Lisa Holley

More About Lisa Holley

Lisa focuses her practice primarily in the areas of cannabis, employment and criminal law. She has successfully represented clients in both state and federal courts and before regulators and government agencies on a variety of issues.

As an early commenter to the original Rhode Island cannabis legislation and regulations while serving as then Chief Legal Counsel to the Rhode Island State Police, Lisa consults with investors, operators and related parties to cannabis and hemp transactions, including supporting clients through the cannabis and hemp licensing and regulatory review process. In addition, Lisa works with cannabis and hemp clients to develop regulatory compliance programs, drafts standard operating procedures, provides strategic planning advice and represents them before the  Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation and municipal authorities.

Lisa represents employees on any number of employment disputes including discrimination and harassment matters, wage and hour claims, wrongful terminations, and employment appeals. She has appeared with clients before the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the Rhode Island Commission on Human Rights, the Rhode Island Personnel Appeals Board and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Lisa concentrates her criminal law practice primarily in the area of post-conviction and represents clients before the Rhode Island Parole Board. In this regard, she supports clients' parole efforts by assisting them with developing pre-release plans, counseling them on programming needs and coaching them on appearing before the Parole Board. In addition, Lisa represents clients seeking post-conviction remedies, including appeals, writs and post-conviction relief proceedings.

Prior to opening her private practice, Lisa spent decades in government roles including Chief Legal Counsel to the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety and State Police, Chairperson of the Rhode Island Parole Board, Deputy Personnel Administrator for Labor Relations for the Rhode Island Department of Administration and Interim Administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Lisa started her professional career in law enforcement with the Warwick Police Department, including over six years  as a Task Force Agent with the  U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Lisa is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts in Rhode Island and the United States Supreme Court.