Joe Heaton

Over the course of his career, Joe has advised organizations operating in the technology, life sciences, food and beverage, and cannabis sectors on legislative, regulatory, and communications challenges. He helps clients navigate the intersection of policy, business, and public perception, drawing on deep experience in coalition building, grassroots advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and domestic and international government relations.

Prior to joining the firm, Joe served as executive director of government affairs for a technology, analytics, and data science company, where he managed policy initiatives at the state, federal, and global levels. His work required translating complex policy issues into actionable business strategies while building relationships with policymakers, industry leaders, and advocacy organizations.

Earlier in his career, Joe spent a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman John Runyan of New Jersey and as Senior Advisor and Counsel to Congressman Michael Turner of Ohio. Working closely with Turner, the former mayor of Dayton, Joe remained deeply connected to the needs of the community that shaped him while helping advance legislative priorities in Washington.

Joe has also developed significant experience in the food and beverage industry. During six years with a national trade association representing companies that produce and import beer in the United States, he worked extensively on trade policy, tariffs, and import-export matters. His contributions to the industry earned him recognition as Brewbound Magazine‘s Person of the Year in 2020.

In the cannabis sector, Joe has advised on some of the industry’s most complex regulatory challenges, including seed-to-sale tracking systems, business licensing programs, and patient registry frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

Whether working with emerging companies, established businesses, or industry coalitions, Joe helps clients navigate changing political and regulatory landscapes with a clear understanding of both the policy process and the people behind it.

Joe is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. only.