15-20 years

Mike was�named 2021, 2020 and 2013 (27th, 26th�and 19th�editions)�"Lawyer of the Year"�by his peers (BestLawyers.com), for his work in Government Relations Practice, and has been listed in the same publication every year as a top Maine lawyer.

In 2020, Mike received the�Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program's certificate of commendation�for completion of over 50 hours of pro bono work.

At Maine Street Solutions, Mike and the team serve everyone from fortune 50 companies to the local statewide food bank. They believe in a multi-lateral strategic approach to problem solving wherein they leave egos aside and focus on achieving positive results for clients. Mike and the team do not believe in silos in government relations. They know that everyone on the team needs to have the right information so they can provide the right message to the right person at the right time. They also know that to broaden the impact of their client's message they need to use all the levers of communication: from direct advocacy to media relations, from grass roots influencing to social media, from legal advocacy to coalition building. Mike and the team know that this integrated, strategic approach brings the best chance of success for clients. AT MSS, Mike and the team are extremely competitive and want their clients to always win.
Mike and the team frequently work with clients on national strategies using Maine as a test-case to hone messages, tactics, and policy, and then help those clients develop a national strategic approach to implement their strategy. Through that work they have achieved great successes across the country, ranging from expanding access to prescription drugs and healthcare to creating best practices for good government initiatives.
If an issue touches the public, whether it be government or community relations, crisis communications or procurement, national or local issues, the MSS team has the relationships and skills to advance your interest.
Mike grew up in Bangor, graduated from Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law, represented the West End of Portland in the Legislature and currently resides in Belgrade with his wife and daughter. When Mike is not on the phone with a client or lawmaker, he can be frequently found walking in the woods near his home with the family dog, Dory.

0-5 years

In my last position, I served as the Administrator of a county children and youth agency. At the time I began working at the Agency, the staff complement had significantly decreased and the agency was on a provisional license. Through cooperation and collaboration with the staff, I was able to improve staffing levels and restore the agency to full licensure status.

My prior experience includes serving as a Commissioner on the PA Gaming Control Board; as a Legislative Affairs Director for the PA Attorney General's office and as Legislative Secretary for the PA Governor's office. Through these positions I have established and maintained professional relationships with members of the PA General Assembly, the PA Gaming Control Board staff and legislative professionals in a number of state agencies.

20+ years

John R. Hammond III is co-chair of Ice Miller's Public Affairs Group. As a veteran of Indiana state government, he has helped shape a wide variety of public policy, from tax policy to environmental management, education to tort reform, transportation to insurance and economic development.

John served as a key aide to former Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr during his time as lieutenant governor, as well as serving as a deputy campaign manager for Orr's gubernatorial run in 1979 and heading up his transition team in 1980. He was senior executive assistant for Legislative Affairs and Education Policy in the Orr administration, serving as chief legislative liaison for six general sessions and three special sessions of the Indiana Legislature during the 1980s. Since leaving state government in 1988, he has led the governmental and public affairs programs for several major Indiana firms.

He is a frequent public affairs panelist and lecturer, and is the co-author of the article "Campaigns and Candidates: Lawyers and Their Obligations," prepared for the Legislative Services Agency for Continuing Legal Education's seminar titled, "The Lawyer-Lobbyist." He also serves as a Republican commentator and analyst on Indiana Week in Review, a state wide public affairs news program of WFYI focusing on Indiana government and politics. He has served as an advisor to several statewide campaigns.

John was awarded his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 1976, and a juris doctor from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Indiana.

John joined Ice Miller in February 2001.

20+ years

Silver Crescent LLC is the South Carolina lobbying, government relations and consulting practice of Dwight Cauthen. Dwight has over two decades of experience in this arena and has developed close working relationships with legislative leadership and key decision makers at all levels of state government.

Dwight has been working in and around the State House since his freshman year in college. He has the experience, skills and relationships necessary to effectively represent your interests and advocate on your behalf. Over the years he has accomplished much legislatively and politically for his clients.

Prior to lobbying, Dwight served as first executive director of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus under then Leader and now President Pro Tempore and Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman. He left the caucus to join the lobbying team of the state's largest law firm and in 2003 started his own practice.

Dwight paged for House Speaker Bob Sheheen, worked for Governors Carroll Campbell and David Beasley, and served as US Senate campaign communications director for Congressman Bob Inglis.

Dwight majored in political science at the University of South Carolina and later received his masters in public relations there.

6-10 years

Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch": Government Relations

Dieter Raemdonck's practice is focused primarily on government relations matters at the federal, state, and local levels.

As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Raemdonck has invaluable expertise and experience communicating with state, county and municipal officials; state and federal legislators; executive branch employees; and state agencies and regulators. At the Colorado General Assembly, Dieter assists clients with all aspects of the legislative process, including drafting legislation, building coalitions, developing strategies for advocacy and messaging, lobbying legislators, and ultimately achieving clients' desired policy outcomes. His clients have a broad range of priorities, from general business issues to education, energy, real estate, and technology. In addition, he regularly advises and assists clients with political giving programs and campaign finance matters.

Dieter's practice also includes advocating client interests before regulatory bodies at the state and local levels. He often drafts proposed regulations, and represents clients before administrative boards and commissions.

20+ years

I continue to be selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Concord, NH for Administrative/Regulatory Law, Insurance Law, Energy Law, Government Relations, Banking and Finance Law, and Financial Services Regulation Law. I was recognized by Best Lawyers as Concord's "Lawyer of the Year" in Government Relations in the 2022, 2018, 2016, and 2013 editions, in addition to being named by Best Lawyers as Concord's "Lawyer of the Year" in Insurance Law in the 2020 and 2017 editions.

I appear before various executive and administrative agencies and boards including the Insurance Department, Public Utilities Commission and Health-related Boards. I also have extensive experience representing clients before various other state agencies and the New Hampshire Legislature.

I am the former legal counsel to the NH State Senate. My practice focuses primarily on regulated industries. I have extensive experience representing clients before the NH Legislature and various executive and administrative agencies and boards, including the Insurance Department, the Public Utilities Commission, and health-related boards. I regularly advise insurers, financial institutions, and other businesses on insurance and general business law issues. I also have extensive experience representing national and international companies planning, sitting, permitting, and constructing large energy generation and transmission infrastructure projects.