Seven Bernstein Shur Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers’ 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” Distinction

51 Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers – 70 Percent of Firm’s Shareholders in the 2016 Edition

Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced today that 51 of its attorneys have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2016. Seven of the firm’s attorneys, across multiple practice areas, were ranked as a “Lawyer of the Year,” including Lee K. Bragg, George F. Burns, Kenneth W. Lehman, Gregory E. Michael, David P. Ray, Patrick J. Scully, and Edward E. Shumaker. Best Lawyers has consistently featured Bernstein Shur attorneys, including Gordon F. Grimes and Leonard M. Nelson, both of whom have been listed since the list’s inception 32 years ago.

The Best Lawyers in America is the oldest peer-review publication in the legal profession. The twenty-second edition includes more than 55,000 attorneys across the United States, based on 6.7 million surveys on the legal abilities of lawyers in their respective practice areas. The distinction of “Lawyer of the Year” is given to one attorney in each practice area and designated metropolitan area. The lawyers are selected based on peer review in the areas of ability, professionalism and integrity.

Best Lawyers

Bernstein Shur’s Augusta, ME Office
(each attorney’s hometown is listed next to his/her name)
Lee K. Bragg – Freeport, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Augusta, ME – Land Use and Zoning Law
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Municipal Law

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

Katherine R. Knox – Portland, ME
-Government Relations Practice

Lester F. Wilkinson, Jr.- Augusta, ME
-Corporate Law
-Real Estate Law

Bernstein Shur’s Manchester, New Hampshire Office
Gregory Michael– Bedford, New Hampshire
*Lawyer of the Year Manchester, NH – Land Use and Zoning
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
-Litigation – Real Estate
-Real Estate Law

Emily Gray Rice – Concord, New Hampshire
-Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants

Edward E. “Terry” Shumaker – Concord, New Hampshire
*Lawyer of the Year Manchester, NH – Employment Law – Individuals
-Employment Law – Individuals
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

Richard W. Smith – Manchester, New Hampshire
-Real Estate Law

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

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

Bernstein Shur’s Portland, ME Office
D. Sam Anderson – Yarmouth, ME
-Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
-Litigation – Bankruptcy

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

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

George F. Burns – Falmouth, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Mediation
-Arbitration
-Commercial Litigation
-Construction Law
-Corporate Law
-Litigation – Construction
-Mediation
-Timber Law

John L. Carpenter – North Yarmouth, ME
-Corporate Compliance Law
-Corporate Governance Law
-Corporate Law
-Franchise Law
-Mergers and Acquisitions Law
-Securities / Capital Markets Law

Mary Costigan – Portland, ME
-Municipal Law

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

Joan M. Fortin – Portland, ME
-Municipal Law

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul McDonald – Cape Elizabeth, ME
-Litigation – Bankruptcy

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

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

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

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

Shana Cook Mueller – North Yarmouth, ME
-Municipal Law

Leonard M. Nelson – Portland, ME
-Corporate Law

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

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

Patricia A. Peard – Cumberland Foreside, ME
-Commercial Litigation
-Education Law
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

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

David P. Ray – Yarmouth, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Arbitration
-Arbitration
-Construction Law
-Litigation – Construction
-Mediation

Eric F. Saunders – Cumberland, ME
-Corporate Law

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

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

Patrick J. Scully – Brunswick, ME
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Energy Law
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Energy Law

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

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

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

Nelson A. Toner – Portland, ME
-Tax Law

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

Christopher L. Vaniotis – North Yarmouth, ME
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Litigation – Municipal
-Municipal Law
-Real Estate Law

William M. Welch – Falmouth, ME
-Real Estate 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
Widely regarded as one of New England’s most entrepreneurial law firms, Bernstein Shur has more than 100 attorneys in offices in ME and New Hampshire. Founded in 1915, the firm provides practical and innovative counsel in the areas of business law, litigation, and municipal law to clients throughout the region and around the world. Bernstein Shur 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.