Jim Ickes is a partner in the Cannabis Practice Group at Frantz Ward LLP, where he serves as outside counsel to numerous hemp-infused beverage companies operating across the United States. His practice focuses on guiding clients through the legal and regulatory complexities of launching and scaling cannabinoid-infused beverages in both hemp and marijuana channels.

Jim has developed a comprehensive multistate legal field manual tailored to the hemp beverage industry, equipping his clients with actionable insights to navigate compliance and market entry strategies. His work sits at the intersection of cannabis, health, and hospitality, and he regularly advises companies on matters involving labeling, distribution, risk mitigation, and consumer safety.

In addition to his cannabis beverage focus, Jim has over two decades of experience in litigation and is a certified Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP). He frequently advises clients in the medical cannabis and healthcare sectors on HIPAA compliance, cybersecurity, and data breach response.

Jim earned his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and his B.S. from Ohio University. He is a frequent speaker and advocate for cannabis beverage innovation and policy reform in Ohio and nationwide.