Leah Rachin

Attorney

Leah Rachin

Attorney

Phone: 207.253.0578 Fax: 207.772.3627 Email: lrachin@dwmlaw.com

84 Marginal Way, Suite 600 Portland, ME 04101-2480

Assistant: Isabel Canning Email: icanning@dwmlaw.com

About

Leah Rachin focuses her practice on municipal, land use, and employment law. Leah combines 20 years of practice experience with her practical, detail-oriented nature to deliver customized, workable solutions to help clients achieve their objectives. Leah serves as town attorney to several municipalities, and advises towns and other public sector clients on a broad range of issues such as zoning, planning, licensing/permitting, charter/ordinance drafting and interpretation, right-to-know law, voting and elections, property taxes, contracts, and employment matters. She is frequently invited to speak on a broad array of municipal topics, and she conducts Maine’s annual code enforcement officer 80K and legal issues certification courses.

An experienced litigator, Leah routinely represents clients before all levels of Maine courts and local and state boards, particularly in the areas of land use enforcement, Rule 80B appeals, tax assessment appeals, and ballot initiatives/voting rights.

Leah also represents private individuals, developers, businesses, and citizen groups before municipalities in a wide range of matters including administrative appeals, permitting/land use approvals, and ballot initiatives. In her employment practice, Leah advises both employers and employees and conducts independent investigations where misconduct has been alleged.

Leah enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, practicing yoga, exploring the great outdoors, listening to music and NPR, visiting art museums, and curling up with a good book. Dedicated to her community, she has a long history of serving on the boards of various nonprofits, and currently serves as the Chair of the Kennebunk Zoning Board of Appeals, and volunteers for the Bon Appetit Community Meal Program in Biddeford.

Education

Osgoode Hall Law School, LL.B.

McGill University, B.A. Political Theory, Minor in Art History, with honors

Recognition

Best Lawyers in America, Municipal Law (2018-2024), Land Use and Zoning Law (2018-2024), and Litigation – Municipal (2020-2024)

Publications

  • Matthew D. Manahan, et al, Municipal Enforcement of Land Use Violations, (1st ed. 2016 & suppl. 2018) (Author of Chapter 16, A Practical Guide to Land Use in Maine)
  • Large-Scale Water Extraction, Maine Townsman (Jul. 2009)
  • Spousal Assault Policy: A Critical Analysis, 35 Osgoode Hall L. J., Iss. 3 (1997)

Community/Public Service

Kennebunk Zoning Board of Appeals
Chair

Bon Appetit Community Meal Program, Biddeford
Volunteer

The Children’s House
Past Board Member

Kennebunk Free Library
Past Board Member

MaineStage Shakespeare
Past Board Member

The Education Foundation of Kennebunks and Arundel
Past Board Member

Practice Areas

Admissions