Walter (Chad) Blackham

Associate Attorney Chad Blackham works with the firm’s Compliance and Litigation teams, advising highly-regulated businesses on matters related to advertising and marketing, teleservices, privacy & data security, and other consumer protection issues. With a practical approach, he helps M&S clients understand and proactively comply with complex federal and state laws and defend against litigation and enforcement actions by regulatory agencies including the FCC, FTC, and CFPB.

Chad has a deep understanding of the emerging cannabis industry and founded the firm’s growing Cannabis, CBD, and Hemp practice area. Working with businesses and organizations from entrepreneurial startups to some of the industry’s largest enterprises, he has advised clients throughout the industry vertical, including cultivators, processors, dispensaries, physicians, and patients. Chad regularly writes and presents on industry topics such as federal and state regulatory developments, advertising and marketing best practices, employment considerations related to medical and recreational cannabis use, claims substantiation requirements, and the legal implications of varied state cannabis regimes.

Chad brings previous experience with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he helped ensure the agency’s regulatory and statutory compliance with federal privacy laws.

• Participated in multiple, high-stakes class action matters related to TCPA and other consumer protection concerns, successfully defending clients against millions of dollars in fines and damages.
• Conducted numerous comprehensive audits and compliance evaluations for Fortune 500 businesses.
• Assisted with landmark constitutional litigation in the cannabis industry and successfully fought to obtain cannabis cultivator, processor, and dispensary licenses for minority-owned businesses.