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Overview
Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ruplin is an associate in Tonkon Torp’s Business Department. Before joining Tonkon Torp, he worked at Green Light Law Group, where he helped clients in the cannabis industry with corporate and regulatory matters such as business formation, compliance with state and federal regulatory agencies, financing and operating agreements, and ongoing corporate governance. He has assisted numerous clients in the hemp industry and has a deep understanding of the regulatory framework of hemp-derived CBD products.
Ferdie also worked at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP in New York, where he advised private investment funds on compliance with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and other federal, state, and self-regulatory organization requirements. Ferdie has experience assisting private fund clients with establishing compliance programs, registering with the SEC, complying with U.S. securities trading rules, and handling SEC examinations.
Ferdie is a 2016 graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and was a Ruth Whitehead Whaley Scholar. He was a member of the Fordham Law Review and the Fordham Moot Court Board.
Outside of the office, Ferdie enjoys playing guitar, violin, and piano and has a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He also enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Hopi, and their golden retriever, Wally.
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Get To Know
When he was four years old, Ferdie Ruplin picked up a violin and launched himself into a life-long love affair with music. By age 12, he was playing the guitar and piano, and would continue lessons through high school. Ferdie jumped into the college band circuit while attending undergrad at Fordham University in New York City, and in 2011, he auditioned for “American Idol,” the popular televised singing competition. At the time, the production didn’t allow hopeful contestants to play instruments, but Ferdie still made it through four audition rounds – high enough in the process to meet the celebrity judges – singing hits by Ray LaMontagne, James Morrison, and Gavin DeGraw.
Although he didn’t make the final selection for that season of American Idol, the audition process presented a professional crossroads for Ferdie, who ultimately decided that a career in law was what he was most passionate about. During his intense years of legal study at Fordham University's School of Law, and now as he builds his cannabis and business law practice at Tonkon Torp, Ferdie continues to play music, which provides him a meaningful outlet to help him decompress and bring clarity to his thinking. In addition to piano and guitar, Ferdie has most recently picked up the ukulele, with the hope of learning a variety of softer lullabies for his newborn son.
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Recent Alerts
4.22.2020
Hemp and the Pitfalls of the USDA’s Interim Final Rule
Despite regulatory uncertainty and increased competition, we continue to see explosive growth in the amount of hemp production in the United States, with the amount of total acreage increasing by approximately 550% since the passage of the 2018 Farm…
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3.31.2020
FAQ for SBA Loans for Businesses under the CARES Act
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at aiding individuals and businesses in the U.S. that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, was signed into law. The CARES Act includes a $349 billion allocation of funding…
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Publications & Presentations
"PPP Update: EZ Forgiveness Application and New Guidance," June 2020
"Market Conditions in Oregon and Washington Evidencing Uncertainty for PPP Loan Certification," Tonon Torp Legal Update, May 2020
"PPP Loan Certification Guidance – Should I Give the Money Back?" Tonkon Torp Legal Update, May 2020
"FAQ: COVID-19 Impact & Financial Resources for Businesses," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, April 2020
Panelist, "A Pandemic Primer for Cannabis Businesses – Unique Challenges for a Unique Industry," April 2020
Panelist, “The COVID-19 Pandemic - A Legal Perspective,“ TiE Oregon, April 2020
"Hemp and the Pitfalls of the USDA’s Interim Final Rule," Portland Business Journal, April 2020
"Main Street Lending Program for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, April 2020
"Supplemental FAQ for SBA Loans under the CARES Act - Paycheck Protection Program," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, April 2020
"FAQ for SBA Loans for Businesses under the CARES Act," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, March 2020
