Longtime Verrill partner takes helm as law firm's managing partner

Courtesy / Verrill Keith (K.C.) Jones, left, stepped down as managing partner at Verrill and has been succeeded by Scott Anderson, the firm announced Monday.

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By Renee Cordes

Portland-based law firm Verrill has elected longtime partner Scott Anderson to succeed Keith C. (K.C.) Jones as its new managing partner, the firm announced Monday.

The transition, effective today, comes six months after Verrill joined forces with Boston-based law firm Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster to nearly double Verrill's Boston presence, and a year after the firm welcomed Jim Durham as chief operating officer.

Jones informed the firm earlier this year that he planned to step down as managing partner after 13 years in the role, citing Verrill's financial and strategic strength.

“With the addition of a new chief operating officer last July, and a number of promotions among the senior leadership team, Verrill is poised to continue its strategic growth under Scott’s leadership," Jones said.

Jones will stay on through the end of the year to help with the transition at Verrill, which employs around 140 attorneys and has seven offices in the northeastern United States. Besides Portland and Boston, Verrill has branches in Augusta; Westport, Conn.; Providence, R.I.; Wellesley, Mass.; White Plains, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C.

Anderson was a member of the team that worked on Verrill’s five-year strategic plan, launched in 2020, making him uniquely qualified to oversee the plan’s implementation, according to the firm.

Over nearly two decades at the firm, Anderson has held a variety of leadership positions, including six years on the firm’s executive board, and a period on the compensation committee. He also held positions on the firm's marketing and business development committee and the associate development committee. Most recently, he served as Verrill's practice group coordinator.

“There are few lawyers as qualified to lead a law firm as Scott,” said Keith Glidden, the firm's executive board chair. “The breadth of his exposure to every aspect of the firm’s operations, combined with his deep understanding of the firm’s culture, make him the clear choice for the Managing Partner role.”

While Anderson has been based in the Portland office, he will travel extensively in support of all the firm’s offices and clients.

“My team and I will greatly miss working with K.C., who has guided Verrill to a leadership position among New England law firms,” Durham said, “but we welcome Scott’s energy and vision, as we strive to be the law firm of choice in the New England region. His long-standing connection to attorneys across all offices and his appreciation for the changes in the legal industry will be important for Verrill’s continued growth.”

Acknowledging the challenges of running a modern law firm, Anderson noted, “For years we have been successful recruiting attorneys seeking a better platform to serve their clients and grow their practices. That will continue as we build on our history of client service excellence and a commitment to our communities. I am excited to work with all of our lawyers and staff to offer unique client value in an increasingly competitive market.”

Over his career, Anderson has focused his practice on utilities and environmental law. He received his law degree from Boston College Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Verrill ranked No. 5 in the most recent Mainebiz list of the state's largest law firms, based on the total number of Maine attorneys as of October 2021. At that date, it had 68 Maine attorneys and a total of 141 Maine employees.