About Thomas
Thomas Howard studied history and politics as an undergraduate before turning to law. He earned a B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2002 and a J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 2008. His academic path combined liberal arts and professional training, and it laid the groundwork for a practice that moves between regulatory and business matters.
Howard began practicing law in the early 2010s. He joined Howard & Howard Lawyers, PLLC as a lawyer in 2011. Two years later he launched Stumari, LLC, a venture that reflected an entrepreneurial bent alongside his legal work. In 2018 he took on an of counsel role at Hall & Rustom, L.L.C., adding experience at a firm that handled a mix of civil and transactional matters. By 2020 his work had shifted toward the emerging cannabis industry and he began identifying professionally as a cannabis industry lawyer.
That shift was accompanied by nontraditional certifications. Howard holds a Realtor credential from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and a Ganjier certificate from Green Flower. These credentials sit alongside his bar qualifications; he is licensed to practice in both Wisconsin and Illinois and maintains membership in the State Bar of Illinois. They reflect an interest in the crossover between real estate, regulatory compliance, and commercial operations.
Over the last decade Howard’s practice has threaded together licensing, contracts, and site-level issues for businesses in a heavily regulated market. He works on transactional matters such as leases and acquisitions, and he advises clients on state-level licensing and compliance obligations. His background at small firms and in his own ventures informs a practical approach to problem solving. He often handles matters that require coordinating between regulators, landlords, and investors.
Howard operates through Collateral Base, LLC for his current work. He continues to advise operators and owners involved in the cannabis supply chain, as well as related real estate transactions and regulatory filings. He is known for taking a business-oriented view of legal problems and for translating regulatory requirements into actionable steps for clients. He currently practices through Collateral Base, LLC and focuses on cannabis-related regulatory and transactional matters.
