Shepherd Cannabis & Marijuana Lawyers

Joshua Blanchard is a trial lawyer who holds a BBA in Accounting from Northwood University and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He operated a solo law practice representing clients in criminal trial matters throughout the state of Michigan. He has tried a number of jury trials to verdict and has obtained “not guilty” verdicts for his clients in both bench and jury trials. Mr. Blanchard is admitted to practice in Michigan state courts as well as in Federal Court for the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan. Mr. Blanchard represents people in need...

Tiffany L. DeBruin is an experienced Lansing criminal defense attorney who has represented clients on charges ranging from assault and domestic violence to minor traffic infractions. Each day she helps people who have wrongfully been accused of crimes or who have made a simple mistake. Tiffany strives to fight the charges her clients face and protect their rights.

Over the past 35+ years, I have served as legal counsel and business adviser in connection with many public and private securities, capitalization, finance, merger, acquisition and consolidation transactions. Over the years, my emphasis has been in the energy and real estate industries, as well as with emerging stage and technology-based companies. Recently, I have worked extensively in the qualified opportunity zone space and with cannabis industry businesses.

I also maintain an alternative dispute resolution practice (arbitration and mediation) for securities, financial and business disputes. I have also published and presented extensively on a variety of topics including...

Steve is a commercially focused attorney at the firm Dickinson Wright PLLC. Steve has broad knowledge of branding, advertising and marketing topics, including agency work, content syndication, licensing, and sponsored content in print, broadcast, social and OTT media. Steve also helps clients with transactions in commercial real estate. Previously, Steve served as Regional Counsel, Europe at Stryker. Before going in-house for Stryker, Steve was an attorney in the advertising and real estate practice groups at Honigman. Steve previously earned ten years of experience with supply chain management in government, healthcare, and technology. Steve holds a JD with a...

I have devoted my litigation practice to business, complex commercial and product liability actions. Through my trial practice, I have appeared as trial counsel in numerous federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies and mediation and arbitration tribunals. I have successfully represented and obtained verdicts, judgments, awards and settlements for a list of valued clients that include major automobile manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and finance companies, as well as closely held businesses and their owners, families, and individuals.

Chris Newberg is an attorney at Kuiper Kraemer PC in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chris helps individuals and businesses work through a wide range of legal issues, including pursing and defending lawsuits, overseeing complex business transactions, drafting and reviewing contracts, and working through intellectual property and entertainment deals. Chris represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of disputes throughout Michigan and beyond. He has considerable experience in the federal court system, representing clients in employment, intellectual property, insurance, and business cases. In the state court system, Chris helps clients with cases of all shapes and sizes, ranging from collections...

By keeping a limited caseload, I can forge a truly personal relationship with each client, thereby strengthening the attorney-client relationship. I firmly believe that the most effective defense or for prosecuting a personal injury case can only be effectuated when there is a strong foundation of trust between attorney and client. I do everything in my power to earn that trust. A limited caseload also allows me to be aggressive, not merely encouraging my client to take the first plea offer or first settlement offer just because it would ease my workload. I have the time and resources to fully investigate...

Nick's practice focuses on environmental, toxic tort, mass tort and products liability litigation, permitting and compliance with environmental regulations, and defending against alleged violations of environmental regulations. He also has experience in Real Property litigation, injury law and Default Servicing litigation.

Nick began his career with a commercial litigation and insurance defense firm in Chicago, Illinois, where he managed a national corporate compliance and insurance defense team responsible for defending claims on behalf of large industrial clients in several states across the country. His experience there included the defense of workers’ compensation matters, litigating and trying cases involving industrial accidents...

Attorney Brian F. Garmo is committed to excellence. Mr. Garmo offers creative and practical solutions to complicated legal issues. The law offices of Garmo & Kiste have a proven record of success throughout the entire state of Michigan including but not limited to the counties of Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Lapeer, and Genessee. Unlike many of the larger law firms, we offer personalized attention to each of our clients. We offer solutions that are tailored to fit your own specific needs. We understand how important your matter is. That is precisely why you can speak directly to...

After graduating law school, I went to work for the Wayne County (Detroit) Public Defenders' Office. I tried every imaginable case: murder, carjacking, armed robbery, assault cases, theft cases, a disinterment case (!)--all with not guilty verdicts each time. Naturally, I negotiated many plea agreements with the prosecutors' office and the Court. These plea agreements were outstanding. My clients are set apart. I work with them on their cases, I work with them on their personal matters and I give them my devoted time.
Now, after over 25 years of criminal defense practice, I have...

Lawyer-Lavigne is an Excellent appeals court orator. He is Managing Partner of Cannabis Counsel Law Firm. Five lawyers state-wide, doing regulatory compliance, licensing, local zoning and permits, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, litigation, state and federal criminal defense, products liability, eminent domain and intellectual property. A high profile case brought to five years in Hawaii, North Carolina and Michigan for over 30-years. A frequent guest on various media and public debates with politicians, and expert witness. Chairman of Cannabis Law Section of State Bar of Michigan, Board NORML of Michigan, Lifetime Member NORML National Legal...

John B. Payne, Attorney, established his practice in 1983, becoming a full-service general practice and litigation firm in 1988, when John received his LL.M. in Taxation. John lectures on estate planning and other topics to groups interested in legal issues. He is the author of Michigan Probate and Counseling the Elderly Client in Michigan, plus numerous articles and seminar manuals. Experienced in appellate matters John has appealed many criminal, civil rights and tax cases in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Matthew Abel has been a lawyer in Michigan for over 35 years, and is Executive Director of Michigan NORML. Matthew founded Cannabis Counsel, P.L.C., a five-attorney Detroit, Michigan law firm entirely devoted to cannabis clients and cases, providing both business advice and legal counseling as well as criminal defense in marijuana cases throughout Michigan. Since passage of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act in 2008, the practice has rapidly grown to include not only business clients and issues, but also employment, drug testing, probation, family law, contract, real estate, landlord-tenant, and other issues surrounding cannabis. Cannabis Counsel P.L.C. is...

A graduate of The American University and Michigan State College of Law, Jonathan’s 20 years of private and in-house practice has centered around insurance, compliance and healthcare law with an emphasis in professional liability. Jon devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing providers and healthcare facilities in medical malpractice lawsuits.

Since the enactment of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008, Jon has also advised and counseled dozens of caregivers, patients, real estate professionals, investors, and business owners on licensing, compliance, entity formation, municipal compliance, and landlord-tenant related matters. Since the MMFLA was enacted, Jon has been assisting prospective...