Patrick K. Nightingale is a practicing criminal defense attorney in both state and federal court in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  He began his legal career as a prosecutor with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office in 1996.  In 1999 he helped to found the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit.  Since 2002 Mr. Nightingale has specialized in criminal defense with a particular focus on protecting the rights of cannabis consumers.  Mr. Nightingale practices in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania and handles both trial, appellate and post-conviction litigation. 

Mr. Nightingale re-established the Pittsburgh NORML and has worked to advance medical cannabis and adult use cannabis reform.  In his capacity as Executive Director he has spoken extensively on the subject of cannabis reform.  Mr. Nightingale has been a frequent guest on local radio and television, and is a trusted voice on reform related questions.  He has also been privileged to testify on numerous occasions before Pennsylvania legislative bodies considering medicinal cannabis legislation.

Mr. Nightingale also serves on the Board of Directors of the Medical Cannabis Society, a Pennsylvania based non-profit.  “I was very excited to join a non-profit with a mission of both advocating for patient interests and promoting industry best practices in Pennsylvania and other emerging medical cannabis states.  As our medical cannabis program matures in Pennsylvania and in states like Ohio and West Virginia it is abundantly clear we must continue to work to advance patient interests through education and legislation.”  

In August, 2017, Mr. Nightingale along with his partners established Cannabis Legal Solutions – a law firm catering to the needs of Pennsylvania’s emerging medical cannabis industry.  “We believe that as our industry expands clients will value having counsel that understands the cannabis industry and issues facing both consumers and business entities alike.”

Mr. Nightingale has taught Continuing Legal Education courses on the issue of cannabis policy and law to the Allegheny County Bar Association, Allegheny County DA’s Office, Westmoreland County Bar Association, Washington County Bar Association, Fayette County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.  Mr. Nightingale also serves as a speaker for Law Enforcement Action Partnership.Mr. Nightingale is married to fellow activist Theresa and they have three children together – Perrin, Mac and Xavina. 

Mr. Nightingale can be reached at 412.225.7959 or at pknlaw@mac.com.

Simon is the founder of Innovation Liberation Front.

Before starting Innovation Liberation Front, Simon practiced for seventeen years as a lawyer and patent attorney, spending 9 years as the partner heading the Commercialisation Team of James & Wells Intellectual Property. Much of his work involved licensing intellectual property internationally.
In 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2012 Simon was listed in Intangible Asset Management magazine’s IAM Strategy 300 – the World’s Leading IP Strategists and IAM Patent 1000 – Guide to the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners.

Simon is well versed in the needs of entrepreneurial growth companies, and has been himself involved as a co-founder or investor and advisor in several startups. These include Magic Mitten Limited, which invented the product now marketed as GroHush by The Gro Company in 30 countries around the world; Nutrient Rescue, which manufactures and markets nutritional plant powders; Ligar LP, which develops molecularly imprinted polymers for specific extraction needs; and Sagitto, which provides data science as a service based on handheld NIR scanners to characterise oils, textiles, plastics and other substances.

Shane’s practice is focused on appeals and regulatory litigation for clients in a diverse array of industries, including energy, shipping, aviation, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Recent matters have involved challenges to federal agency action under the Administrative Procedure Act, preemption issues under the Airline Deregulation Act, and EPA rule-making challenges under the Clean Air Act. Drawing on his experience as a former law clerk to judges on both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Shane’s unique insights can also assist clients that may be evaluating potential or pending cases involving complex regulatory issues.

Shane received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law with high honors and served as both the Articles Editor for the Texas Law Review and as Managing Editor of Texas Review of Law and Politics. He completed three clerkships, including with the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth, then-Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Honorable Jennifer Walker Elrod of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Honorable David B. Sentelle, then-Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Shane is recognized as "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers in America® and as a “Texas Rising Star” in Appellate Law by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers. He is a published author on emerging issues in administrative law and founded admin.law, a blog where he comments on important happenings in administrative law in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is also part of Yale Journal on Regulation’s Notice & Comment blog where he provides regular commentary and insight on a wide variety of administrative law issues. 

Prior to joining the firm, Shane was an associate with Baker Botts.