About William

Managing Partner of the firm, Bill Roark is a trusted litigator and nationally recognized leader in cannabis law. He guides municipalities, corporations, and entrepreneurs through complex environmental and administrative law matters while shaping PA’s evolving medical marijuana landscape. His thought leadership has earned recognition from Best Lawyers in America®, Law360, The Legal Intelligencer, and Super Lawyers.

Specialties

CANNABIS LAW

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

LITIGATION

PERSONAL INJURY

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Admin Contact

Terry A. Penna TPenna@HRMML.com

William Roark

(215) 661-0400 • WRoark@HRMML.com

William G. Roark is the Managing Partner of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin and a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. Bill focuses his practice on environmental litigation and guiding municipal and corporate clients through complex administrative law matters, including cases involving the Federal Clean Water Act, Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law, the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, and Act 47 receiverships. 

A recognized leader in cannabis law, Bill chairs the firm’s Medical Marijuana Practice. Since the passage of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act, he has represented individuals and businesses entering the industry, advising on licensing, regulatory compliance, and business operations. Because of his early and ongoing role in shaping this developing area of law, Bill is frequently invited to present at educational programs for lawyers and industry professionals. He teaches “Cannabis Law and Regulation” as an adjunct professor at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, as well as courses and lectures at Temple University Beasley School of Law and the University of the Sciences. He also previously served as Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Committee. 

Bill is also deeply involved in the legal community. He is a past editor of the Montgomery County Law Reporter, past chair of the Montgomery Bar Association’s Environmental Law Committee, and a contributing editor to the Montgomery County Civil Practice Manual. Currently, he serves as President of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

His leadership and achievements have earned him recognition locally and nationally. Bill has been included in Best Lawyers in America® for Cannabis Law (2023–2024) and was named a “Cannabis Industry Power Player” by Metro News. He was selected as a national “Rising Star” for Cannabis Law by Law360 (2020) and received the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Special Achievement Award for his work establishing the PBA’s Medical Marijuana & Hemp Law Committee. In addition, he has been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for Administrative Law (2024), following more than a decade of recognition on its “Rising Stars” list. The Legal Intelligencer also honored him as one of its “Lawyers on the Fast Track” (2018). 

Bill graduated cum laude from Bucknell University with a degree in Economics (2003) and earned his J.D. with honors from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (2006), where he served on the Moot Court Board Executive Committee. Before beginning his legal career, Bill worked at Environmental Equipment Inc., helping usher in the “green age” by selling and installing solar pool heating systems.

 

    • Conducted multiple compliance reviews for Pennsylvania and out of state entities submitting permit applications under phase 1 of PA’s Medical Marijuana Act 

    • Represented medical marijuana growers, processors and dispensaries at local municipal hearings seeking zoning and land use approval 

    • Personally assisted in the drafting of various components of permit applications for medical marijuana organizations 

    • Consulted with health care providers to assist in their understanding of a physician’s obligations under Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act 

    • Successfully represented commercial real estate owners in a two day trial concerning Pennsylvania’s Hazardous Site Clean Up Act.  The trial resulted in a judgment being entered in Mr. Roark’s client’s favor for approximately a quarter of a million dollars.  The verdict was appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court where Mr. Roark effectively and successfully argued the issues on appeal, resulting in an affirmation of the trial verdict. 

    • Represented a young adolescent boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling into an uncovered pit at a reform school.  During trial, the case was settled for seven figures. 

    • Enabled owners of interstate tire shredding business to continue operating in Pennsylvania by successfully appealing Department of Environmental Protection’s denials of permit applications. 

    • Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement for owners of large mobile home park to recover remediation costs related to a heating oil spill. 

    • Effectively obtained a judgment after trial exceeding six hundred thousand dollars against a residential home builder for violations of various consumer statutes and negligent construction.

  • Admissions

    • Pennsylvania 

    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania 

    • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 

    • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 

    Education

    • Bucknell University (B.A. in Economics, cum laude, 2003) 

    • Villanova University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006) 

  • Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania; President 

    Pennsylvania Association for Justice (Formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association); past Board Member 

    Pennsylvania Bar Association; Former Co-Chair, Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Committee 

    Montgomery Bar Association 

    • Editor, Montgomery County Law Reporter (2010-2012) 

    • Officer of Young Lawyer Section (2011-2014) 

    • Civil Rules Committee Member 

    • Civil Practice Manual Committee Member 

    National Cannabis Bar Association; Member 

  • Speeches 

    • Guest Speaker, Pennsylvania Hemp Summit, Pennsylvania Bar Association, December 9, 2020 

    • Guest Speaker, “Doing Business in a Cannabis World: A European and United States Perspective viewed from Latin America” webinar, CMS Rodríguez-Azuero, December 4, 2020 

    • Course Planner, PBI Medical Marijuana & Hemp Law Symposium 2020, October 2020 

    • PBI Second Annual Full Day Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Symposium Course planner, March 28, 2019 

    • Guest Lecturer, Temple University School of Law, "Drug Law: Policy & Practice" class, November 5, 2018 

    • Guest Speaker, Medical Marijuana Educational and Outreach Event sponsored by CURE dispensaries, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, October 18, 2018 

    • Intersection of Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act and the Workers' Compensation Acts, Speaker, PBA Workers' Compensation Section Conference, October 4, 2018 

    • Medical Marijuana in the Legal Industry: The Key Issues for Solo Practitioners and Small Firms, Presenter, PBA Solo & Small Firm Section Conference, July 20, 2017 

    • Interviewed on NBC10's "@Issue" Program - Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Law and its Impact on the Community, June 2017 

    • The Legalization of Marijuana & its Effect on Municipalities, Co-Presenter, Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government, Lafayette College, February 2, 2017 

    • Medical Marijuana in PA: How did we get here?, Co-Presenter, Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Management's Annual Winter Workshop, January 27, 2017 

    • Medical Marijuana Legislation Update, Co-Presenter, Montgomery County Zoning Officers Association, September 14, 2016 

    • Seeing Green: Is Pennsylvania Next to Regulate Medical Marijuana? Discussion on the Social Economic & Political Implications of Pennsylvania's Medical Cannabis Act, Panelist, Bucknell University, November 5, 2015 

    • Municipal and Zoning Aspects of Pennsylvania's Medical Cannabis Act, Speaker, Montgomery County Bar Association, May 21, 2015 

    Publications 

    • Quoted in article "FDA excoriates a chain of suburban Philadelphia pain clinics for 'egregious’ claims about CBD," Philadelphia Inquirer, April 2 2019 

    • Quoted in article "PBA Takes the Lead in New Area of Law," Pennsylvania Bar News, February 18, 2019 

    • Hey Alexa - Resolve My Personal Injury Case!!!, HRMM&L Legal Spotlight, November 8, 2018 

    • Quoted in article "Lawyers are willing to toke a chance on pot biz" Philadelphia Daily News 8/22/17 

    • Quoted in article "Despite huge risk, Philadelphia law firms bullish on cannabis" Scranton Times-Tribune 8/22/17 

    • Quoted in article "How will marijuana industry impact real estate?" News-Herald 8/6/17 

    • Quoted in “Lawyer talks dispensaries real estate; Dispensaries and growers seek properties to set up shop,” Main Line Suburban Life, July 23, 2017 

    • Quoted in “The medical marijuana industry’s impact on real estate; Dispensaries and growers seek properties to set up shop,” Glenside News, July 16, 2017 

    • Quoted in "The medical marijuana industry's impact on real estate: Dispensaries and growers seek properties to set up shop," Souderton Independent, July 16, 2017 

    • Quoted in “How will medical marijuana affect real estate? A lawyer explains,” as published in North Penn Life, Phoenixville News, Bucks Local News, DelcoNewsNetwork, The Times Herald, Berks-Mont News, The Mercury, Main Line Media News, Daily Local, Delco Times, and Southern Chester County Weeklies, July 6, 2017 

    • Quoted in article "It's Crunch Time for Medical Cannabis Attorneys in PA," The Legal Intelligencer, June 23, 2017 

    • Co-author, "The Year in Review of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act," The Legal Intelligencer, May 1, 2017 

    • "Demand Side Economics: An Update on Patients' Access to Medical Marijuana," HRMM&L Legal Intelligencer, April 24, 2017 

    • Draft Regulations Shed Light on Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Program, HRMM&L Legal Spotlight, October 27, 2016 

    • Medical Marijuana's Big Week - What a Long Strange Trip It's Been, HRMM&L Legal Spotlight, August 23, 2016 

    • Update on Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, HRMM&L Legal Spotlight, July 13, 2016 

    • Quoted in article "Ethics Rules for Pot Practice Less Hazy," Legal Intelligencer, April 22, 2016 

    • Quoted in article “Ethics Rules Haven’t Caught Up To Medical Marijuana Legislation,” Legal Intelligencer, April 15, 2016 

    • Medical Marijuana Comes to Pennsylvania, HRMM&L Legal Spotlight, April 14, 2016 

    • Bill has also been published in the Legal Intelligencer for an article entitled "Understanding the Value of Plain English." 

    Academic Teaching 

    • Temple University Beasley School of Law, Adjunct Professor, teaches class entitled “Drug Law and Policy”, 2020-2021 

    • University of the Sciences, Philadelphia Pa., guest lecturer on medical marijuana laws 

    Continuing Legal Education Courses 

    • PA Medical Marijuana - Ethics and the Conflict with Federal Law, Course Presenter, Montgomery Bar Association, 11/9/18 

    • PBI First Annual Full Day Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Symposium Course planner, 3/16/18 

    • The Medical Marijuana Act and Your Practice, Course Presenter, Chester County Bar Association's Spring Bench Bar Conference, 2/28/18 

    • Next Steps for Medical Marijuana in PA: Evolving Issues in a Growing Industry, PBI course planner, (Philadelphia, Simulcasts, Live Webcast), 10/18/17 

    • Ethical Implications Pennsylvania Lawyers Face in Marijuana Practice, Law Line Webinar, presenter, 9/21/17 

    • PBI CLEDown the Shore 2017: Pennsylvania's Evolving Medical Marijuana Industry (3 hour event in Atlantic City, NJ), presenter, 8/10/17 

    • PBI Webinar: Medical Marijuana Growers and Dispensaries Begin in Pa.: What Lies Ahead (for Everyone) (Live Webinar), presenter, 7/27/17 

    • A New Reality: Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, Course Planner and Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, June 14, 2016 

    • A New Reality: Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, Course Planner and Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Mechanicsburg, June 8, 2016 

    • Medical Marijuana Coming to Pennsylvania: a question or a statement?, Course Planner and Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Webinar, April 11, 2016 

    • Pennsylvania's Proposed Medical Cannabis Act, Course Planner and Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Webinar, November 23 and December 8, 2015 

    • Proposed Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Act: The Nuts and Bolts, Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Webinar, June 17, 2015 

    • Is Medical Marijuana Coming to Pennsylvania? Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Webinar, April 9, 2015 

    • Selected to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List in 2025 

    • Selected to Best Lawyers in America® for Cannabis Law for 2023-2024. 

    • Named a “Cannabis Industry Power Player” by Metro News, April 18, 2022. 

    • Named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars List for 2010-2023. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. 

    • Recipient of Pennsylvania Bar Association’s 2020 Special Achievement Award for his work in starting up PBA’s Medical Marijuana & Hemp Law Committee. 

    • Selected as a Rising Star for 2020 by Law 360. 

    • Named to The Legal Intelligencer’s 2018 “Lawyers on the Fast Track.” 

  • Bill resides with his wife and two daughters in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. Bill is an avid sports fan and still follows every one of his alma mater’s gut-wrenching college basketball seasons. Although the opportunity rarely presents itself, Bill remains a certified scuba-diver and still enjoys the occasional dive.