James N. Katsiaficas

Summary

Jim Katsiaficas practices environmental, land use, municipal, administrative, and real estate law. He is a shareholder and director of the firm.

Jim represents municipalities; water, sewer, and other special districts; counties; State agencies; and other public entities, as well as individuals, groups and businesses appearing before governmental agencies. His practice includes representation of clients before Maine’s courts and administrative agencies, local and county boards, and the Maine Legislature. Some of the issues he assists clients with include: planning and zoning, environmental permitting, environmental and land use due diligence, property taxation and abatement, stormwater regulation, oil and hazardous substance site remediation, solid waste management, energy regulation, eminent domain, road law, and legislation/lobbying.

Prior to joining Perkins Thompson, Jim was a Senior Staff Attorney for the Maine Municipal Association; he previously had been a partner in a Portland law firm, Associate Corporation Counsel for the City of Portland, and Assistant Director for State and Federal Relations for the Maine Municipal Association.

Education

University of Maine School of Law
J.D. | 1984

University of Vermont
B.S. | 1978

Bar / Court Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court | 1994
• U.S. District Court, District of Maine | 1985
• Maine | 1984

Practice Groups

• Environmental Group
• Government Relations Practice Group
• Land Use and Municipal Law
• Energy Practice Group

Articles

• FEMA Issues Revised Flood Maps for York and Cumberland Counties
• Top 11 New State Environmental, Energy and Land Use Laws
• Long Creek Watershed Management District and Restoration Project
• Checklist for Maine Municipal Commercial Wind Power Ordinances

Publications / Seminars

• Presenter, “Freedom of Access Act,” Maine Rural Water Annual Convention (Dec. 2016)
• Presenter, “Environmental Considerations in the Foreclosure Process,” NBI Maine Foreclosure and Workouts Seminar (March 2016)
• Presenter, “Legal & Legislative Update” and “Confined Space Standards,” Maine Rural Water Annual Convention (Dec. 2015)
• Presenter, “Property Tax Abatements,” Maine Association of County Commissioners (Sept. 2015)
• Presenter, “Water District Trustee Boot Camp,” Maine Water Utilities Annual Convention (Feb. 2015)
• Presenter, “Legislative and Regulatory Update,” Maine Rural Water Association Annual Convention (Dec. 2014)
• Presenter, “Hot Topics in Land Use and Zoning Law,” NBI Maine Conference on Local Government Law (Dec. 2013)
• Presenter, “Rules and Responsibilities of Trustees,” Maine Rural Water Association (Dec. 2013)
• Moderator, Stormwater Utility Discussion Panel, Maine Stormwater Conference (Nov. 2013)
• Presenter, “Urban Impaired Streams, The Maine Drain: Stormwater Management Strategies and Solutions,” E2Tech and MEREDA (May 2013)
• Presenter, “Maine’s Freedom of Access Act,” Maine Rural Water Association Annual Convention (Dec. 2012)
• Presenter, “Collections of Real and Personal Property Taxes and Water and Sewer Rates and Charges and Liens: An Overview,” Maine Government Finance Officers Association (Oct. 2012)
• Presenter, “Legal Considerations in Regulation of Commercial Wind Power Projects,” Wind Power for Municipal Officials, Maine Municipal Association (July 2012)
• Presenter, “Storm Water Management” at IMLA New England Regional Land Use Seminar (June 2012)
• Presenter, “Public Ways” and “Paper Streets” at Seminar on “Legal and Practical Issues of Easements” (June 2012)
• Presenter, “Public Ways” at Maine State Bar Association’s “Maine Roads and Easements 2011” Seminar (October 2011)
• Presenter, “Freedom of Access Act,” “Credit and Debit Card Use” and “Tort Claims” at Maine Rural Water Association’s Annual Convention (2011)
• Presenter, “Wind Power for Municipal Officials” at Maine Municipal Association Seminar (July 2011)
• Presenter, “Urban Impaired Streams in Maine,” Maine Bar Association, Environmental Law Update (2010)

Memberships

Jim is a member of the Maine State Bar Association and of its Administrative Law; Public Sector and Government Lawyers (Chair, 2003); Municipal Law; Environmental and Energy Law (Chair 2002); and Real Estate Sections. He also is a member of the Cumberland Bar Association, and served as State Chair for the International Municipal Lawyers’ Association, 1990-1996.

Service / Achievements

Jim is a member of the Board of Directors (2010-present) and Chair (2013-2016) of E2Tech (the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine). He is Chair of the Our Lady of Hope Parish Events Committee and has served on its Pastoral Council. He has served as a member of the City of Portland’s Cable Television Committee and Land Bank Commission, and as a Board member of the Maine Academy of Modern Music.

He has been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America for Administrative and Municipal Law since 2011.

Interests

Jim’s interests include performing blues, country, folk and rock music; woodworking; and building and repairing stringed instruments. He resides in Portland.