Zane’s energy and passion are palpable, whether he is representing clients venturing into new industries or engaged in pro bono work.

Overview

Zane represents clients in complex business disputes and government investigations and enforcement actions, with a focus on cases involving investor fraud, securities, corporate mismanagement, and consumer protection issues. He also represents financial institutions and fintech companies in high-stakes litigation arising from consumer class actions, allegations of unfair and deceptive trade practices, and fraudulent financial transactions.

Experience

Business Litigation

Zane represents individuals and companies in high‑stakes litigation involving business and investment disputes. He has successfully represented clients ranging from start-ups to established businesses, in industries ranging from financial services, health care, real estate, and cannabis.  Zane regularly represents clients in cases involving fraud, misrepresentation, securities, investments, and theft of trade secrets. While Zane has handled cases in numerous states across the country, he most regularly practices in courts and arbitration forums in Colorado and Wyoming.

Financial Services

Zane represents bank and non-bank financial services companies in a wide-array of litigation and regulatory matters. He has represented banks in matters related to wire and check fraud, unauthorized withdrawals or funds transfers, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, loan defaults, and consumer class actions.

Zane recently obtained a dismissal of a lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming in favor of a bank client that was being sued for breach of a depository agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. He also previously obtained a favorable settlement for a bank that was sued in a consumer class action in Colorado related to overdraft fees.

Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Actions

Zane regularly advises clients in connection with regulatory and compliance issues. With a background in securities, banking, and compliance, Zane has significant experience advising financial services firms and others in highly regulated industries.

He represents clients that are subject to state and federal investigation and enforcement actions. He has represented clients facing investigation by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), including the Division of Banking and Division of Securities, Colorado’s Department of Revenue, including the Marijuana Enforcement Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, and federal banking regulators. 

Emerging Markets

Given Zane’s background and experience advising clients in highly regulated industries, clients seek Zane’s advice on emerging legal issues to learn how existing frameworks will apply to new and developing industries, such as digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, and cannabis. He has designed and implemented marijuana and hemp deposit and lending programs for banks and credit unions across the country, assisted FinTech companies in navigating cannabis and payments regulations, represented licensed marijuana companies and individuals in litigation and regulatory actions, and advised digital asset companies on electronic payments and regulatory issues.

Appeals

Zane has won appellate cases before numerous federal and state courts, including the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Most recently, he succeeded in obtaining an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which held that a federal agency had acted arbitrarily and capriciously. Prior to that, he succeeded in obtaining an order from the Colorado Supreme Court, which held that the trial court erred in finding that it had jurisdiction over Zane’s clients that were being sued by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

Independent Community Bankers of Colorado, 10th Annual BSA/AML Mile High Summit, "AML & Sanctions Enforcement Trends & Developments", July 15, 2025

“Cannabis Banking,” Panel Discussion, Accelerate 24, Minnesota Credit Union Network, April 2024

“Trends in the Evolving Digital Asset Ecosystem” BSA/AML Mile High Summit, July 2023

"Banking and the Cannabis Industry," NACHA - Smarter Faster Payments 2023, May 2023

"Marijuana and Hemp Banking: Navigating the Legal and Regulatory Challenges," Bankers' Bank of the West Webinar, May 13, 2020

"Challenges and Opportunities in the 'Next Normal,'" ACC Colorado Webinar, May 5, 2020

"Prepaid Compliance in a Crisis & Beyond," Innovative Payments Association, April 30, 2020

Presenter, "COVID-19 'Reopening' Best practices," Independent Bankers of Colorado Webinar, April 24, 2020

"How High is the Risk? Banking the Legal Cannabis Industry," ICBA Live, March 2020

"Banking with Hemp" Webinar, Colorado Bankers Association, January 2020

"Adapting to the Rapidly Changing Compliance Landscape Involving Marijuana and Marijuana-Related Businesses," ACAMs Webinar, November 2019

Moderator, "Cannabis Panel," the Trigild Fall Lender Conference, October 2019

"Marijuana and Hemp Legalization," Farm Credit Counsel, September 2019

"How High is the Risk? Banking the Legal Cannabis Industry," Independent Community Bankers Association Lead Forward Summit, September 2019

"Legal Implications," Colorado Bankers Association Marijuana & Banking Conference, August 2019

"Hemp/Marijuana Banking Update," Colorado Bankers Association's Community Banker Council, May 2019

"Hemp Legalization: What Your Financial Institution Needs to Know," Colorado Chapter of ACAMs, April 2019

“CFPB Enforcement Action Trends and Predictions,” Western Bankers Association Webinar, November 2018

“Cannabis and Banking,” BKD Financial Services Symposium: Colorado, November 2018

“Cannabis and Banking,” The Colorado Bankers Association’s “State of Banking on the Western Slope” Conference, November 2018

“Legal Implications of Doing Business with the Marijuana Industry,” Business Law Institute, September 2018

“National Cannabis Summit: Banking Considerations,” Colorado Bankers Association, August 2018 

"Emerging Risk Areas in Bank Litigation," Colorado Bankers Association Annual Summit, May 2018"Emerging Risk Areas in Bank Litigation," Colorado Bankers Association Annual Summit, May 2018

"Insurance for the Legalized Marijuana Industry," podcast, October 2017

"Hot Trends in Industrial Development-Marijuana and Commercial Real Estate," CREW National Convention, October 2016

"Emerging Litigation & Compliance Issues Concerning Marijuana, CFPB and Data Security", Colorado Bankers Association, January 2016

"Marijuana in Colorado: Advanced Tax, Legal and Accounting Considerations," December 2015

"CFPB and Other State and Federal Regulatory Updates," September 2015

"Managing Risk in Providing Depository Services to Marijuana Related Businesses and Other Cash Intensive Businesses," Stinson Leonard Street Banking Seminar and Federal Regulators Panel/Seminar and Webinar, 2015

"Marijuana, Gambling, Virtual Currencies and Payday Lending: How the Financial Industry Can Avoid the Compliance Pitfalls" live webinar, 2014

Publications

Zane has authored numerous articles for publications such as American Bankers Association’s Bank Compliance magazine, Inside Counsel, Bloomberg BNA, Law360 and Law Week Colorado.  He regularly presents to industry trade organizations and clients on emerging litigation and compliance issues.

  • "The Mining Industry Should Not Ignore ESG," Engineering and Mining Journal, June 2023
  • "Force Majeure and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, March 2020
  • "Marijuana Investment Lawsuits Are on the Rise: Steps Marijuana Entities and Investors Can Take to Mitigate the Risks," Cannabis Law Journal, July 2020
  • "Defenses for CBD Companies Sued for False Labeling, Advertising," Bloomberg Law, March 2020
  • "BNA Insights: The Financial Industry Should Be Wary of Rule Limiting Arbitration Provisions," Bloomberg BNA, June 2016
  • "Key Considerations for Financial Institutions' Cybersecurity Preparedness," Clarks' Bank Deposits and Payments Monthly, January 2016
  • "CFPB Takes Aim at Class Action Waivers in Arbitration," BankDirector.com, November 2015
  • "BNA Insights: Navigating CFPB's Consumer Complaint Process," Bloomberg BNA, November 2015
  • "Does the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Have Regulatory Authority Over You?," August 2015
  • "'Legalized' Marijuana: A Banking Compliance Conundrum," BNA News, 2015
  • "Predicting the Top Financial Industry Litigation and Compliance Issues in 2015," Bloomberg BNA, 2014. (This article was mentioned in a Banking Daily piece titled "CFPB Selects New Enforcement Director; Tony Alexis Replaces Kent Markus, Bloomberg BNA., 2015)
  • "Data Breaches: What the Financial Industry Needs to Know," The Independent Report, 2014
  • "The Rocky Relationship Between the General Counsel and the Corporate Compliance Officer," American Bar Association's Litigation Publication, 2014
  • Top 5 Things Financial Institutions Must Do Before Providing Services to the Marijuana Industry," Bloomberg BNA, 2014
  • "Understanding the Challenges of Consolidating the General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer," Inside Counsel, 2014
  • "Cannabis Credit Co-Ops Won't Solve Pot Banking Dilemma," Law360, 2014
  • "Colorado's Marijuana Financial System Unlikely to Solve Pot Banking Dilemma," Bloomberg BNA, 2014
  • "Smoking Out the Compliance Challenges in the Wake of Marijuana Legalization," ABA Bank Compliance, 2014
  • "Financial Industry Should Remain Cautious Despite Marijuana Banking Guidance," Bloomberg BNA, 2014
  • "The Legalized Marijuana Industry's Evolution Is an Exercise in Banking Compliance," Bloomberg BNA, 2014
  • "Compliance Pitfalls of Business of Pot," Law Week Colorado, 2014

Recognitions

Recognitions

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2026

Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2020-2023

Admissions

  • Colorado
  • Wyoming
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Education

University of Wyoming College of Law, J.D.

  • Order of the Coif
  • Wyoming Law Review, Contributing Staff, Case Note

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, B.A., magna cum laude, Political Science

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