Overview
Patrick Howe is an experienced attorney in all areas of real estate development, real estate transactions, and alcoholic beverage law. He represents a diverse group of clients, ranging from entrepreneurs to national publicly traded companies. He handles all aspects of real estate development, with a unique emphasis on zoning and entitlement matters. He routinely drafts and negotiates purchase agreements, lease agreements, and options for commercial, industrial, automotive, and retail properties in Michigan and throughout the United States.
In additional to his robust real estate practice, he is known as a go-to resource with respect to Michigan alcoholic beverage law and practice, and has worked with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission on a daily basis for nearly 20 years. His hospitality and alcoholic beverage clients include local and national wineries, breweries and distilleries, on-premise retailers, off-premise retailers, and third party facilitator services. He handles liquor license applications, violations, audits, special event permitting, and provides general counsel on the Michigan Liquor Control Code and Administrative Rules.
Patrick brings a valuable hands-on perspective to his practice being the owner of multiple small businesses and development projects throughout his career, having served as a principal and in-house general counsel for an active multifamily housing development company, and serving as counsel to a Napa, California based family winery for many years.
A lifelong resident of metropolitan Detroit, Patrick has actively engaged in the region’s resurgence, and has considerable experience coordinating developments through the City of Detroit approval processes. He also serves as general counsel to various small businesses, entrepreneurs, and families, advising on general business matters.
Services
Practice Areas
Experience
Representative Matters
Hospitality
- Represent hundreds of liquor licensees in all three tiers of the alcoholic beverages industry
- Routinely handles Michigan Liquor Control Commission and TTB licensing applications
- Represents in state and out of state licensees in complex audit and violation matters initiated by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and Michigan Attorney General
- Serves as special counsel and expert witness counsel in litigation matters involving Michigan alcoholic beverage law
Real Estate
- Served as special real estate counsel for Big 3 automotive manufacturer for over 10 years, handling options, leases, subordination agreements and miscellaneous transactional matters to maintain site control over national automotive dealership network
- Served as a principal and in-house general counsel for multifamily housing development company to develop, stabilize, and sell 4 purpose-built student housing projects in southeast United States consisting of nearly 2,000 beds
Zoning & Land Use
- Handles special land use, conditional use, site plan, use and dimensional variance requests, and other entitlement applications in complex real estate development projects, and regularly appear before planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and local governmental bodies
- Broad experience with City of Detroit Zoning Ordinance and City approval processes
Prior Experience
- JPHOWE, PLLC, Owner (2016 – 2022)
- Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC, Partner (2011 – 2015)
- Carlin, Edwards, Brown & Howe, PLLC, Partner (2006 – 2010)
- Plunkett Cooney, Attorney (2005 – 2006)
Credentials
Education
- Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society
- The Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers Scholarship
- Inductee, Order of Barristers
- University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, Executive Editor
- Past Adjunct Professor, Administrative Law
- Economic Development
- with Honors
Admissions
- Michigan
Recognition
Awards
Crain’s Detroit Business, 40 Under 40 Award
The Urban Land Institute (ULI), 40 Under 40 Award
DBusiness Magazine, 30 In Their 30s Award
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers – Land Use & Zoning Law / Beverage Law
Hour Detroit Magazine, Top Lawyers – Food & Beverage Law
Michigan Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Administrative Law
Professional & Community Involvement
State Bar of Michigan
- Administrative & Regulatory Law Section Council
- Section Council Member (2014 – 2017)
- Chair, Hospitality and Alcoholic Beverage Law Subcommittee (2014 – 2017)
- Real Property Law Section
- Zoning & Land Use Subcommittee
Urban Land Institute – Michigan District Council
- Member, Executive Board
- Chair of Mission Advancement
- Co-Chair of the Larson Leadership Program (2014-2016)
- Co-Chair of the ULI-Michigan Young Leaders Group (2010-2014)
Alliance of Hospitality Industry Attorneys & Consultants, Member
National Association of License Compliance Professionals, Member