Top Rated Cannabis Law Attorney in New York, NY

Fatima Afia is a cannabis attorney and civil litigator at Hiller, PC, with an emphasis on commercial and business litigation, cannabis law, land use and landmarks law matters, and disability insurance law. As a litigator, Fatima was an instrumental member of the litigation team behind Washington v. Barr, a pro-bono lawsuit brought against the federal government that sought to declare the federal law criminalizing cannabis unconstitutional. As part of her work in Washington v. Barr, Fatima led the effort in securing overwhelming amicus support before the U.S. Supreme Court from seven members of Congress, 19 disparate and highly regarded organizations, and two eminent cannabis researchers and scientists. In connection with her disability insurance work, she has helped secure and maintain disability benefits for clients from some of the largest disability insurance companies in the United States, playing a vital role in the firm's successful administrative appeal against Unum Insurance Company which resulted in an award of approximately $1 million in retroactive benefits for the client. 

As a cannabis attorney, Fatima assists cannabis clients navigate the legal cannabis and hemp industry in the areas of corporate law and regulatory compliance, business transactions, litigation, and state licensing applications in various jurisdictions including New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Fatima is also a social equity advocate, providing instrumental testimony to the Cannabis Control Commission in Massachusetts in 2019 which resulted in an expedited license application-review process for women-and-minority-owned businesses that were unfairly excluded from the regulatory definition of a social equity applicant. Fatima is also an article contributor for Marijuana Venture, has regularly organized and chaired CLE panels and events for the International Cannabis Bar Association (“INCBA”), and is the Co-Chair of INCBA’s CLE Committee. She was the Moot Court Winner at the Medical Cannabis Conference held at Columbia University in 2019.

Prior to working at Hiller, PC, Fatima attended Brooklyn Law School where she graduated in the top 20% percent of her graduating class.  During her time at Brooklyn Law School, Fatima served as a Clerk for the Honorable Ellen Gesmer of the New York Supreme Court where she prepared Pendente Lite Orders in Matrimonial actions; she interned in a highly-coveted clinic with the New York City Law Department, representing the City of New York and its employees in a variety of civil lawsuits; and she interned with the New York State Attorney General’s Office, representing the State of New York in protecting minority home buyers against predatory lending practices employed by banks across the State and ensuring that minority/small business owners were being treated fairly by general contractors bidding on government contracts.

A passionate and fearless attorney, Fatima offers high-quality legal services to individuals and businesses. Her creative problem-solving skills have enabled her to provide her clients with positive results and favorable outcomes they deserve. She offers personalized attention and remains in close contact with her clients at all times.