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JAMES COHEN

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.

20+ years

Mayor, City of Portland (2005-2006)

Portland City Council (2002-2008)

Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Board member (2021 - present). (confirmable position)

Portland Regional Chamber, Chair (2012-14), Trustee (2008-16; 2019- present)

Portland Community Chamber of Commerce, President (2019-21), Trustee (2016-present)

Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Trustee (2009 - present)

Federal Communications Bar Association, New England Steering Committee (2011 - present)

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)

Greater Portland Transit District, Trustee (2002-2005)

Project Green Schools, Advisory Trustee (2017-present)

Portland Trails, President (1997-1998), Advisory Trustee (2002 - present)

Mayor's Healthy Portland Task Force (2006-2008)

Portland School Department, Budget and Revenue Task Force, Chair (2013-4)

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)

As a registered lobbyist for more than 25 years, Jim has developed strong relationships with key legislative leaders, committee members, and state agency officials on both sides of the aisle and across a wide range of policy areas.

As a former municipal official of Maine's largest city, including service on the Legislative Policy Committee of the Maine Municipal Association, Jim has developed an extensive network of municipal officials throughout the State of Maine.

Jim has represented several large statewide trade associations with members throughout the state which allowed him to develop strong relationships over many years with members of the state's banking industry, the water utility industry, the wastewater and sewer district community, county commissioners, and attorneys.

Jim for many years has been an active board member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce whose board is comprised of business leaders from many of Maine's largest companies.

Jim has in recent years served as board chair of the Portland Regional Chamber and the Portland Community Chamber, which positions are highly visible within the business and government communities in the Portland area.

As a practicing public utilities lawyer, Jim has appeared before the Maine Public Utilities Commission and its staff since the early 1990s. In this role, he has also worked closely the Governor's Energy Office, the Office of Public Advocate, the Maine Department of Transportation, and staff from the Governor's Office across multiple administrations.

As a regulatory lawyer who practice includes representing local government agencies and attorneys, Jim has developed long-standing relationships within many state agencies, including Maine's Judicial Branch, professional licensing agencies, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, the Bureau of Financial Institutions, the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Bond Bank, the Finance Authority of Maine, the University of Maine System, and the Maine Community College System.

Jim has also developed long-standing relationships with the members of Maine's Congressional delegations and their staff.

Jim joined Verrill in 1991 has been a partner since 1999. He currently chairs Verrill's Energy, Telecommunications, and Natural Resources practice group, and he is a founding Director of Maine Street Solutions, Verrill's government relations affiliate. Jim focuses his legal and government relations practice on the following areas:

Energy
Telecommunications
Water and Wastewater Systems
Municipal Law
Procurement
Transportation
Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Jim's unique background as a regulatory lawyer, former Mayor, and trained mediator 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. Applying these skills across a wide range of regulated industries, Jim has helped craft or modify laws and regulations; represented clients in adjudicatory proceedings before government agencies and the courts; assisted clients in complex business transactions; facilitated thousands of board, committee, and stakeholder group meetings; served as a public speaker or moderator at numerous conferences, seminars, trade association meetings, and televised news programs; and provided a wide range of legal and public policy advice.

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).

JAMES DEMERS

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

20+ years

James M. Demers is the founder of The Demers Group and Demers, Blaisdell Inc., he presently serves as President & CEO of Demers, Blaisdell & Prasol Inc. Mr. Demers is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and former congressional candidate. He has over 40 years of experience in the legislative, regulatory and political fields. He has been a political commentator for numerous media outlets including ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News as well as NH news stations WMUR-TV, WBIN-TV and New England Cable News. He has been actively involved in advising presidential campaigns, serving as co-chairman of President Barack Obama's NH campaign in 2008. He presently serves on the advisory board of the NH Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College, chairman of the NH International Trade Advisory Commission and he is a "political insider" for Politico and the National Journal. He was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to serve on the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which is the country's development financial institution. He has been recognized by numerous state and national publications as one of New Hampshire's "most influential" and "most powerful" people. He is a graduate of the University of Miami (FL) and he holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He served three terms in the NH House where he served as the Assistant Minority Whip. He has also served as President and Executive Director of the New England-New York-New Jersey Financial Services Association and the National Card Coalition after doing corporate government affairs work for two national financial services companies. He is a resident of Concord, NH.

STEVEN WISE

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

15-20 years

Steve Wise joined the Firm in 2002 and became a partner in 2008. Early in his career with the Firm he was recognized by the The Gazette as one of the "Rising Stars" of the State House lobbying corps, and he has consistently ranked among the top earning lobbyists in Annapolis since that time.

Steve represents a diverse group of clients before the General Assembly and State agencies, including trade associations and companies in the alcoholic beverage, insurance, gaming, health care, telecommunications and environmental industries.

Mr. Wise's legal practice focuses on administrative law and regulatory matters. He has appeared before the Liquor Boards in 16 of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions and before the Office of the Comptroller, representing alcoholic beverage licensees on licensing and enforcement matters. Steve also represents health care professionals in licensing and disciplinary proceedings before the Board of Physicians, insurance producers and premium finance companies before the Insurance Administration, and has represented maritime-related industries before the Department of Natural Resources. Steve has appeared in many of the State's Circuit Courts, and litigated cases both before the Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals.

Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1991 and his Masters degree in Public Administration in 1994, both from Florida State University. He graduated cum laude from the University Of Baltimore School Of Law in 2001, and he is admitted to the Maryland State Bar as well as the U.S. District Court for Maryland. Mr. Wise was born and raised on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Denton, and now resides in Annapolis with his wife Amy and twin sons.

JUSTEN RAINEY

JUSTEN RAINEY

(Oregon, )

6-10 years

Justen Rainey is a full time lobbyist and political strategist for Public Affairs Counsel. Prior to joining Public Affairs Counsel in 2012, Justen served as the Legislative Director for Oregon House of Representatives Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna. Justen held a similar legislative position with the Oregon Senate Republican office. Rainey began his professional career in 2001, where he spent 7 years as an aide to U.S. Congressman Greg Walden in his Washington D.C. office and Bend office.

THOMAS PRASOL

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

Thomas Prasol serves as the Managing Director for Demers, Blaisdell & Prasol Inc. He has been providing strategy, lobbying, and association management for clients since 2011. He brings a myriad of experience in State and Federal government beginning his professional career as a Project Assistant to U.S. Senator Judd Gregg and as Policy and Field Coordinator for several State and Federal campaigns. In 2008 he transitioned to the position of Project Director for Senator Gregg where he handled federal appropriations in the areas of first responders. Upon Senator Gregg's retirement, he moved to the New Hampshire State Senate where he was a Legislative Aide to the Senate Education Committee. With his experience in federal and state government, Mr. Prasol brings another dimension to the firm in areas of strategy, management of special projects, and government affairs implementation. He continues to bring his experience and knowledge to assist State and Federal campaigns with strategy and policy research. In addition to his work for Demers, Blaisdell & Prasol, he serves on the Town Planning Board and has previously served as Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in his local community He received his Bachelor's degree in Politics from Saint Anselm College where he served as an Ambassador to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, and his Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He currently resides in Hooksett, NH with his fiance' Maria and two dogs Zeus and Tyson.

JL WILSON

15-20 years

J.L. Wilson comes with a 16-year history in public affairs and lobbying as past Executive Director of NFIB/Oregon and past Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Associated Oregon Industries. Wilson has been a full-time lobbyist representing primarily business interests since 2000. Prior to that, he served as Legislative Director for two Speakers of the Oregon House.

  • 99 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 2020, ALBANY, NY, 12260, 

Clients:
  • 99 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 2020, ALBANY, NY, 12260, 

Clients:

1) 125 Greenwich Owner LLC

2) 554 Metro Spe LLC

3) A Posteriori LLC

4) Aden Brook Agricultural, LLC

5) Advantage Capital

6) American Beverage Association

7) American Coatings Association, INC.

8) Amp Robotics Corporation

9) Association Of Home Appliance Manufacturers

10) Association Of Professional Land Surveyors, INC. (NYS)

11) Association Of Towns Of The State Of New York

12) Aurora Carleton Ave LLC

13) Aurora Carleton LLC

14) Bae Systems, INC.

15) Bell Laboratories, INC.

16) Bestpass, INC.

17) Boston Beer Company (The)

18) Bsac2 DBA Healthful Meals LLC

19) Carson Power

20) Catskills Tech Hub LLC

21) Centralus Health, INC.

22) Certainteed Gypsum Operating Company LLC

23) Chevra Hatzalah

24) Chinese American Ipa, INC.

25) City Of Buffalo

26) Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, INC.

27) Commission On Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

28) Concourse Tech, INC.

29) County Of Rockland

30) Cpd NY Energy CORP.

31) Creighton Manning Engineering & Surveying, PLLC

32) Delaware Engineering, D.p.c.

33) Dk Crown Holdings INC.

34) Doctors Management Company (The)

35) Early Care And Learning Council

36) Edge Inference, LLC

37) Environmental Advocates Action, INC

38) Field Point Servicing, LLC

39) Finger Lakes Ipa, INC. D/B/A Forward Leading Ipa

40) Galaxy Media Partners LLC

41) Garonit Pharmaceutical INC.

42) Gotham Eye Medical

43) Government Employees Insurance Company (Geico)

44) Hecate Energy LLC

45) Hobart And William Smith Colleges

46) Hospitals Insurance Company

47) Hudson Public Hotel LLC

48) Imagetrend. LLC

49) Improvlearning, INC. FKA National Point And Insurance Reduction Course, INC

50) Infant Nutrition Council Of America

51) Infra Tech Engineering LLC

52) K&R Preservation LLC

53) Kalshi INC.

54) Kent Riverview LLC

55) Key Capture Energy, LLC

56) Lagrange Fire District

57) Leaflink INC.

58) Livingston County

59) Loretto Management Corporation

60) Mandi Care LLC

61) Mcdonald's USA, LLC

62) Med-Metrix, LLC

63) Meta Platforms, INC.

64) Mfny Group CORP.

65) Milmar Food Group Ii, LLC

66) Mlmic Insurance Company

67) Myle Technologies, INC.

68) National Strategies, LLC

69) Neumo Tax & Licensing LLC FKA Govos, INC.

70) New York State Dental Association

71) New York Tobacconist Association, INC.

72) Ninjaone, LLC

73) Novo Nordisk INC.

74) Nr International

75) Orange County Ida

76) Panorama Education, INC.

77) Peckham Industries, INC.

78) Pennymac Financial Services, INC.

79) Perfect Health Boro Park LLC

80) Pharmacann Of New York, LLC

81) Planet Networks, INC.

82) Poly Craft Industries CORP.

83) Project P Holdings, LLC D/B/A Northeast Shared Services

84) Public Employer Risk Management Association, INC.

85) Remco Agency, INC.

86) Retail Council Of New York State, INC.

87) Rewiring America, INC.

88) Rockland Green

89) Rockland Independent Living Center, INC. DBA Bridges

90) Roman Health Ventures INC.

91) Safety Holdings, INC.

92) Salesforce, INC.

93) Scannell Properties , LLC

94) Securus Technologies, LLC

95) Sf Cherry Hill LP

96) Shaw Building LP

97) Shift Chainworks Owner1, LLC

98) Steady Platform, INC.

99) Stewart Title Insurance Company

100) Sun Ng Kittatinny Rv LLC

101) Superior Pack Group

102) T-Mobile USA, INC.

103) Tech:NYC INC.

104) The Agency Broome County Ida/Ldc

105) The Machaneh Trust

106) Town Of Clarkstown

107) Town Of Haverstraw

108) Town Of Ramapo

109) Trustees Of The Masonic Hall And Asylum Fund

110) Tungsten Health Holdings, LLC D/B/A Habitat Health

111) Underdog Sports Holdings, INC. D/B/A Underdog Fantasy

112) Vantage Compliance

113) Veracare INC.

114) Village Of Kiryas Joel

115) Village Of Pelham Manor

116) Village Of West Haverstraw

117) Volvo Group North America

118) Womble Bond Dickinson (Us) LLP

  • 99 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 2020, ALBANY, NY, 12260, 

Clients:

1) 125 Greenwich Owner LLC

2) 554 Metro Spe LLC

3) Aden Brook Agricultural, LLC

4) Advancing The Future Of Younger Generations LLC

5) Allegis, Redwood, Maxim Public Affairs, LLC

6) American Beverage Association

7) American Coatings Association, INC.

8) Amp Robotics Corporation

9) Arizona College Of Nursing

10) Association Of Home Appliance Manufacturers

11) Aurora Carleton Ave LLC

12) Avangrid Management Company, LLC

13) Backstretch Employee Service Team Of NY, INC

14) Bae Systems, INC.

15) Bell Laboratories, INC.

16) Bestpass, INC.

17) Bsac2 DBA Healthful Meals LLC

18) Bursor & Fisher, P.a.

19) Care Management Alliance Of New York

20) Carson Power

21) Centralus Health, INC.

22) Chidi Eze

23) Chinese American Ipa, INC.

24) City Of Buffalo

25) Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, INC.

26) Commission On Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

27) Compassion & Choices

28) Concourse Tech, INC.

29) Consumer Directed Action Of New York, INC.

30) Debmar/Mercury, LLC

31) Dk Crown Holdings INC.

32) Doctors Management Company (The)

33) Empire Education Corporation

34) Environmental Advocates Action, INC

35) Field Point Servicing, LLC

36) Finger Lakes Ipa, INC. D/B/A Forward Leading Ipa

37) First Medcare, INC.

38) Friends Of John Jay Homestead

39) Gotham Eye Medical

40) Healthcare Association Of New York State, INC.

41) Hospitals Insurance Company

42) Imagetrend. LLC

43) Infant Nutrition Council Of America

44) Infra Tech Engineering LLC

45) International Centre For Missing & Exploited Children

46) International Sleep Products Association

47) Investment Company Institute

48) Johnson Controls, INC.

49) K&L Gates LLP

50) K&R Preservation LLC

51) Kalshi INC.

52) Kent Riverview LLC

53) Legal Services Of The Hudson Valley

54) Liberty Utilities Services CORP.

55) Light & Wonder, INC.

56) Loretto Management Corporation

57) Lottus Education Sapi De Cv

58) Maimonides Medical Center

59) Mandi Care LLC

60) Mcdonald's USA, LLC

61) Med-Metrix, LLC

62) Milmar Food Group Ii, LLC

63) Mortgage Bankers Association, INC. (NY)

64) Myle Technologies, INC.

65) National Strategies, LLC

66) New York Coalition For Dignity In Aging

67) New York Road Runners, INC.

68) New York State Dental Association

69) New York Tobacconist Association, INC.

70) Ninjaone, LLC

71) Novo Nordisk INC.

72) NY Medical Cannabis Industry Association

73) Orange County Ida

74) Orsted Wind Power North America LLC

75) Pennymac Financial Services, INC.

76) Perfect Health Boro Park LLC

77) Pf High School, LLC

78) Project P Holdings, LLC D/B/A Northeast Shared Services

79) R. L. Polk & CO.

80) Retail Council Of New York State, INC.

81) Rewiring America, INC.

82) Rockland Business Association

83) Rockland Green

84) Sf Cherry Hill LP

85) Spotify USA INC.

86) Steady Platform, INC.

87) Swisher International, INC

88) Syracuse University

89) T-Mobile USA, INC.

90) Tech:NYC INC.

91) The Agency Broome County Ida/Ldc

92) The Alliance Of Tbi & Nhtd Waiver Providers, INC.

93) The Mount Sinai Hospital

94) The Regional Food Bank Of Northeastern New York

95) Trustees Of The Masonic Hall And Asylum Fund

96) Tungsten Health Holdings, LLC D/B/A Habitat Health

97) Union Home Mortgage CORP.

98) Vantage Compliance

99) Veracare INC.

100) Village Of Kiryas Joel

101) Village Of Pelham Manor

102) Village Of West Haverstraw

103) Web3-A.i. LLC

104) Womble Bond Dickinson (Us) LLP

JENNIFER DRESLER

(Oregon, )
Clients:

ZACHARY HARRELL

(Texas, )
  • (512)6466403

  • 1402 Nueces Street, Austin, TX, 78701, 

  • 99 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 2020, ALBANY, NY, 12260, 

Clients:

LINDA KOWALSKI

(Connecticut, )
Clients:

MIA MCCORD

(Texas, )

KOLTON MCDOUGALD

(Texas, )
  • (713)7751659

  • 1402 Nueces St, Austin, TX, 78701, 

JONATHAN MELANSON

(New Hampshire, )
Clients:
  • 600 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20001, 

Clients:

HECTOR RIVERO

(Texas, )
Clients:
  • 600 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20001, 

BRADFORD WEEKS

(Connecticut, )
Clients:
  • 99 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 2020, ALBANY, NY, 12260, 

Clients: