Fred Coolbroth is a shareholder of the firm, and is a business lawyer with a concentration in public utility law, mergers and acquisitions, finance, banking, bankruptcy and real estate. He began his career in the Law Department at Public Service Company of New Hampshire. At PSNH, Fred initially was involved in real estate, permitting and right-of-way work, and later concentrated his practice in corporate finance. After progressing to head the Law Department, he left in 1985 to join Devine Millimet.

At Devine Millimet, Fred has expanded his utility practice to the representation of utilities, customers, competitors and municipalities before the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. He was a key member of the Devine Millimet team in the bankruptcy cases involving PSNH and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. He has represented independent telephone companies in major telecom cases before the PUC and acted as lead counsel for FairPoint Communications in its acquisition of the Verizon landline telecom properties. He represented a major gas marketer in the proceedings that opened New Hampshire's local gas distribution company systems to competition. He has represented utilities in many transactions involving the purchase or sale of telephone, gas, water and sewer utilities and utility assets. He served as New Hampshire counsel representing the second largest of the original owners of the Seabrook nuclear power plant in the sale of that ownership interest. Fred has represented non-utility owners of hydroelectric and cogeneration projects and competitive suppliers of telecommunications and internet services. He also represented the University of New Hampshire in the development of a landfill gas energy project to serve UNH's Durham campus.

Fred's merger and acquisition practice has also involved several banks and bank holding companies, where Fred has provided expertise in bank regulation and securities matters. Fred also has extensive experience in bank lending, securities regulation, securitization and other aspects of corporate finance.

Fred's bankruptcy practice involves businesses, whether debtors, creditors or other interested parties. He has represented clients in several industries, including utility, airline, manufacturing and telecom. Fred assisted clients in purchasing assets from bankruptcy proceedings, including pulp and paper mills in New Hampshire and a high-tech customer call center in Maine.

In addition to dealing in regulatory matters and complex transactions, Fred provides general corporate advice to business, high-tech and real estate clients.

Boston College Law School, Juris Doctor (Cum Laude), 1976
University of New Hampshire, Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude), 1973

BAR ADMISSIONS:

New Hampshire
Massachusetts