Biography

Hans excels at resolving business and regulatory challenges by providing clear and actionable recommendations that translate into economic value and stability for clients. He works on a variety of energy, telecommunications, and water utility matters before utility commissions in Maine and across the U.S., as well as before the FCC.

As part of his work, Hans drafts filings and appears on behalf of private sector clients, industry associations, and government entities before various state and federal regulators across the U.S. He has worked on matters before utility commissions in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. He has experience in a variety of regulatory proceedings, including rulemakings, investigations, and other proceedings seeking utility commission approvals.

Hans also appears before state legislatures on behalf of energy and telecommunications clients. Through both written testimony and relationship building, he has engaged in targeted and general strategic government relations campaigns for clients in both Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

In his past career, Hans advised international development projects regarding their environmental regulatory compliance obligations to U.S. government donors. After entering Vermont Law School, Hans was an articles editor for the Vermont Law Review and a teaching assistant. Before joining Verrill, Hans served as a law clerk to the Honorable Justice Andrew Mead of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Hans spends much of his free time with his family, biking, skating, paddling, and sailing around Maine. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Maine.

In addition to Hans's main services and industries, he also focuses on the following areas:

  • Utility Commission Investigations, Rulemakings, and Adjudications
  • Federal and State Universal Service Fund Programming and Advocacy
  • Federal and State Broadband Deployment Grants and Partnerships
  • Renewable Energy Regulatory Counsel
  • Pole Attachment Licensing and Local Approvals

Services/Industries

Education

  • Vermont Law School  (J.D., summa cum laude)
    • Editor, Vermont Law Review
  • Connecticut College  (B.A., magna cum laude)
    • International Relations

Public Service

  • Board Member, World Affairs Council of Maine

Bar Admissions

  • Maine

Memberships

  • American Bar Association

Honors

  • Vermont Law and Environmental Mission Scholar at Vermont Law School

Languages

  • Spanish, Fluent
  • French, Basic
  • Quechua, Conversational

Firm Highlights

Blog

Verrill's Jim Cohen To Speak on Past and Future of Maine’s Electric Grid at 2023 Winter Bar Conference

Verrill partner Jim Cohen will be presenting at the Maine State Bar Association’s Winter Bar Conference 2023, on Friday, January 27, in Portland. Cohen’s presentation, The Past and Future of Maine’s Electric Grid...

Blog

Maine PUC Asked to Fix “Leapfrogging” Problem Triggered by 2022 Changes to Maine’s Generator Interconnection Rule

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is currently considering whether to commence a formal emergency rulemaking process to amend Chapter 324 of its rules governing generator interconnections. The purpose of the rulemaking would be to...

Blog

Maine PUC to Kick Off Review of Grid Plan to Assist Clean Energy Transition

Last month, the Maine Public Utilities Commission initiated a proceeding to identify the priorities to be addressed in an electric grid plan that will assist Maine in the “cost-effective transition to a clean, affordable...

Blog

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes National Drinking Water Standard for Six PFAS Compounds

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that...

Blog

Crisis emerges in Maine over safe disposal of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants

Maine wastewater treatment plants are currently facing intense challenges concerning disposal of their sewage sludge , also called “biosolids.” This is a fast-moving issue getting significant coverage in the media and substantial attention from...

Blog

Verrill Partner Mat Todaro selected to serve on the American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources 2022 Fall Conference Planning Committee

Earlier this year, Verrill Partner Mat Todaro was selected by American Bar Association leadership to serve on the 2022 Fall Conference Planning Committee for its Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources. In this role...

Blog

Carolyn Gilbert Nominated to Maine PUC

On March 28, Governor Janet Mills nominated Carolyn “Carrie” Gilbert to serve a six-year term on the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For the past 15 years, Gilbert has worked at Daymark Energy Advisors where...

Blog

Georgetown Broadband LLC Secures Utility Pole Attachment Authorization for Community Broadband Project

On February 17, 2023, Georgetown Broadband LLC (GBLLC) became the latest community broadband entity to receive pole attachment authorization from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deploy a fiber broadband network. GBLLC began...

Blog

PFAS Regulatory Update: Dates You Need to Know

Public Comment on the Federal Proposed Drinking Water Standards for Six PFAS Compounds On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), published in the Federal Register its proposed national drinking water standards...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700