Biography

Jim has practiced commercial real estate law for more than 30 years. Over that time, he has represented lenders in commercial lending, handled a variety of lease negotiations, and represented developers of office buildings, hotels, and other commercial projects.

Jim has experience with loan restructuring transactions, secured and unsecured lines of credit, and term loans to REITs and other large real estate companies.

Over the past decade, Jim has represented lenders and developers including a developer of large retail projects. Jim has worked on transactions relating to Massachusetts real estate and large tracts of Maine timberlands, as well as energy-related transactions including purchases and sales of hydroelectric facilities and financing and leases for wind power projects.

Jim and his family are enthusiastic sailors. For years, they have cruised on their boat Morning Star along the coast of Maine. Jim's wife, Leigh, was the first female commodore of the Portland Yacht Club, where their three children learned to race small sailboats.

Services/Industries

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School  (J.D., summa cum laude)
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Order of the Coif
  • Bowdoin College  (A.B., summa cum laude)

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Maine

Honors

  • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Real Estate
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© under Real Estate Law
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Real Estate

To learn more about third-party ratings and rankings, and the selection processes used for inclusion, click here.

Firm Highlights

Matter

Elections and Constitutional Law: Successfully Challenged Certification of Initiative Petition

In a victory for consumers and the ride-hailing public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently barred the Secretary of State from placing on the November ballot initiative petitions proposed by companies such as Uber...

Publication/Podcast

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Injury in the Workplace: Paths to Recovery in and Outside of Workers’ Compensation

Verrill counsel Elizabeth Connellan Smith recently co-authored “ Sexual Harassment And Sexual Assault Injury In The Workplace: Paths To Recovery In And Outside Of Workers’ Compensation ” for the American Bar Association Law Journal...

Blog

GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH!

Remember that old parody of the Battle Hymn of the Republic we used to sing before there was an Internet? There are apparently many versions, but they all generally involve children inflicting various types...

News

Verrill Welcomes Partner Andrew M. Walsh to Firm’s Business Law Group

Blog

Gag Clauses – New Guidance and Litigation Will Inform Compliance

Certain provisions of the Transparency in Coverage Final Regulations and the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021 (“CAA”) require group health plans and/or their vendors to report information to federal agencies. On December 31, 2023, group...

Blog

New Options for Retirement Plan Distributions Under SECURE 2.0

This post summarizes the new distribution options, including penalty-free withdrawals, applicable to defined contribution plans under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (“SECURE 2.0”) and provides a timeline of their effective dates. The new...

Publication/Podcast

State Trademark Registration

The United States has two levels of trademark registration: state and federal. A state trademark registration is issued by a state office and protects a trademark only in that state, whereas a federal trademark...

Publication/Podcast

U.S. Tax Considerations When Buying Property Abroad with Ruth Mattson

Verrill partner Ruth Mattson was recently featured on The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel 's podcast series Trust and Estate Talk . In this podcast, U.S. Tax Considerations When Buying Property Abroad...

News

Jim Cohen Discusses “No Blank Checks” Citizen Initiative Before Maine Legislative Committee

Verrill Partner Jim Cohen was recently quoted in a Spectrum News article " Maine Ballot Initiative To Require Voter Approval For $1B Borrowing Gets Broad Support.” Maine LD 1772 is a citizen-initiated ballot question...

Matter

Successful Representation of Insurer before U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Verrill successfully represented an insurer before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine in an insurance coverage matter alleging that the insurer improperly denied a defense and indemnification to a landlord under...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700