Seven Bernstein Shur Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers’ 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” Distinction

Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced that 51 attorneys have been named to Best Lawyers in America 2017, including 70 percent of the firm’s shareholders. In addition, seven attorneys received were named a Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor exclusive to their legal specialty and geographic location.

Best Lawyers in America is the oldest and most highly-respected peer review guide to the legal profession in the world. The U.S. guide is based on an extensive national survey in which more than 41,000 attorneys rank the ability, professionalism and integrity of peers within their respective practice areas. Bernstein Shur attorneys consistently achieve Best Lawyers rankings year after year, a trend set nearly 33 years ago by of counsel attorney Gordon F. Grimes and firm co-founder Leonard M. Nelson, both of whom have maintained a Best Lawyers ranking each year since its inception.

“Lawyer of the Year” distinctions are also awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic location. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location. The seven Bernstein Shur attorneys recognized as a 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” are D. Sam Anderson, John L. Carpenter, Geoffrey H. Hole, Kenneth W. Lehman, Patricia A. Peard, Katherine R. Knox, and Gregory Michael.

Best Lawyers
Bernstein Shur’s Augusta, ME Office
(each attorney’s hometown is listed next to his/her name)
Lee K. Bragg – Manchester, ME
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Municipal Law
-Land Use and Zoning Law

Michael A. Hodgins – Pittsfield, ME
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Commercial Litigation
-Litigation – Construction

Katherine R. Knox – Portland, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Augusta, ME – Government Relations Practice
-Government Relations Practice

Bernstein Shur’s Manchester, New Hampshire Office
Andru H. Volinsky – Concord, New Hampshire
-Commercial Litigation
-Criminal Defense: White-Collar
-Education Law
-Employment Law – Individuals
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management
-Trade Secrets Law

Edward E. Shumaker – Concord, New Hampshire
-Employment Law – Individuals
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

Gregory Michael – Bedford, New Hampshire
*Lawyer of the Year Manchester, New Hampshire – Litigation – Real Estate
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
-Litigation – Real Estate
-Real Estate Law

Roy W. Tilsley – Lyndeborough, New Hampshire
-Litigation – Real Estate

Bernstein Shur’s Portland, ME Office
Geoffrey H. Hole – South Harpswell, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Municipal Law
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
-Litigation – Municipal
-Municipal Law
-Public Finance Law
-Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

Kenneth W. Lehman – Cumberland, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Health Care Law
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Health Care Law

Ronald W. Schneider, Jr. – Wells, ME
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Commercial Litigation
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

Patrick J. Scully – Brunswick, ME
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Energy Law

Daniel J. Mitchell – Scarborough, ME
-Appellate Practice
-Commercial Litigation

George F. Burns – Falmouth, ME
-Arbitration
-Commercial Litigation
-Construction Law
-Corporate Law
-Litigation – Construction
-Mediation
-Timber Law

John H. Montgomery III – South Freeport, ME
-Arbitration
-Construction Law
-Insurance Law
-Mediation

D. Sam Anderson – Yarmouth, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Litigation – Bankruptcy
-Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
-Litigation – Bankruptcy

Robert J. Keach – Falmouth, ME
-Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
-Litigation – Bankruptcy

Jessica A. Lewis – Cumberland, ME
-Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency And
-Reorganization Law

Patricia A. Peard – Falmouth, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Employment Law – Management
-Commercial Litigation
-Education Law
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

Michael R. Bosse – Scarborough, ME
-Construction Law
-Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
-Litigation – Construction

Gordon F. Grimes – Durham, ME
-Construction Law
-Corporate Law
-Energy Law
-Oil and Gas Law

Arnold C. Macdonald – South Freeport, ME
-Construction Law
-Corporate Law
-Project Finance Law

John L. Carpenter – North Yarmouth, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Corporate Law
-Corporate Compliance Law
-Corporate Law
-Franchise Law
-Mergers and Acquisitions Law
-Securities / Capital Markets Law
-Corporate Governance Law

Philip H. Gleason – Cumberland, ME
-Corporate Law
-Public Finance Law
-Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Leonard M. Nelson – Portland, ME
-Corporate Law

Eric F. Saunders – Cumberland, ME
-Corporate Law

Shana Mueller – North Yarmouth, ME
-Economic Development Law
-Municipal Law

Steven R. Gerlach – North Yarmouth, ME
-Employee Benefits (Erisa) Law

James A. Houle – Scarborough, ME
-Employee Benefits (Erisa) Law
-Trusts and Estates

Glenn Israel – Cape Elizabeth, ME
-Employment Law – Management

Linda D. McGill – Freeport, ME
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

Matthew Tarasevich – Portland, ME
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

James N. Broder – Cumberland Foreside, ME
-Energy Law
-Project Finance Law
-Real Estate Law

Mary Costigan – Portland, ME
-Environmental Law
-Municipal Law

Robert F. Macdonald, Jr. – Cape Elizabeth, ME
-Franchise Law

Philip Saucier – Portland, ME
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Municipal Law

Paul McDonald – Cape Elizabeth, ME
-Litigation – Bankruptcy

David A. Soley – Freeport, ME
-Litigation – Real Estate
-Real Estate Law

Wendy J. Paradis – Falmouth, ME
-Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law

Joan M. Fortin – Portland, ME
-Municipal Law

Eliza Cope Nolan – Portland, ME
-Non-Profit / Charities Law
-Real Estate Law

Tom S. Hanson – Cumberland, ME
-Real Estate Law

Charles E. Miller – Portland, ME
-Real Estate Law

Richard D. Prentice – Yarmouth, ME
-Real Estate Law

Jaimie P. Schwartz – South Portland, ME
-Real Estate Law

Nathan H. Smith – Portland, ME
-Real Estate Law

Richard W. Smith – Cape Elizabeth, ME
-Real Estate Law

Peter J. Van Hemel – Kennebunk, ME
-Real Estate Law

William M. Welch – Falmouth, ME
-Real Estate Law

Joel T. Shaw – Gorham, ME
-Securities / Capital Markets Law

Scot E. Draeger – Falmouth, ME
-Securities Regulation
-Securities / Capital Markets Law

Nelson A. Toner – Portland, ME
-Tax Law

*The “Lawyer of the Year” distinction is given to one attorney in each practice area and designated metropolitan area. The lawyers are selected based on peer voting in the areas of ability, professionalism and integrity.

About Bernstein Shur
Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a New England-based law firm with clients across the U.S. and around the world. The firm has more than 100 award-winning attorneys and professionals who provide practical and innovative counsel in more than 20 key areas, catering to a broad range of clients and industries. Bernstein Shur is known for simplifying complex issues and winning through steadfast persistence. The firm is ME’s exclusive member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. More information is available at www.bernsteinshur.com.