Sam Hamilton

        Associate
        Contact Info
        Sam Hamilton Sam Hamilton

        Sam advises and advocates for a diverse range of private and public sector clients before state agencies, the Maine Legislature, and the Executive Branch. His practice focuses on environmental, land use, regulatory, and government relations matters, helping clients navigate complex legal and policy challenges across Maine.

        As a member of Verrill’s Telecommunications & Utilities group, Sam represents electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water providers, as well as other regulated businesses, on a wide range of permitting, compliance, development, and operational issues. He regularly assists clients with land use approvals, environmental permitting, infrastructure development, regulatory compliance, and interactions with state and local governmental entities. Drawing on his experience in highly regulated industries, Sam helps clients anticipate and address legal and policy developments that affect their businesses and long-term strategic objectives.

        In addition to his regulatory and environmental practice, Sam assists clients in shaping public policy and legislative outcomes. Through his work with the Maine Street Solutions team, he helps businesses, utilities, trade associations, and other organizations develop and advance legislative and regulatory initiatives. His ability to combine legal advocacy with government relations counseling allows clients to effectively pursue their objectives before lawmakers, regulators, and stakeholders.

        Sam is also a frequent presenter on environmental and land use topics, delivering Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs for legal and industry audiences at both the local and national levels.

        Before joining Verrill, Sam was an associate attorney at a Maine law firm where he focused on economic development and government relations matters. While attending law school, he served as a Student Attorney at Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic and completed legal internships with the Maine District Court and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office. He also served as Research Editor of the Ocean and Coastal Law Journal. Following law school, Sam clerked for the Honorable Joseph Jabar of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and has since argued before the Law Court on behalf of clients.

        Outside the office, Sam enjoys traveling with friends, alpine skiing, and exploring Maine’s natural beauty.

        Services/Industries

        Education

        • University of Maine School of Law (J.D.)
          • Research Editor, Ocean and Coastal Law Journal
          • Student Attorney Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic
        • Colby College (B.A.)

        Bar Admissions

        • Maine

        Honors

        • Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America under Government Relations Practice in Portland, Maine (2025-2027)

        Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.

        Clerkships

        • Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Law Clerk to Justice Jabar
        Events
        When: October 6, 2026 at 8:00am - 3:30pm ET
        Location: Virtual
        When: May 6, 2026 at 9:00am - 11:00am
        Location: Webinar
        When: December 11, 2025 at 11:45am - 1:15pm
        Location: Bangor, ME

        Firm Highlights

        Press Releases

        Verrill Recognized as a Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers®

        BOSTON, Mass.; AUGUSTA, Maine; BANGOR, Maine, PORTLAND, Maine; GREENWICH, Conn., and WESTPORT, Conn. – Verrill has been recognized in the 2027...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Stephen Segal Named President of the Maine Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill attorney Stephen B. Segal has been elected President of the Maine Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). The...
        Press Releases

        42 Verrill Attorneys Named 2026 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

        BOSTON, Mass.; BANGOR, Maine; PORTLAND, Maine; and WESTPORT, Conn. – Verrill is proud to announce that 42 attorneys have been recognized in the...
        Blog

        Introduction to the Blog Post Series & PART 1: Understanding Chemical Safety Regulation A Primer on RMP, PSM, and the General Duty Clause

        If your facility handles hazardous chemicals, there is a good chance you are subject to one—or more—of the federal government’s chemical safety...
        Blog

        Self-Certification of 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Distributions

        With passage of the SECURE Act in 2019 and the SECURE 2.0 Act in 2022, 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors have been able, but not required, to provide...
        Blog

        Working 9 to 5? It’s a Way to Make a Livin’, so Make Sure You’re Payin’ for Every Minute: A Maine Employer’s Guide to Stacked Wage & Hour Rules

        Four decades after Dolly Parton gave us both the namesake anthem of the American workday and the film about three fed-up office workers’ dreams of...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Can AI Pass the Doctor Test? FDA Considers Physician-Inspired Evaluation of GenAI Devices and Other Regulatory Measures

        AI is entering healthcare with indomitable will. It promises to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden (which healthcare providers so...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Annabel Rodriguez Named Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill attorney Annabel Rodriguez has been recognized as a Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and will be...
        Blog

        What Employee Benefits Lawyers Do (and How to Make the Best Use of Us)

        What do employee benefits lawyers do all day and how can clients make the best use of them? This post offers an overview of the kinds of things...
        Media Mentions

        Bloomberg Law Quotes Robert Keach on Expanded Access to Small Business Reorganization

        Verrill attorney Bob Keach was recently featured in Bloomberg Law, discussing legislation that would raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief and...
        Blog

        Phil Bartlett to Step Down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission

        On September 15, 2026, Governor Janet Mills announced that Phil Bartlett will step down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC)...
        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...