Joel A. Holt

Joel Holt is an accomplished attorney with more than 18 years of experience representing businesses and individuals throughout Northeast Ohio and across the country. He focuses his practice on business law, corporate counseling and governance, commercial transactions, real estate law, civil and commercial litigation, appellate advocacy, and legal cannabis and hemp law.

Joel’s broad legal background allows him to serve as trusted outside general counsel to small and mid-sized businesses throughout Northeast Ohio. In this role, he supports clients through every stage of the business life cycle, including entity formation, employment and human resources matters, governance and compliance, contract drafting and negotiation, asset and stock purchases, debt and equity financing, commercial real estate leasing and acquisitions, intellectual property matters such as copyright and trademark protection, and business dissolution. Joel is known for providing practical, business minded legal advice that helps clients operate efficiently while minimizing risk.

Since 2016, Joel has represented legal cannabis and hemp businesses in Ohio and other jurisdictions, including California, Arizona, and Canada. He has guided clients through all phases of licensure and operations for cultivation, processing, and dispensary licenses. Because of his deep experience in this highly regulated and evolving area of law, Joel Holt was named one of the Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers by Cannabis Law Report.

In addition to his transactional work, Joel represents businesses and individuals in civil and commercial litigation and appellate matters in Ohio and nationwide. As a seasoned litigator, he brings a proactive mindset to his practice, helping clients identify potential liabilities early and avoid costly mistakes before disputes escalate. When litigation is unavoidable, Joel is fully prepared to manage all aspects of a case, providing strategic advocacy and clear guidance focused on protecting client interests and minimizing disruption.

Joel graduated magna cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law in 2005. While in law school, he was published in the Akron Law Review. After graduation, he served as a staff attorney for the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals and later as an adjunct professor at the University of Akron School of Law and Hiram College. Joel is also a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served with honor and distinction while earning his undergraduate degree with honors during active duty. His military service continues to shape his disciplined, detail oriented approach to legal advocacy.

Representative Experience

Joel has represented a wide range of clients across numerous industries. His experience includes advising mental health care providers on HIPAA compliance, confidentiality, privacy, employment matters, and litigation. He represents a local Amazon delivery business and works with industrial companies in sectors such as HVAC, manufacturing, machining, plasma cutting, construction, remodeling, and refinishing. Joel also represents homeowners and condominium associations.

Joel’s cannabis law experience includes representing provisionally licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Ohio, advising a California based real estate company that locates and secures compliant cannabis retail locations for Ohio licensees, representing a publicly traded Canadian cannabis company in mergers and acquisitions efforts in Ohio, and assisting an Arizona based multi-state operator with licensure, regulatory compliance, and administrative proceedings. He has also provided consulting and regulatory recommendations to the Country of Greece during the implementation of its medical marijuana program. In addition, Joel has represented a local small business in a copyright and trademark infringement litigation against Amazon.

Joel Holt is committed to helping businesses and individuals navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges with confidence and clarity. Whether serving as outside general counsel, advising on commercial transactions, guiding clients through cannabis and hemp regulations, or advocating in litigation, Joel provides thoughtful legal counsel grounded in experience, discipline, and a strong commitment to client success.