Jonathan Havens is the managing partner of the Baltimore office and co-chair of both the Cannabis Law Practice and the Food, Beverage & Agribusiness Practice at Saul Ewing LLP.  He counsels state cannabis license applicants and awardees, ancillary service and product providers, investors, management companies, and various other entities that are affected by federal and state cannabis laws.  In addition to his cannabis law practice, Jonathan maintains an active food and beverage practice, particularly with regard to cannabinoid products, in which he counsels manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of conventional foods, dietary supplements, and beverages on product development, claim substantiation, labeling, promotion, registration, reporting, and recall issues to ensure compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and state and local requirements.

Since 2019, Chambers USA has recognized Jonathan as one of America’s leading lawyers in cannabis law.  In 2021, Law360 selected Jonathan as a cannabis law rising star, making him one of only five attorneys nationwide to receive that honor.  He is regularly interviewed by mainstream and trade press outlets, alike, and has been quoted by or authored pieces for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Reuters, CNBC, WIRED, MarketWatch, Engadget, Law360, High Times Magazine, Cannabis Business Times, and Marijuana Business Daily, among others.  Jonathan currently serves on Law360’s Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board and the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Board of Directors.

Before entering private practice, Jonathan served as a regulatory counsel with FDA, where he focused on compliance and enforcement related to promotion, advertising, and labeling.  Prior to law school, Jonathan served as a legislative aide in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

While maintaining a nationwide practice, Jonathan remains deeply committed to serving his community and empowering the next generation of leaders.  He currently serves on the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School's Board of Trustees and is a member of its Head of School Search Committee, as well as a member of Towson University Hillel’s Governing Board and the Baltimore Community Antisemitism Task Force.  He is also a founding member of the Beta Iota Foundation, a non-profit that provides scholarships and grants to prospective and current college and graduate school students. Throughout his career, Jonathan has guest lectured at various law schools and mentored numerous law school students, offering his time to arm future lawyers with strategies to market themselves and secure employment.