AUGUSTA – Gov. Paul LePage is appointing a former Pierce Atwood lobbyist to be his top lawyer.

Avery Day, who most recently served as LePage’s policy adviser on land-use and environmental issues, will be LePage’s chief legal counsel. Day replaces Cynthia Montgomery, who is leaving her job to become a district court judge.

Day had served as acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. At Pierce Atwood, Day primarily worked as a lobbyist for businesses before state regulatory agencies and the Maine Legislature

LePage also on Monday announced that David Sorensen will be his senior health policy adviser. Sorenson had previously worked in communications and policy for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine House Republican Office.