Biography

Overview of Practice

Jonathan's law practice is comprised of energy, utilities and telecommunications; food and beverage law; insurance coverage and litigation; commercial litigation; appeals; and mediation. His multifaceted practice and his creative, analytical approach to complex legal issues are natural extensions of his training as a classical and jazz musician and as a photographer. This background enables him to work intuitively with simultaneously moving and sometimes dissonant parts. Whether the circumstances require application of tried and true methods or on-the-spot improvisation, he always looks for the best light for our clients.

Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications

Jonathan represents a wide range of clients before the Maine Public Utilities Commission on matters related to energy, telecommunications, and public water systems. His practice includes appeals from administrative agencies to Maine courts on matters related to utility services. In this area, he represents solar developers seeking to interconnect with the utility grid, water utilities regarding their rates and charges, and telecommunications companies regarding Lifeline telephone service and state taxation of telecommunications services. He also has represented bus transit agencies in an electric utility rate design proceeding, and defended a propane supplier in a proceeding before the Maine PUC related to alleged DigSafe violations. Jonathan has also represented parties before the Maine Law Court on issues related to the taxation of telecommunications services, property tax assessments on electric transmission lines, and the recovery of damages.

Food and Beverage

Jonathan has experience working with both new and established New England breweries, restaurants, bars, and food processors. His beverage law practice focuses on risk management from start-up through growth, regulatory advice, and litigation before administrative tribunals and trial courts. Jonathan spoke on risk management at the 2017 New England Brew Summit, hosted by the Maine Brewers Guild, and the 2018 Craft Brewers Conference, hosted by the Brewers Association. He has also been a panelist on the impact of the Food Safety Modernization Act on breweries for the University of Southern Maine's QC2 Lab and at the 2019 New England Brew Summit. Jonathan regularly pushes out content for the craft beer community in the form of blogs, podcasts, and articles, which can be accessed on the firm's beverage blog, Lawyers on Tap.

Appellate

Jonathan has argued appeals before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to the briefs for the appeals that he has argued, Jonathan has written numerous briefs, including amicus curiae briefs in the United States Supreme Court, United States First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Insurance Coverage

Jonathan's insurance coverage and litigation practice includes all facets of insurance coverage and bad faith matters. In his more than 25 years of first- and third-party insurance coverage work, Jonathan has analyzed and litigated a broad spectrum of policy types, provisions, and claims. From the smallest first-party property claim to complex, third-party coverage litigation involving 60 underlying lawsuits, Jonathan has breadth and depth of experience in this area.

Complex Commercial Litigation

Jonathan's experience in complex commercial litigation includes representation of clients in a wide array of matters including breach of purchase and sale agreements, complex licensing agreements, trade secrets, interference with contract, palming off, breach of fiduciary duty, and business valuation and profits. Among Jonathan's strengths in this area are his ability to analyze complicated financial damages calculations and his understanding of business valuation. He co-edited the 2nd through 6th editions of The Comprehensive Guide to Economic Damages, published by Business Valuation Resources.

Mediation

After more than two decades representing litigants, Jonathan decided to put those skills to use helping litigants – or those headed for litigation – resolve their differences. In April 2019, he completed the University of Southern Maine Professional Development Programs’ Certificate Program in Mediation to help hone those skills. Returning to the music analogy of his law career, Jonathan looks forward assisting parties in finding some harmony in the cacophony that often accompanies litigation.

Up Close and Personal

Jonathan resides in South Portland, Maine, with his three-legged lab mix, Kirby. His photography has been exhibited in both solo and group shows in Maine and New York; in 2009 he was one of 12 New England photographers selected to present their work at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire. Jonathan played trumpet in various ensembles in and around Maine until retiring from that avocation in 2007.

Jonathan, who chairs Verrill's Wellness Committee, completed the Trek Across Maine in 2015-2019 and the Cycle the in 2016-2019 to raise money for the American Lung Association. In 2019, he also completed the Cycle for Life ride in Rhode Island to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Not to be deterred by the COVID-19 pandemic, he completed the virtual versions of the Trek Across Maine and Cycle the Seacoast in 2020. After taking 2021 off due to surgery, he looks forward to the 2022 Trek Across Maine. In 2017, Jonathan organized the Verrill Velocilawyers, Verrill's team for the Trek Across Maine. The team also participated in both the Cycle the Seacoast ride and Trek Across Maine in 2018 and 2019. Jonathan is also an Eagle Scout.

Services/Industries

Education

  • Syracuse University College of Law  (J.D., magna cum laude)
  • Ithaca College  (B.A.)
    • history, minor in music
  • University of Southern Maine
    • Certificate Program in Mediation, Professional Development Program

Public Service

  • President, Maine State Bar Association (2024)
  • President-elect, Maine State Bar Association (2023)
  • Vice President, Maine State Bar Association (2022)
  • Member, Access to Justice Tax Credit Committee (2023-present)
  • Co-Chair, Maine Attorney Well-Being Task Force (2023-present)
  • Ex Officio Member, Maine Justice Foundation's Board of Directors (2023-present)
  • New England Bar Association, Board of Directors (2018-present)
  • Member, Pro Bono Committee, Maine Justice Action Group (2017 – present)
  • Maine State Bar Association Board of Governors (2015-2016, 2019-present)
  • Ithaca College Alumni Admissions Representative
  • Board Member, Maine Academy for Modern Music (2014-2015)
  • Board of Trustees, Salt Institute for Documentary Studies (2007-2013)
  • Friends of the Parks Committee, City of Portland, Maine (2004-2009, Chair 2008-2009)
  • Founding Member of Steering Committee, The Contemporaries, Portland Museum of Art

Bar Admissions

  • Maine

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • New England Bar Association
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Maine State Bar Association
  • Cumberland County Bar Association

Honors

  • Received Katahdin Counsel Recognition for pro bono efforts (2012-2014 and 2016-2017)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Litigation - Insurance in Portland, Maine

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
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court