Thomas Howard

Thomas E. Howard is an Illinois cannabis lawyer based in Peoria and Chicago, serving operators statewide on licensing, M&A, compliance, and disputes. A Managing Attorney at Howard Law Group and Managing Director at Collateral Base, Thomas brings 15+ years in commercial law and regulated-industry work to cannabis businesses that need fast, compliant, and ROI-minded counsel. Illinois rules change, enforcement tightens, and local zoning still decides deals. Thomas helps founders and investors move from interest to implementation—scoping license paths, winning administrative appeals, navigating MIPA earn-outs, and papering transactions that survive diligence. Licensing & Amendments: Guided winning applications and change-of-ownership/restructuring across Illinois and other states (CT, NJ, NM, MD, MO, MN, IL, DE, KY, NY). Disputes & Appeals: Administrative wins and litigation on MIPA earn-outs, ownership disputes, contract breaches, and agency actions. M&A & Capital: Asset/member interest deals, valuation support, escrow mechanics, reps/warranties, and integrations.