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).

Kelly Cohen is a lobbyist, political strategist, and fundraiser whose work building partnerships between government and industry in Florida has made her a perennial figure on the region's "Most Powerful" lists. An expert communicator, and a lawyer by training, Kelly is Managing Partner at the Orlando office of Florida-based lobbying firm, Southern Strategy Group.

Since opening Southern Strategy Group's first regional office in 2005, Kelly has leveraged her expertise at building partnerships to drive public policy and growth throughout Central Florida. Kelly's ability to adeptly navigate the halls of government to create successful collaborations that combine government relations and community engagement has made her an asset to the region's businesses and a boon to its development.

An expert in working with local governments to build infrastructure and create economic development strategies, Kelly is widely recognized for her ability to get things done. Kelly has been a leading strategist on some of the region's largest development projects, including: BRIDG and NEOCITY, an industry-led smart sensor consortium focusing on manufacturing of smart sensors; Medical City, a job engine cluster around medical care, research, and education; Sunrail, a 68 mile commuter rail system; and securing funding for a new downtown Orlando campus for University of Central Florida. Kelly was also instrumental in shepherding WaWa, Uber, and Nopetro, a compressed natural gas company, into the regional market and has helped with the acquisition of an Orlando MLS Team and construction of the new Orlando City Soccer Stadium. Kelly is also a dedicated board member of the Orlando Economic Partnership, where she works with CEOs, Mayors, and community leaders to drive development and spurn economic growth.

Prior to joining Southern Strategy Group, Kelly practiced law in South Florida. Kelly's passion for public policy and her commitment to seeing her community thrive lead her to become a Democratic strategist and fundraiser in some of Florida's most visible campaigns. Kelly acted as the statewide Finance Director for then State Senator Buddy Dyer when he ran for Attorney General, and again in his successful races for Orlando Mayor. Kelly continues to serve as one of the mayor's top advisors. Kelly is currently Finance Chair for Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings campaign to become Orange County Mayor.

Kelly has been recognized repeatedly for her leadership, business acumen, and willingness to work behind the scenes to get things done. In 2016, the Orlando Business Journal awarded Kelly the title of CEO of the Year. That same year Kelly reached the 8th spot on Orlando Magazine's 50 Most Powerful People list, in which she has featured for seven consecutive years. Kelly has also been named one of the top 100 Most Influential People in Politics by Influence Magazine, been awarded the titles of Woman to Watch and Woman of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal, and been noted as a Must Know Contact in Central Florida by Florida Trend.

An active and dedicated member of her community, Kelly serves on the Board of Directors for Clean the World, Orlando Children's Trust, Orlando Tech Association, FireSpring Fund and Creative City Project, an annual arts and music festival. Kelly is Orlando proud (and also a proud cat person). Kelly lives with her husband Scott, and their cat, Kitty, in downtown Orlando.