Shareholders Jim Merrill, N. Joel Moser, and Peter Van Hemel Elected to Bernstein Shur’s Board of Directors

Portland and Augusta, ME and Manchester, NH (June 26, 2023) – Bernstein Shur announced that Jim Merrill, N. Joel Moser, and Peter (Pete) Van Hemel were elected by their colleagues to serve as members of the firm’s Board of Directors. Jim, Joel and Pete are joining other board members D. Sam Anderson, Katherine R. Knox, Kai McGintee, and CEO and Chair Joan Fortin.

“Our newly elected leaders each bring a different suite of skills, perspective, and energy to the Board,” said CEO Joan Fortin. “As we look to the firm’s future, I’m excited to partner with this group of exceptional leaders to navigate challenges and opportunities, ensure our continued success, and continue to deliver unmatched value to our clients.”

Jim Merrill is a Shareholder and Managing Partner of the firm’s New Hampshire office and is one of the Granite State’s most respected public affairs professionals. He uses his extensive experience to provide strategic, grassroots, and communications solutions for political, non-profit, real estate, energy, telecom, technology, healthcare, and education clients engaged in complex matters. Over the past 20 years, Jim has also served as a senior advisor to multiple presidential campaigns, helping candidates navigate New Hampshire’s historic first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

Jim is most recently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 for Government Relations Practice and in 2021 was named as one of New Hampshire’s 200 Most Influential Business Leaders. He serves as a Director of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire and on the Advisory Board of the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership & Public Service.  Jim earned his J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center) and his B.A. from Gettysburg College.

Joel Moser is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of the firm’s Environmental and Energy Practice Group, where he represents generation facility developers and owners, renewable energy companies, utilities, and competitive energy suppliers in all regulatory compliance matters across New England. Joel’s team-based approach and leadership guides clients through cutting-edge issues facing the energy sector, including transmission and generation development, beneficial electrification, climate change, rate and rate design proceedings, tariff revisions, rulemaking, and regulatory enforcement actions. He is also chair of the firm’s Property Tax and Valuation Team; in his property tax practice, he assists clients with assessment appeals, tax collection, and analysis and financial modeling of local property tax obligations. Joel has advised clients on multiple billions of dollars in assessed values, teaches across the country on successfully managing large abatement tax appeals, and has litigated some of northern New England’s largest property tax abatement cases.

Moser is most recently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 for Energy Regulatory Law, as “Lawyer of the Year 2022” for Energy Regulatory Law, Best Lawyers in America, and in Chambers USA 2023, Energy & Natural Resources. He earned his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law, summa cum laude, his Master of Governmental Administration (M.G.A.) from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, and his B.A. from Bowdoin College, magna cum laude. He is licensed to practice in the States of Maine and New Hampshire, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.

Pete Van Hemel is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. He brings more than 20 years of experience to his practice, specializing in wind and solar development and finance, commercial real estate development, educational and medical institution real estate asset management, and cell tower and telecommunications leasing.

Pete is most recently recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2023 for Real Estate Law and was listed in Chambers USA in 2023 for Real Estate Law. He received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law, cum laude, and his B.A. from the College of William & Mary.

About Bernstein Shur

Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a leading New England-based law firm advising clients across the U.S. and around the world. Our 120+ award-winning attorneys and professionals provide practical and innovative counsel, and practice in more than 20 key areas across a variety of industries. Bernstein Shur is known for simplifying complex issues and winning through steadfast persistence.  Find out more at www.bernsteinshur.com.