What's next for The Hoban Minute? With the summer's blockbuster announcement that The Hoban Law group had merged with Clark Hill everyone wondered what would become of The Hoban Minute podcast. Bob Hoban joins Dan Humiston to talk about what prompted his decision to merge with one of the nation's largest law firms. He also talks about their moving forward plan for his podcast and his willingness to explore all sides of issues and not being afraid to share his opinion. Produced by PodConX Potcasters - https://podconx.com/podcasts/potcasters Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston Bob Hoban - https://podconx.com/guests/bob-hoban Clark Hill - https://www.clarkhill.com/people/robert-t-hoban/ The Hoban Minute - https://podconx.com/podcasts/the-hoban-minute
What's next for The Hoban Minute?
With the summer's blockbuster announcement that The Hoban Law group had merged with Clark Hill everyone wondered what would become of The Hoban Minute podcast. Bob Hoban joins Dan Humiston to talk about what prompted his decision to merge with one of the nation's largest law firms. He also talks about their moving forward plan for his podcast and his willingness to explore all sides of issues and not being afraid to share his opinion.
Produced by PodConX
Potcasters - https://podconx.com/podcasts/potcasters
Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston
Bob Hoban - https://podconx.com/guests/bob-hoban
Clark Hill - https://www.clarkhill.com/people/robert-t-hoban/
The Hoban Minute - https://podconx.com/podcasts/the-hoban-minute
PC The Hoban Minute
Dan Humiston: [00:00:00] All right, everyone. Thanks. for joining us. And welcome back. We have another great show in store for you today. Bob Hoban is here to talk about his podcast, the Hoban minute, Bob. Welcome to the show.
Bob Hoban: Thanks. Dan, it's always good to talk with you and thanks for having.
Dan Humiston: Oh, I'm glad you could join us, especially with all the recent changes in your life. For those that don't know, Bob Hoban is the founder of the Hoban law group, which prior to your recent merger with Clark hill was one of the largest cannabis law firms in the world.
And I guess that's where I want to start today. The question that's on everybody's mind, what prompted the decision to make this dramatic move?
Bob Hoban: No, it's a great question. So, The sophistication of this industry. Increasing on a weekly basis, the deals become more complex. The legal needs become more sophisticated as well. I just got burned out Dan, on building that myself, hiring the right people and, make no mistake about it.
I had great attorneys and great partners, but you always needed to improve so [00:01:00] that we could take on the sort of flow of work. And a lot of that responsibility fell on me. Coupled with the fact that I did make a 10 year business plan in 2012. Part of that 10 year business plan was to find an exit quote unquote in year 10.
So I'm about a six to 10 months early. But but those were some of the reasons and gosh the firms just kept milling around and looking for someone to come in and build. A really preeminent cannabis practice at one of the top firms in the country. And I've historically said, no, and there's something about the personnel, the people, the leadership at Clark hill, , that made me change my mind.
So those are some of the factors that led into it. And so far so good. It's been a tough transition. It always is, but really supportive people really great staff and just a really. Really great flow of clientele that's existing and coming in the door that we didn't always have access to.
Dan Humiston: Well, It's [00:02:00] just another step in this direction that we're all moving towards. And that's this. The whole legalization in the industry, just consolidating. And let's talk about your Shoal because that's what this podcast is about. And the thing that I've always admired about you, Bob, is there's an aura of accessibility that you have.
And, going back to the F when we first met, when you were a speaker at one of my shows in New York, you really weren't known much outside of Colorado and now fast forward, You're known worldwide, but you still sort of that guy from New Jersey, somebody, everybody can relate to.
And I always feel like your podcasts had a lot to do with it. I hope that you intend to continue with the podcast.
Bob Hoban: First of all, thank you. One of the things I learned, not only from my mother, but also from so many of my mentors, professionally was just be yourself, always be yourself. And I always took it. To mean, not just as a general statement to everybody, but there was something about [00:03:00] being myself , that attracted people to me and gave people confidence for the types of things that I do.
And , that's always something I've held near and dear. And we tried to bring that through, into the Hoban minute , and I think that's one of the reasons that we were able to get a loyal and dedicated following there. We took it. Five weeks off with production of the Hoban minute because of the merger and because of transfer and all of the logistics associated with it.
Part of that with my new role at Clark hill, as the leader of their cannabis industry group is to build that out. There's a number of practitioners there already that we're more than halfway into the cannabis industry on a daily basis. So we're in the process of executing on a business plan in September to build out that industry group.
Part of that process is to resume production. Of the Hoban minute in the third week of September. So we're excited to get back to that. I don't think the format changes very much although we are in the process of talking about it, except maybe the subject matter just gets a little bit more focused on not [00:04:00] purely legal issues, but foundational legal issues.
And then we can jump into the cannabis marketplace.
Dan Humiston: Well, That's exciting. And , I'm glad that you're going to go ahead and do that. One of the things that, you know, as a podcasting host. You're always walking that tight rope of inadvertently saying something that's controversial, but you know, the, one of the things about your show is that you probably pretty confident about sharing your opinion , and sometimes it's not always popular opinion.
Did you ever worry, or do you ever worry that your opinion may upset people.
Bob Hoban: I guess, so did you think about it personally, but you know, at the end of the day, it's be yourself and speak the truth. And look, I'm not wed to one side of the other politically, I'm not wed to one side of the other on some of the other topics that we talked about. When we talked about the Corona virus, we think objectively in the early days of it.
We didn't take one side or the other to those debates. We examine those debates and that's generally [00:05:00] how I've always approached life. And as a lawyer, you always have to be open-minded because a client comes to you one day and says, I want you to take this position in this fact pattern or this scenario.
And then the next day, another. With a different dispute that mirrors that once you take the other side, so you always have to be able to see both sides of every argument. And there's always merit to both sides. What drives me nuts about a society today is that I can't make a point that disagrees with what your sentiments are
'cause you'll immediately judge me and tune me out. If it's not in line with what you want to hear, that's not American. That's not smart. That's not rational. And unfortunately we do way too much of that. So I think using the Hoban minute for some of that sounding board particularly on those.
Controversial or sensitive issues. That was a place that I was comfortable doing that because I was never going to shut somebody down or shut out another side of an issue. I was always going to approach it objectively kind of like what our journalism and our news to.
Dan Humiston: Yeah. And that's, [00:06:00] I thought was the strength of your show is that we could get to know you, you could share your honest opinion about topics because you own the firm. You could say whatever you want. I'm just, I want to make sure that you still have that latitude in the new arrangement.
Bob Hoban: I believe so. I have not been given directions about keep your mouth shut. Don't say this then this way reminds me of this Johnny Cash album back in the day, live at San Quentin. They were trying to tell him where to stand and what to say and what order. And he says, I'm here to do what I want to do and what you want me to do.
And that's the way I still view this thing. So at the end of the day look if I say something that somebody disagrees with, I'm all ears as to why I should open my mind or see another side of things, but I also don't pick sides. I try to be that guy in the middle that paints the picture from both sides, because the truth is almost always in the.
Not on one side of the other. And certainly by my new employer, my new partners have not dissuaded me up.
Dan Humiston: That is good to hear. I have a [00:07:00] clip that I want to play, is a perfect example of that, where you're actually encouraging Amazon and other big businesses to get involved in the cannabis industry. Let's play the clip. We'll talk about it right afterwards, the plow and this shovel analogy.
Fabio, pull that one out.
Bob Hoban: Well data tells you what I was up to that morning, probably in my snowy driveway in Colorado, but that's another story.
Dan Humiston: Oh man. Well, you know, But that's a perfect example of there's a lot of old time, legacy group are like, wait a minute, we built this. We don't want any big businesses coming in. That's always been the fear, but , there's a lot of advantages to that. And I think you're just voicing your opinion on that, which, like I said, some people may be nervous about doing that on a podcast.
Bob Hoban: Plus den it's going to happen, whether we like it or not, we might as well understand it and embrace it. We have no choice where there were the OGs, where there were the new people at the table, whether we're the wall street, people that still have it come to the industry. We have to [00:08:00] understand that accept that it's going to take all kinds.
And I always hate marijuana and liquor or alcohol industry analogies. But let me try to give you this course doesn't own the alcohol production supply chain, but Cardi doesn't own the alcohol production supply chain cores and Bacardi don't own liquor stores. I E dispensary's nor do they generally. The agricultural components that give them the raw materials to go in and begin making spirits or beer or whatever the case might be.
There is room for everybody just because someone was a N O G cannabis grower or distributor in an elicit or traditional marketplace doesn't mean that they can take the same role in a regulated or commercial marketplace. But even if it does mean that they do, then that's their job. You still need someone to act.
The supply chain itself, which has room for all different types of actors, all shapes [00:09:00] and sizes, old school and new school. And that's the reality of the situation. And I just so darn obvious to me that what's the point of wasting your breath to say we don't want big cannabis. That's like saying I wish I had a flying unicorn outside my window that I could jump on.
Instead of driving home today, this is the effects going to be the same. I.
Dan Humiston: Before we run out of time, I want to ask you one podcasting question.
Cause I always like to share a podcasting advice for aspiring podcasters. When you were at Hoban, you had a pretty robust backstage support team as you move to your new operations. Will you still have a team managing you and more importantly, how important was that team for a guy with a busy schedule?
Like you.
Bob Hoban: That that team was everything. And of course, you know them well and our listeners know them well, Eric singular and Halston Trabuco. Not only just great friends and colleagues, but just people. I couldn't have done so many things without [00:10:00] not the least of which was the podcast. And by the way, this was all Halston.
His idea in the early days of the pandemic, when things were shut down, we were looking at how can we continue to communicate with people? How can we continue to remain relevant? You know, A lot of our bread and butter was sending our attorneys out to live events over and over again, to sort of keep us in touch with what's happening and to bring new clients in the door.
And this was our social hour during 2020, when people were locked down or at least fearful of going out, which we certainly understand. The three of us got together every Wednesday night and we did our podcast and we talked about. And we had a few cocktails and we enjoyed ourselves and that was really a foundational thing.
And yes, both of those individuals continue to work at Clark hill and they will continue to be involved at both the business development and the marketing side, technically a Clark hill, which means that they'll be involved with the relaunch of the hope and minute here.
Dan Humiston: That is great to hear. And [00:11:00] for anybody that's interested in hearing more honest, straight talk from somebody with a global perspective for now, you can check out all the old episodes of the Hoban minute and then stay tuned for the new episodes coming in the fall. And We'll be looking forward to new exciting news coming from Bob hope.
And Bob, thanks for being on the show today. And good luck with this new arrangement.
Bob Hoban: My pleasure anytime. And thank you very much for your warm wishes. And we'll talk with you really soon.