Four Bernstein Shur Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers’ 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” Distinction

50 Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers

Portland and Augusta, ME and Manchester, NH (August 17, 2017) – Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced that 50 attorneys have been named to Best Lawyers in America 2018. In addition, four attorneys were named a Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor exclusive to their legal specialty and geographic location. The four attorneys recognized are George Burns, Gregory Michael, Edward E. Shumaker and Nelson Toner.

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 34 years ago by and firm co-founder Leonard M. Nelson and attorney Gordon F. Grimes, both of whom have maintained a Best Lawyers ranking each year since its inception.

Best Lawyers

Bernstein Shur’s Augusta, ME Office

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
-Government Relations Practice

Bernstein Shur’s Manchester, New Hampshire Office

James D. Kerouac – Concord, New Hampshire
-Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
-Real Estate Law

Ovide M. Lamontagne – Manchester, New Hampshire
-Litigation – Construction

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

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

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

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 – Arbitration
-Arbitration
-Commercial Litigation
-Construction Law
-Corporate Law
-Litigation – Construction
-Mediation
-Timber Law

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

Mary Costigan – Portland, ME
-Environmental Law
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Municipal Law

Kevan Lee Deckelmann – Cumberland, ME
-Corporate Law

Joan M. Fortin – Portland, ME
-Municipal Law

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

Philip H. Gleason – Cumberland, ME
-Corporate Law
-Public Finance Law
-Mergers and Acquisitions 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
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Health Care Law

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

Robert F. Macdonald, Jr. – Cape Elizabeth, ME
-Franchise 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. Mitchell – Scarborough, ME
-Appellate Practice
-Commercial Litigation

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

Shana Cook Mueller – North Yarmouth, ME
-Economic Development Law
-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 – Falmouth, ME
-Commercial Litigation
-Education Law
-Employment Law – Management
-Labor Law – Management

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

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

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
-Administrative / Regulatory Law
-Energy Law

Joel T. Shaw – Gorham, ME
-Securities / Capital Markets 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
*Lawyer of the Year Portland, ME – Tax Law
-Tax Law

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

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

*The “Lawyer of the Year” distinction is only 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 advising clients across the U.S. and around the world. Our 110+ award-winning attorneys and professionals provide practical and innovative counsel, and practice in more than 20 key areas across a variety of 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. Find out more at www.bernsteinshur.com.