Building Your Legal Advantage
Florida’s ever-evolving regulatory landscape can be complicated to navigate for any business, big or small. At the Lockwood Law Firm, we specialize in guiding our clients through this unique, often politically charged environment, ensuring they understand the impacts to their business and that they are set up for success.
We also offer rare expertise in the areas of medical marijuana and casino gaming law and policy, as well as healthcare law and policy, allowing us to seamlessly work with our clients to traverse the complicated policies and roadblocks often found within the regulatory structures that govern these fields. We represent clients across all branches as government as highly regulated industries face ongoing scrutiny from regulatory bodies, state legislatures, and through litigation.
Above all else, our integrity and principles drive us as a firm, and we are committed to earning our clients’ trust and confidence as we work toward achieving their goals. With our unique end-to-end services, the Lockwood Law Firm provides unparalleled client service.
John M. Lockwood
Managing Partner
John M. Lockwood is the founding attorney of the Lockwood Law Firm in Tallahassee, Fla. John specializes in the alcoholic beverage, cannabis, casino gaming, and health care industries. He is regularly cited by Florida news publications as a gaming and regulatory law expert, and has also been named to Florida Super Lawyers and to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. Read More
John is known for his ability to formulate legal and public policy strategies to seek favorable outcomes for his clients. Companies seek John’s counsel because he is known to effectively organize complex situations while maintaining a keen sense of the client’s business and a profound interest in their success. He maintains a large regulatory practice in front of Florida executive branch, including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Department of Health, Department of Revenue and the Agency for Health Care Administration. John’s presence in front of these legislative, legal and regulatory bodies allows him to form strong relationships with regulators to ultimately achieve clients’ goals.
Prior to founding his private practice, John was an attorney at the Florida Attorney General’s Office and a judicial law clerk at the First District Court of Appeal.
He graduated cum laude from the Florida State University College of Law and received his Bachelor of Science from Troy University.
He resides with his partner, Anna, on a farm outside of Tallahassee. He spends his free time fishing and collecting vintage Toyota Land Cruisers.
T.J. Morton
Partner
T.J. Morton has significant experience representing individuals and businesses in highly regulated industries, specializing in gaming, medical marijuana, alcoholic beverage and health care. T.J. has experience in all aspects of the administrative and regulatory process. He has represented both individuals and businesses against regulatory agencies, as well as regulatory agencies against private parties. T.J. has also participated in the bill drafting process on behalf of regulated entities and as a counsel to regulatory agencies. Read More
Prior to joining the Lockwood Law Firm, T.J. represented several regulatory agencies, including the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Department of Health. This experience in the public sector allowed him to form a unique understanding of the inner workings and decision-making processes of regulatory agencies. He uses this unique understanding to form effective strategies to avoid or resolve disputes with regulatory agencies.
T.J. graduated magna cum laude from the Florida State University College of Law and earned his Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Missouri State University.
T.J. resides in Tallahassee with his wife, Khanty, and daughter, Malia. In his spare time, T.J. enjoys playing soccer, traveling and whiskey.
Christian Bax
Senior Attorney
Active in the industry since 2013, Christian is recognized as one of the foremost experts in cannabis law and policy in the United States. He assists businesses in the cannabis and hemp industries, prospective licensees, and investors. Christian also handles a variety of matters involving complex and novel administrative law issues, licensure disputes, procurements, and other litigation and regulatory proceedings. Read More
Prior to joining the Lockwood Law Firm, Christian served as the first Director of the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, where he implemented Florida’s historic Amendment 2 and oversaw the development of the state’s medical marijuana regulatory program. During his tenure, he expanded the Office from two to forty employees, authorized Florida’s first legal medical cannabis crops and dispensaries, and established several key systems still in use today, including the Medical Marijuana Use Registry and the patient identification card program.
Following his government service, Christian served as Vice President for Government Affairs and Compliance at TRP Co., the multi-state operator responsible for building out the business operations of the global cannabis brands Cookies and Dr. Greenthumb. In that role, he led compliance and government affairs efforts across eight states. In 2022, Christian joined the global M&A advisory firm Nextoria, where he is currently a Partner.
Christian earned his Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law, a Master of Business Administration from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Alabama. He lives in Tallahassee, where he enjoys kite surfing, endurance sports, and tending to his flock of Silkie chickens.
Craig Simpson
Associate
Craig Simpson has experience in many aspects of government compliance, including licensing, statutory interpretation, auditing, and enforcement. Craig has litigated many administrative cases and has experience in every part of the administrative process, including applications, rulemaking, and complex administrative litigation. Read More
Prior to joining the Lockwood Law Firm, Craig served as Deputy Chief Attorney for the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. There, Craig gained experience litigating many administrative enforcement, licensing, and auditing cases on behalf of the Division. Craig also served as a legal advisor to the Division, providing advice on bill analysis, rules, statutes, and on-going litigation. All of this knowledge is used to advise and guide clients through the administrative process, counsel on agency compliance, and zealously advocate on their behalf.
Craig earned his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law. Before that, Craig graduated with honors Summa Cum Laude from High Point University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Human Relations.
Craig currently lives in Tallahassee, where he has remained since graduating from law school. Craig enjoys cheering for FSU sports but also cheering on the teams of his hometown in Seattle, Washington.