Cory Ryan McKenna
Attorney
Cory is an experienced trial attorney.
In his civil law practice, he has extensive experience handing hundreds of cases, ranging from divorce, parental rights and family law cases to protection from abuse, harassment and protective custody cases. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Maine Parental Rights attorneys Association.
Through his criminal law practice, Cory has handled hundreds of criminal cases, ranging from misdemeanor driving offenses to felony drug offenses and serious violent crimes. He serves as a Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney.
Cory is a real trial lawyer - he is in court almost every day helping clients navigate the complex court system and dealing with prosecutors, opposing counsel and judges on a daily basis. He has tried cases before both federal and state court juries. Cory's wide range of experience also includes personal injury, resolving trademark and copyright disputes, as well as contract disputes and insurance law.
While a student at the University of Maine School of Law, Cory was awarded the school’s Pro Bono Service Award for providing volunteer legal service to the local community. He clerked for a law firm focused on criminal defense and family law through most of law school, learning from one of the best trial attorneys in the State. Cory also worked as a student attorney at the Intellectual Property Clinic and practiced before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He gained valuable experience through the Clinic: successfully defending Mainers’ trademarks against international corporations, registering the City of Portland’s trademark, assisting local artists with copyright registration, and advising entrepreneurs on the patentability of new inventions. In addition, Cory served as a Carvers Fellow at the Conservation Law Foundation, gaining experience in environmental law. He also worked as a law clerk for a Portland firm.
In his free time, Cory enjoys the Maine outdoors all year-round snowboarding, running, and hiking with family and friends.
​
EDUCATION
​
-
University of Maine School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2013
-
University of Vermont, Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, 2009
​
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
​​​
-
Maine Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys - Member
-
Maine Association of Parental Rights Attorneys - Board of Directors
​
COURT APPOINTED ROSTERS & PANELS
​
-
Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services - State Criminal and Protective Custody
-
Criminal Justice Act - Federal Criminal
​​​
BAR ADMISSIONS
​​
-
State of Maine, 2013
-
U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, 2016
-
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2017
​
RECOGNITIONS
​
-
Selected to Super Lawyers - New England, 2021, 2022
-
Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 In Maine - Invitation from The National Trial Lawyers, 2020, 2021, 2022
​
MEDIA
​
-
Reduced Charges and Probation for Juveniles Setting Mill on Fire
-
Voicing Concern About Treatment of Mentally Ill Clients in Jail
​
PUBLIC SERVICE​
​
-
Conservation Commission - Secretary - South Portland
-
Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee - Secretary - South Portland
-
Board of Appeals - South Portland
-
Community Health Options - Board of Directors