Biography

Roger advises businesses and lending institutions in restructurings, creditors’ rights, bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial litigation.

He has extensive experience in representing secured creditors, debtors, trustees, creditors' committees, and other stakeholders in Chapter 11 cases. He has guided a number of companies through Chapter 11 reorganizations and has represented lenders in asserting rights in bankruptcy cases. He has represented businesses in the life sciences, technology, venture capital, health care, railroad, timber, manufacturing, retail, banking, insurance, and petroleum industries. He has successfully defended many businesses against preference and fraudulent transfer claims brought by bankruptcy trustees. While Roger has vast experience dealing with distressed situations, he also enjoys counselling businesses in matters not involving financial distress, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions.

Roger is a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and has spoken often on commercial law topics.

Services/Industries

Education

  • University of Maine School of Law  (J.D.)
    • Notes Editor, Maine Law Review
  • Bowdoin College  (A.B.)

Public Service

  • White Pine Community Church, active member (2010-present)
  • Falmouth High School Ski Boosters, board member (2018-Present)
  • Falmouth Youth Sports Coach (basketball, soccer, and running) (2010-2019)
  • Credit Abuse Resistance Program, instructor to high school students, (2015-present)
  • University of Maine School of Law Board of Visitors, member and chair (2014-2019)
  • Maine Bar Foundation, board member (2012-2017)
  • U.S. Dist. Court for D. of Me, Bankruptcy Rules Committee, member and chair for part (2012-2018)
  • Campaign for Justice, cabinet member (2011-2017)
  • Portland String Quartet, board member (2000-2002)
  • Northern Cumberland Memorial Hospital, trustee (1996-1999)
  • Naples Public Library, trustee (1995-1998)
  • Naples Planning Board, chair (1987-1988)

Bar Admissions

  • Maine

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Fellow, Maine State Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute

Honors

  • Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
  • Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers in 2022
  • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Bankruptcy/Restructuring
  • AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2015, 2018, and 2021 Litigation - Bankruptcy "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2012 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy in Portland, Maine
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, Bankruptcy: Business
  • Received Katahdin Counsel Recognition for pro bono efforts (2014 & 2019)
  • Recipient of the Pro Bono Publico Award by Maine Bar Foundation and Volunteer Lawyers Project for most hours on completed pro bono cases by an attorney in 2009

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

Court and Other Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Firm Highlights

Event

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Human Resources in Small Business/Startups

Verrill associate Emily Waddell will be presenting at PROPEL 's Virtual Lunch & Learn: Human Resources in Small Business/Startups. In addition to presenters sharing their expertise, this session covers various Human Resource topics including...

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700