Bernstein Shur Shareholder Peter J. Rubin Receives R. Bruce Shaw Distinguished Counsel Award

Owens- Illinois Presents First-Ever Award for 33 Years of Outstanding Legal Service

Portland, ME (May 1, 2012) — Peter J. Rubin, a
Bernstein Shur shareholder and the law firm’s president, was recently recognized by Owens-Illinois, Inc. with the
R. Bruce Shaw Distinguished Counsel Award acknowledging Rubin’s outstanding legal service for more than 33 years.

The R. Bruce Shaw award was created by Owens-Illinois to   recognize one lawyer each year who has given extraordinary service to the company. The award is named for Bruce Shaw, a senior outside trial attorney for Owens-Illinois; Rubin is its inaugural recipient.

“Peter has given Owens-Illinois exemplary client service for more than 33 years,” said Charles E. Miller, Bernstein Shur’s CEO. “He is widely recognized by his peers as one of the most talented litigators in New England and he has been recognized by every lawyers’ ratings service as a superior talent. His professionalism and skills set the standard – Peter is truly a ‘lawyer’s lawyer.’”

Rubin has represented Owens-Illinois in the defense and trial of asbestos claims since 1979 in ME, New England and nationally. He has tried more than 20 asbestos cases to verdict for Owens-Illinois, including a claim against the United States involving exposure to a person living in the household of a person who worked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The case resulted in a verdict against the United States, which, to this day, is the only trial verdict against the United States in asbestos litigation.

“I am surprised and honored to be the inaugural recipient of the R. Bruce Shaw Distinguished Counsel Award,” said Rubin. “Owens-Illinois has called upon me to help it strategize on asbestos issues and lead various projects over the years. It has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience and has resulted in a close working relationship with the company.”

Owens-Illinois is the world’s largest manufacturer of glass containers, founded in 1903 as Owens Bottle Company by Michael J. Owens. Owens invented the automatic bottle-making machine, the foundation for today’s glassmaking industry.

Firm president and senior member of Bernstein Shur’s Litigation Practice Group, Rubin received his JD from Harvard Law School in 1970, graduating magna cum laude, where he was also a member of the Harvard Law Review.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates and a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the ME State Bar Association. Rubin was the only attorney in ME named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list in 2010. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and resides in Scarborough.

About Bernstein Shur

Widely regarded as one of New England’s most entrepreneurial law firms, Bernstein Shur is a multi-service firm with 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.