PRACTICE FOCUS
Legislative, Regulatory and Governmental Services
BIOGRAPHY
Severin M. Beliveau, one of Maine's best-known attorneys, has significant
experience in legislative and regulatory issues. He is a Founding Partner of
Preti Flaherty and directs the firm's Legislative and Regulatory practice in
Augusta and Washington, D.C. His practice also involves public issues,
environmental projects and international trade.
Severin's private practice experience as a legal generalist, along with his
work in public practice, the Maine Legislature and the U.S. Congress, make him
uniquely qualified as a litigator concentrating in regulatory law and project
development. His comprehensive understanding of every financing and regulatory
agency in Maine allows him to employ creative, nontraditional legal solutions to
problems by effecting changes in law as an alternative to litigation.
Severin was born in Rumford to a distinguished family of Maine lawyers and
judges. His father, Albert J. Beliveau, Sr., was a justice of the Maine Supreme
Court. His grandfather, Matthew McCarthy, served as the first municipal court
judge in Rumford. His uncle, William E. McCarthy, was a Superior Court judge.
His brother, Albert J. Beliveau, Jr., was Oxford County Judge of Probate and is
a Member of Preti Flaherty.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Severin is one of the founding partners in Harper’s Development, LLC, one of
Maine’s leading real estate development companies. Preti Flaherty represented
Harper’s in its $5.9 million acquisition of Saco Island, an island in the Saco
River with textile mills dating from the 19th Century. To revitalize
the property and create a vibrant mixed-use community, we cleared title for the
purchase, which required untangling a complex 100-year-old web of ownership,
easements and other rights to property and industrial assets. We created three
separate condominium associations to serve as ownership vehicles for the
restored properties. Our Environmental Group performed environmental due
diligence and developed a voluntary remedial action plan (VRAP). To help finance
renovations, we negotiated a $35 million Tax Increment Financing Program, the
largest nonindustrial TIF ever approved in Maine. To close the deal, we assisted
with permitting, construction and zoning approvals for more than 370,000 s.f. of
properties, which will be used as townhomes, condos, offices, a restaurant and
microbrewery and a 62-slip marina.
- As Honorary Consul of France in Maine, Severin was instrumental in
organizing Governor Baldacci’s trade mission to France in 2005, which generated
more than 5 million dollars in first-year sales.
- Assisted Lindsay, Goldberg & Bessemer (LGB), a New York-based private
equity firm, with purchasing a ten-year license to operate the State of Maine’s
wholesale liquor business – a monopoly that net the State over $25 million in
profits a year. Severin and Preti Flaherty’s Legislative Group worked with state
leaders to enact landmark legislation authorizing the State to accept bids on
the business. LGB made their offer, but didn’t win the contract. Preti
Flaherty’s litigators stepped in to help LGB reach its goal, and appealed the
award on LGB’s behalf, ultimately negotiating a settlement whereby LGB assumed a
controlling interest in the winning bidder. Preti’s Business Law Group then
worked with state officials to finalize the details of this historic
public-private partnership. The resulting agreement was a boon for the State of
Maine, and for nearly 300 small businesses in Maine that depend on the wholesale
liquor trade and now have increased opportunities for sales and
profitability.
- In one of central Maine’s most significant economic transactions, Preti
Flaherty represented Harper’s Development in the acquisition of, and debt and
equity financing for, the 310,000 square foot SCI Sanmina building in Augusta,
one of the largest manufacturing buildings in central Maine. The transaction
effectively transformed a defunct manufacturing facility into an office park
that houses over 1100 employees, including a 300-employee call center and
numerous government offices.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS
Throughout his career, Severin has been a leader in national and
international organizations, giving him perspectives that transcend state
boundaries. As a former director of the bipartisan American Council of Young
Political Leaders, he helped promote cultural and political exchange programs
among NATO countries and Eastern Europe. His work took him to Moscow, Leningrad,
Riga and Tbilisi in the former Soviet Union. He also served on political
leadership committees dealing with U.S.-Canadian relations, European security,
the environment and technological change.
- Recipient of the French Legion of Honor Award, the highest distinction
France awards civilians, for his leadership on key projects to improve the
relationship between Maine and France. (2008)
- President of the American Association of the Forum Francophone des Affaires,
the Maine-based United States chapter of a worldwide alliance of 36
French-speaking nations working to promote economic development through
business, industry and technology exchanges.
- French Consular Agent for the State of Maine.
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodward/White's The Best Lawyers in
America.
- Distinguished Professor of Franco American Studies at University of
Maine.
PREVIOUS LEGAL EXPERIENCE
- Former State senator and State representative
- Former Chairman of the Democratic State Committee. During his last two years
as chairman, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic
National Committee.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
- Former member of the Commission on Maine's Future
- Former director of Medical Care Development Inc.
- Former trustee of the University of Maine
- Founder of the Maine Alliance, a group of several hundred businesses that
monitor public policy on environmental regulation and economic development. The
group today is part of the Maine Chamber and Business Alliance.
- Former president of the Samantha Smith Foundation
- Former member of the Board of Governors of both the Maine State Bar
Association and the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.
Admissions
Maine; U.S. District Court, District of Maine; U.S. Supreme Court
Education
A.B., Georgetown University, 1960
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1963
Languages
French
