Leah B. Rachin

Leah B. Rachin

Litigation - Municipal

5.0 (1 reviews)
Portland, Maine
27+ years experience
Drummond Woodsum
Updated:

Contact Information

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

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. In 2024, Leah was listed in the 2024 New England Super Lawyers list.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. 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. In 2024, Leah was listed in the 2024 New England Super Lawyers list.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. 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. In 2024, Leah was listed in the 2024 New England Super Lawyers list. 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.

Practice Areas

Litigation - Municipal

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Municipal, Portland, ME (2026)
  • Recognized: Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Recognized: Litigation - Municipal
  • Recognized: Municipal Law

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018

Education

  • Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, J.D., graduated 1998

Reviews

D

Debra Green

2 weeks ago

Essential Partner for Our Town's Complex Land Use Dispute

Our small town council was facing a high-stakes, emotionally charged land use appeal that threatened both municipal resources and community cohesion. We engaged Leah Rachin based on her recognized expertise in municipal litigation and land use law. From our first meeting, her 27 years of experience were evident. She didn't just understand the legal statutes; she grasped the unique political and practical pressures we were under. Leah crafted a strategy that was both legally sound and pragmatically feasible for our staff to execute. Her detail-oriented preparation for hearings was exceptional, and her calm, authoritative presence in negotiations was invaluable. The positive resolution she secured protected the town's interests without escalating community division. Leah is more than a lawyer; she's a strategic partner who delivers workable solutions.

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