James Cohen

James Cohen Jim is a founding Director of Maine Street Solutions, joined Verrill in 1991 and has been a partner since 1999.

Jim practices at the intersection of law and politics. Based on decades of experience as a regulatory lawyer, mediator, and elected official — including as Mayor of Portland, Jim helps clients in heavily regulated industries achieve their legal and policy goals before state and local regulatory agencies and legislative bodies.

Jim's unique background allows him to provide clients not only with insightful legal advice, but also with creative solutions involving public relations, facilitation, and outreach to key government, business, and community leaders. His experience in public service and leadership positions on multiple business and nonprofit boards gives him a deep understanding of government and a broad range of connections within Maine's business and political community. Jim is a well-known public figure throughout Maine is also a former City Councilor and Mayor in Portland, a former board chair of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on the boards of the Maine State Chamber and Portland Community Chamber of Commerce.

sail maine

James Cohen taking part in the Sail Maine Regatta

Jim is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law (J.D.), Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the University of Southern Maine (Certificate Program in Mediation). He resides in Portland with his wife Joanie and is an avid runner, biker, skier, and sometimes guitar player.

Experience

  • Provides government relations services to businesses, trade associations, and nonprofit groups before the Maine Legislature, including with regard to general business and legal issues, energy, telecommunications, public water systems, financial services, tax policy, opioid treatment, transportation, and procurement.
  • Assists clients in numerous rulemaking and adjudicatory proceedings, including before the Maine PUC, the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Department of Transportation, Maine Revenue Services, and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
  • Advises local governments, special purpose districts, and private businesses on issues such as procurement, right to know laws, land use, licensure, ordinance changes, finance and spending, and election issues
  • Assists businesses with local ordinances, land use and development, transportation infrastructure, school construction and finance, and economic development matters pending before local municipal boards
  • Advises businesses regarding local property tax assessments and represent property taxpayers in abatement proceedings
  • Primary draftsperson of Maine's current law governing state, county, and municipal spending, known as “LD 1”
  • Served as legal counsel for several statewide ballot initiatives
  • Successfully represented numerous businesses seeking or maintaining government grants or contracts, including a $50 million statewide radio contract, a $25 million federal grant for a statewide middle-mile fiber network, a multimillion-dollar contract for educational data collection, and a substantial contract for local airport services
  • Advised businesses in contested procurement disputes before state and local government agencies, including appeals related to state natural gas procurement, statewide radio services, airport maintenance service, and crisis behavioral health services
  • Extensive legal and political experience on state and local transportation issues including highway construction and location, utility facility permitting, grant funding, buses, trains, and airports
  • Helped obtain the licensure of Maine's first methadone treatment clinic in 1994, which included a successful Superior Court appeal to overturn an agency decision denying licensure
  • Oversaw a successful multiyear public and government relations campaign on behalf of a coalition of Opioid Treatment Programs in Maine to increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for methadone treatment
  • Helped facilitate and pass enabling legislation to form Maine's first regional nonprofit organization for water utilities
  • Chair of Verrill’s Banking & Financial Services Group
  • Co-chair of Verrill’s Telecommunications Group
  • Vice-chair of Verrill’s Utilities and Energy Group
  • Federal Communications Bar Association, member of New England Steering Committee


Education

  • Columbia University School of Law (J.D.)
  • Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (A.B., cum laude)
  • University of Southern Maine (Certificate Program in Mediation)


Community Service

  • Portland Regional Chamber, Chair (2012-14) Trustee (2008-16; 2019- present)
  • Portland Community Chamber of Commerce, President (2019- ) Trustee (2016-present)
  • Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Trustee (2009 - present)
  • Project Green Schools, Advisory Trustee (2017-present)
  • Portland Trails, President (1997-1998), Advisory Trustee (2002 - )
  • Portland Symphony Orchestra, VP of Budget and Finance (1999-2002)
  • North Deering Neighborhood Assoc., Founding Pres. (2001), Trustee (2002-2013)


Political Service

  • Mayor, City of Portland (2005-2006)
  • Portland City Council (2002-2008)
  • Metro Regional Coalition, Chair (2007-2008)
  • Portland Charter Commission, Vice Chair (2009-2010)
  • Cumberland County Budget Advisory Committee, Chair (2005)
  • U.S. Conference of Mayors, Community and Faith-Based Initiatives Task Force, Vice Chair (2006)
  • Portland City Council Finance Committee, Chair (2006-2008)
  • City Council Transportation Committee, Chair (2002-2005)
  • Jetport Master Planning Committee, Chair (2005-2007)
  • Greater Portland Transit District, Trustee (2002-2005)
  • Maine Turnpike Authority, Public Advisory Committee (2017-18)
  • Creative Economy Steering Committee, Chair (2007-2008)
  • Sustainable Portland Task Force (2006-2007)
  • Riverton School Building Committee, Co-Chair (2005-2006)
  • Cumberland County Civic Center Joint Task Force (2006-2010)
  • Mayor's Healthy Portland Task Force (2006-2008)
  • Portland School Department, Budget and Revenue Task Force, Chair (2013-4)


Honors

  • AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Energy & Natural Resources Law
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Administrative/Regulatory Law, Government Relations Practice, Energy Regulatory Law in Portland, Maine
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Utilities, Banking and Government Relations
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2020 Portland, Maine Energy Law Lawyer of the Year
  • Neal W. Allen Award for Leadership in the Public Sector (2009)
  • Ruth M. Shaper Memorial Award, Maine Public Health Association (2008)
  • Public Service for the Environment Award, Sierra Club, ME Chapter (2006)