James Cohen

Counselor

Jim Cohen has been a Partner with Verrill Dana since 1999 and joined the firm in 1991.  A certified mediator, Jim provides legislative and lobby services to a wide range of businesses, regulated industries, non-profit organizations, and individuals.  Jim is currently listed in Best Lawyers in America under Government Relations Law.  He has expertise in energy, telecommunications, banking, and transportation law, as well as public water and municipal law.

Jim served as Mayor of Portland and as City Councilor for six years. In his time on the Council, Jim has been a leader in the areas of city and school finance, economic development, regional cooperation, public transportation, health and recreation, and environmental sustainability.   He currently serves on the Charter Commission of the City of Portland.

Jim is a former president of Portland Trails, a non-profit urban land trust, as well as the founding president of the North Deering Neighborhood Association.  Jim is also a trustee of the Maine Public Spending Research Group, a trustee of the Princeton Alumni Association of Maine and a corporator of Sweetser.  Jim is a board member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and is a Trustee of the Portland Community Chamber of Commerce.  He is the 2009 recipient of the Neal W. Allen Award for Leadership in the Public Sector from the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Jim is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association.

Jim graduated cum laude in 1987 from Princeton University with an A.B. in Domestic Policy from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs. In 1991, he graduated from Columbia University School of Law.