About

Advisor. Strategist. Operator

Avis Bulbulyan, strategic advisor and expert witness with experience in regulatory matters, litigation support, crisis management, and corporate strategy.

Over a 25-year career, Avis has operated at the intersection of business, regulation, finance, litigation, and public policy.

His career has spanned insurance, legal services, business operations, regulatory affairs, corporate strategy, and executive advisory work. Over that time, he has advised organizations ranging from early-stage startups and family-owned businesses to multi-state operators, institutional investors, private equity firms, professional athletes, attorneys, trade associations, government agencies, and elected officials.

While widely recognized for his leadership and influence within the cannabis industry, Avis's experience extends far beyond a single sector. His work has included regulatory matters, crisis management, litigation support, expert witness engagements, strategic transactions, organizational restructurings, public affairs initiatives, and high-stakes disputes involving significant financial, operational, and reputational risk.

Today, he serves as an independent advisor, strategist, and expert witness, helping clients navigate complexity, assess risk, and develop practical solutions to difficult problems.

Professional Background

Crisis Management and Special Situations

Extensive experience managing situations involving competing interests, public scrutiny, legal exposure, regulatory challenges, leadership conflicts, and other circumstances where the stakes are high and the path forward is uncertain.

Public Affairs & Government Relations

Worked with policymakers, regulators, government agencies, elected officials, and industry stakeholders on policy, licensing, and regulatory matters.

Business Operations & Entrepreneurship

Built, operated, and advised businesses ranging from startups and family-owned companies to multi-state enterprises, providing firsthand experience in growth, scaling, restructuring, and operational leadership.

Executive Advisory & Transactions

Advised founders, executives, boards, investors, and private equity firms on strategy, growth, restructurings, acquisitions, and capital formation.

Cannabis Industry Leadership

Recognized as an operator, advisor, advocate, and industry leader during the evolution of regulated cannabis markets across the United States.

Expert Witness & Litigation Support

Retained in complex litigation matters involving regulatory compliance, industry standards, business operations, and economic damages.

Leadership, Recognition, & Industry Contributions

Throughout his career, Avis has held leadership positions, advised organizations operating in highly regulated industries, contributed to public policy discussions, and received recognition for his work as an operator, entrepreneur, strategist, and industry advocate. His experience spans private enterprise, government engagement, trade associations, litigation support, and executive advisory work.

Leadership

    • Executive leadership positions across private companies, trade associations, and industry organizations

    • Founder and CEO, SIVA Enterprises, one of the top cannabis consulting firms in the country

    • President of the Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force

    • Guided organizations through growth, restructuring, regulatory change, and strategic transition

    • Advisor to founders, executives, investors, boards, and stakeholders operating in highly regulated industries

    • Founded, operated, and advised businesses ranging from startups to multi-state operators

    • Experience spanning business operations, growth strategy, licensing, compliance, restructuring, and market expansion

    • Advised organizations through formation, scaling, acquisitions, and operational transformation

    • Worked across legal services, insurance, cannabis, and emerging industries

    • Firsthand experience navigating complex business and regulatory environments

    • President, Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force

    • Appointed Member, California Cannabis Advisory Committee

    • Chair, Distributor Subcommittee, California Cannabis Advisory Committee

    • Advised California's cannabis regulatory agencies on policy and regulatory development

    • Served on advisory boards, committees, and industry working groups

    • Advisor to some of the industry's leading companies and organizations

    • Instructor, Green Flower Media's cannabis certification program licensed to colleges and universities throughout the United States

Recognition

    • Green Entrepreneur Magazine — Top 10 Consulting & Legal Companies

    • Business of the Year - Cannabis Industry Awards

    • Expertise.com — Top 18 Consulting Companies in Los Angeles

    • Green Market Report — Top CEOs to Watch

    • Cannabis Industry Awards Nominee:

      • Best Company

      • Best CEO

      • Best Organization

    • Reuters

    • Bloomberg

    • NBC News

    • Fox News

    • Boston Globe

    • Business Insider

    • Yahoo Finance

    • Law360

    • PBS

    • Los Angeles Business Journal

    • Financial Post

    • U.S. News & World Report

    • Numerous industry publications and trade journals

    • Nine times Featured or Keynote speaker

    • Countless conference and industry speaking engagements

    • Keynote presenter, panelist, moderator, and educator

    • Speaker at MJBiz Daily Annual and Spring Conference, Cannabis World Congress, NCIA, CCIA, National Cannabis Bar Association, Cannabis Drink Expo, and other industry forums

    • Author, 2024 State of the Cannabis Industry Report

    • Instructor for Green Flower's cannabis certification curriculum, licensed through universities and educational institutions nationwide

    • Published articles, op-eds, white papers, and educational content addressing cannabis policy, regulation, social equity, labor relations, and industry development

    • Contributor to industry publications, webinars, executive forums, and policy discussions

Industry Contributions

    • Worked with regulators, government agencies, elected officials, and industry stakeholders

    • Testified in front of California’s Department of Insurance

    • Contributed to policy development and regulatory implementation efforts

    • Participated in stakeholder engagement initiatives at local, state, and national levels

    • Assisted organizations in navigating evolving regulatory frameworks

    • Active participant in public policy and industry advocacy efforts

    • Advised founders, executive leadership teams, and boards of directors

    • Worked with investors, private equity firms, and family offices

    • Strategic advisor to attorneys and litigation teams

    • Advised professional athletes, sports organizations, and public-sector stakeholders

    • Supported growth initiatives, transactions, restructurings, crisis situations, and special projects

    • Retained as an expert witness in complex litigation matters involving trademark disputes, tax matters, wrongful enforcement actions, search and seizure analysis, regulatory compliance, and industry standards.

    • Prepared expert reports, opinions, and damages analyses in matters resulting in multi-million dollar settlements and awards.

    • Provided deposition testimony and litigation support.

    • Evaluated business operations, regulatory compliance, industry practices, and economic damages.

    • Worked on matters involving licensing disputes, enforcement actions, public policy issues, and complex commercial litigation.

Beyond Work

Outside of his professional work, Avis is an avid reader with a longstanding interest in history, psychology, philosophy, leadership, economics, and the study of human behavior.

His interests span biography, military and political history, organizational leadership, classical philosophy, and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty and change. He is particularly fascinated by how individuals, organizations, and societies navigate complexity, resolve conflict, and adapt to evolving circumstances.

Many of the same themes that define his professional work—leadership, accountability, strategic thinking, incentives, and problem solving—continue to shape his interests outside of business.

A former high-level competitor trained in Muay Thai and Tae Kwon Do, Avis has long been drawn to disciplines that demand preparation, resilience, continuous improvement, and personal accountability.

Whether studying history, exploring questions of leadership and human behavior, or working through complex business challenges, he remains motivated by a simple belief: meaningful progress begins with understanding the underlying forces that drive people, institutions, and outcomes.