About Ryan
Ryan Kocot defied a straightforward path into law. He entered the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2011 and completed his J.D. in 2014, taking coursework in criminal defense. The classroom years left him comfortable in the courtroom and versed in the mechanics of criminal law.
After law school he launched his own practice. In 2014 he founded Kocot Law and has served as the firm's owner and operator since. That early move into solo practice put him in the position of managing both day-to-day client work and the business side of a law office. He handled criminal defense matters and began to build a portfolio that would expand into regulatory and compliance issues over time.
By 2019 his work crossed into a different arena. He joined Ikanik Farms as General Counsel and Director of Compliance. The dual role required balancing legal advice with the implementation of compliance systems. He oversaw legal matters for the company and worked on the policies and practices that keep regulatory programs functional.
Kocot is admitted to practice in California, New York and Massachusetts. He also helped create a local professional forum for lawyers working on cannabis issues. In 2019 he founded the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Cannabis Section and remains its chair. The group brings together practitioners, regulators and in-house counsel to discuss emerging law and enforcement developments in the cannabis space.
His practice sits at the intersection of criminal defense, cannabis law and regulatory compliance. That combination reflects the trajectory of his career: courtroom experience early on, then the practical demands of keeping businesses in step with changing rules. He has handled client matters that require both litigation readiness and attention to regulatory detail.
Colleagues describe him as methodical and practical in approach. He favors clear legal analysis and paperwork that anticipates regulatory questions. Outside the office he has taken part in bar programming on cannabis regulation and compliance, organizing panels and educational sessions for practicing attorneys.
Today he continues to run Kocot Law while maintaining his role in legal compliance work. His current practice focuses on criminal defense, cannabis-related regulatory matters and corporate compliance for businesses operating in regulated markets.
