Austin Ownbey

Antitrust Partner

Akerman

See Austin speak on this panel (UPDATE ANDREW)

Austin Ownbey counsels cannabis entrepreneurs, operators, and investors on licensing, compliance, and regulatory strategy in highly regulated and rapidly evolving cannabis markets. He advises clients at all stages of the cannabis lifecycle, from market entry and license applications to ongoing compliance and regulatory risk management, helping businesses navigate complex state and local cannabis frameworks, to transitions and exits with new owners or ownership structures. Austin joined Akerman’s award-winning, national cannabis team in 2024 after working for years with another nationally-recognized cannabis firm since 2020.

Austin regularly represents clients before key cannabis regulators, including DC’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, Maryland’s Cannabis Administration, and Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority, and has experience engaging with state attorneys general and other enforcement authorities on cannabis‑related matters. His practice is informed by a deep understanding of how competition, enforcement, and regulatory oversight intersect in emerging cannabis markets.

In addition to his cannabis work, Austin brings a strong background in antitrust and regulatory enforcement, including prior service at both the California Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. This background allows him to provide cannabis clients with strategic, risk‑focused advice grounded in enforcement and regulatory realities. Austin is admitted to practice in California and Washington, D.C.