Thomas Alan Lisk

Member

Richmond

(804) 762-6921

(804) 762-6950

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Tom focuses his practice on regulatory matters before agencies, boards, and commissions of the commonwealth of Virginia, including the State Corporation Commission. Tom is a registered lobbyist in Virginia, providing legislative representation of business interests and trade associations before the Virginia General Assembly since 1980. Tom also serves as legal and legislative counsel to the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, representing the Commonwealth’s restaurant and lodging industries. Tom was appointed by the Virginia Code Commission to chair the Virginia Administrative Law Advisory Committee.

Tom represents clients in matters relating to beverage alcohol regulation, antitrust, election law, franchise, gaming and lottery, health care, insurance, Internet regulation, professional and occupational regulation, and issues related to privatization of governmental services. He also represents a wide range of restaurants, hotels, amusements, and entertainment establishments, as well as breweries, wineries, distilleries, and wine and beer wholesalers and importers on legal, regulatory, and legislative matters. Tom regularly counsels hotel owners and management companies, lenders, developers, and real estate investment funds in relation to management agreements, licensing and permitting issues, and operational issues.

Tom earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude,  from Washington & Lee University and he earned his law degree from Washington & Lee University School of Law.

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor Promotes Six Members to Shareholder

August 24, 2020

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the promotion of six members to shareholders.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Publications

Virginia Viewpoint - May 17, 2024

May 17, 2024

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” In Virginia, they also brought a new budget.

Virginia Viewpoint - April 19, 2024

April 19, 2024

In bipartisan fashion, Governor Youngkin and legislators have agreed on a fresh start to negotiate a new two-year budget.

Virginia Viewpoint - The Power of the Pen

April 05, 2024

With only a few days remaining to act on legislation that passed during the regular session, Governor Youngkin has issued a flurry of vetoes including several that stymie Democratic priorities from this session.

Virginia Viewpoint: A Curtain Call -- Or A Budget Brawl?

March 12, 2024

The General Assembly has officially adjourned sine die, marking the end of a whirlwind 60-day legislative session while leaving the door open for an extended skirmish over the budget.

Virginia Viewpoint: The Budget Battle Begins

February 23, 2024

This week, the House and Senate each voted on their changes to the Governor’s introduced budget – with some noticeable differences between the two chambers and omissions that wipe out most the Governor’s top tax priorities. It sets the stage for a potentially lengthy budget gridlock between the Democratic majorities in the General Assembly and Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Virginia Viewpoint: The Race to Crossover

February 12, 2024

Like a two-minute drill that football fans may see heading toward halftime in the big game this weekend, the Virginia General Assembly is in a similar race against the clock – a deadline colloquially referred to as Crossover.

Virginia Viewpoint: A Whole New Ballgame

January 29, 2024

Barring a few exceptions where unanimous consent is granted for new bills, legislators in the General Assembly have officially finalized their legislative agendas for the 2024 session.

Virginia Viewpoint - January 12, 2024

January 12, 2024

The Virginia General Assembly gaveled the 2024 Legislative Session into order this week with no shortage of significant changes. The first day of session included a landmark moment in the legislature’s 405-year history when Del.

Virginia Viewpoint - December 20, 2023

December 20, 2023

Governor Glenn Youngkin presented his 2024 – 2026 biennium budget to the Virginia House Appropriations, House Finance and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committees on Wednesday, December 20.

Virginia Viewpoint: Virginia 2023 Election Results

November 08, 2023

Virginia Democrats sweep the General Assembly, now have majority in both chambers.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Unlimited License Problems

March 17, 2019 - Arlington, VA

Education

  • Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D., 1985
  • Washington and Lee University, B.A., cum laude, 1980

Awards & Honors

2020 Best Lawyers: Lawyer of the Year/Administrative & Regulatory Law - Richmond, VA

Virginia’s Legal Elite for Legislative/Regulatory/Administrative Law, Virginia Business magazine, 2016

Leaders in the Law, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2015

Best Lawyers’ 2015 Richmond Administrative/Regulatory Law

Best Lawyers’ 2015 Richmond Gaming Law Lawyer of the Year

Best Lawyers’ 2013 Richmond Gaming Law Lawyer of the Year

Best Lawyers’ 2012 Richmond Government Relations Practice Lawyer of the Year

The Best Lawyers in America

Virginia Super Lawyers for Administrative Law

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

District of Columbia Bar, Administrative Law Section

Virginia Bar Association, Administrative Law Council, Board Member

Virginia State Bar, Administrative Law Section

Virginia ABC Board’s Licensee Newsletter, Editorial Board

Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Industry Advisory Panel

American Bar Association, Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice Section, Committee on Beverage Alcohol Practice, Business Law Section, Government Affairs Practice Committee

National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Attorneys (NAABLA)

National Association of Licensing & Compliance Professionals

Alliance of Alcohol Industry Attorneys and Consultants (AAIAC)

State Law Resources, Inc., Founding Director and Past National Chair (State Law Resources, Inc. is national network of independent law firms selected for their experience in administrative, regulatory, and government relations at the state level)

Virginia Law Foundation, Fellow

Monument Avenue Preservation Society

Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Advisory Board Member

Innsbrook Foundation, Board Member

Richmond Jaycees Foundation, Board Member

City of Richmond, Mayor’s Tourism Commission, Member