meeting, 2017 | Washington, D.C
  • Speaker, Class in Session: The Emerging Global Presence of Class Actions โ€” ABA & Japan Federation of Bar Associations, 2017
  • Author, โ€œABA President Bob Carlson on Preserving Judicial Independence in Mexico,โ€ ABA Section of International Law, Mexico Committee Newsletter, Issue 54 (Feb. 2019) (with Diego Sierra)
  • Author, โ€œMexico Leads in Open Contracting,โ€ ABA Section of International Law, Contracts Committee Newsletter, Spring 2018 (with Eduardo Sanchez)
  • Author, โ€œMexican Courts Are Bigger Than Agricultural Giant Monsanto,โ€ ABA Section of International Law Year in Review, Vol. 51, p. 643 (Spring 2018)
  • Author, โ€œMinnesota, Mexico and Women in Agriculture: A Unique Winning Combination,โ€ ABA Section of International Law, Mexico Committee Newsletter, Issue 49 (June 2016)

Recognized as one of the Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers worldwide, highlighting her leadership and expertise in cannabis regulation and compliance

Publications

  • Author, โ€œABA President Bob Carlson on Preserving Judicial Independence in Mexico,โ€ ABA Section of International Law, Mexico Committee Newsletter, Issue 54 (Feb. 2019) (with Diego Sierra)
  • Author, โ€œMexico Leads in Open Contracting,โ€ ABA Section of International Law, Contracts Committee Newsletter, Spring 2018 (with Eduardo Sanchez)
  • Author, โ€œMexican Courts Are Bigger Than Agricultural Giant Monsanto,โ€ ABA Section of International Law Year in Review, Vol. 51, p. 643 (Spring 2018)
  • Author, โ€œMinnesota, Mexico and Women in Agriculture: A Unique Winning Combination,โ€ ABA Section of International Law, Mexico Committee Newsletter, Issue 49 (June 2016)

Practice Areas

Cannabis Law
Sub-practice areas
Compliance and Regulatory Matters, Business Formation, Healthcare Compliance, Trade Secrets, International Business Transactions, Website Terms, Contracts & Negotiation, Tax-Exempt Organizations Advisory, Due Diligence

Admitted Jurisdictions

  • Arkansas
  • Minnesota
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of International Trade

Education

  • B.A., German, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN

  • J.D., Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, MN

  • LL.M., Agriculture & Food Law, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

Associations

  • American Bar Association โ€“ International Law Section, Active Member

  • Advisory Board Member, A-Team Minnesota (non-profit)

  • Legal Fellow, Good Food Institute

  • Board Member, Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force (2017โ€“present)

  • Co-Chair, Public Policy Advocacy Committee, Minnesota Women Lawyers (2006โ€“2009)

Languages

  • Spanish
  • German

Work With Susan

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