Sahar Ayinehsazian is a partner in the Cannabis and Corporate Groups at A.Y. Strauss, where she focuses on corporate law, banking, and the cannabis industry. She represents businesses, investors, and financial institutions in complex corporate transactions, including formations, financings, mergers and acquisitions, licensing agreements, and creative restructuring solutions for cannabis-related businesses that lack access to traditional bankruptcy protections. Recognized as a leading corporate attorney in the highly regulated industries, Sahar has guided multi-state operators and emerging companies through intricate regulatory frameworks and national expansion.

Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Sahar was a partner at one of the nation’s top-ranked cannabis law firms, where she chaired the Banking and Financial Services Access practice and advised major operators on complex transactions. She also served as the Director of Regulatory and Governmental Affairs at a multi-state money transmitter serving the cannabis industry, where she gained deep expertise in banking, credit flow, and compliance at the intersection of finance and cannabis law, as well as on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Banking & Financial Services Committee, advancing strategies to expand financial access for state-licensed businesses.

Sahar has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® (2023–2025) for Corporate Law, the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Influence: Attorneys (2024), and the Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers list (2024–2025). She frequently writes and speaks on topics related to cannabis finance, corporate structuring, and compliance.