Law Firm Bernstein Shur Announces Multi-State Strategic Consulting Subsidiary

The Bernstein Shur Group offers public affairs, strategic communications & political consulting with offices in ME, New Hampshire and Vermont

Portland and Augusta, ME & Manchester, NH – February 6, 2013 – Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, is pleased to announce broader geographic reach, expanded service offerings and new leadership for its now multi-state strategic consulting subsidiary The Bernstein Shur Group, LLC. The public affairs, strategic communications and political consulting subsidiary has offices in ME, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“Working closely with our Legislative and Political Law Practice Group and other practices areas, The Bernstein Shur Group brings exciting new capabilities to our firm,” said Charles E. Miller, Bernstein Shur’s CEO. “The Bernstein Shur Group allows us to leverage our considerable expertise to assist the firm’s clients in public affairs, strategic communications and political consulting. We have assembled an impressive team of talented professionals to cover all of northern New England.”

Managing Director David Farmer joins The Bernstein Shur Group after two years as president of Adeline Strategic Communications, a company he started after serving for four years as Gov. John Baldacci’s deputy chief of staff and communications director. In 2012, he served as the communications director and a communications consultant on the historic statewide campaign to allow same-sex couples in ME to receive a marriage license. He served in the same capacity in 2011 on the statewide people’s veto campaign to restore same-day voter registration. He is based in Portland.

Jim Merrill serves as The Bernstein Shur Group’s New Hampshire state director. Merrill joins The Bernstein Shur Group after five years as managing director for Devine Strategies, the strategic consulting subsidiary of Devine Millimet, where he advised a wide range of corporate, political and nonprofit clients. In 2011-12, he served as a senior adviser and general consultant to the Romney for President and Lamontagne for Governor campaigns in New Hampshire. He previously served in the administration of Governor Stephen Merrill. He is based in Manchester.

Dennise Casey joins The Bernstein Shur Group as a consultant in Vermont. Casey has successfully managed national, statewide and local public affairs campaigns, including grasstops outreach and organizing. She has served as a political field director for the Republican Governors Association and was deputy chief of staff and communications director for Vermont Gov. James Douglas. She is based in South Burlington.

Jeremy Payne is a senior project manager, working part-time for The Bernstein Shur Group while maintaining his role as the executive director of the ME Renewable Energy Association where he has worked since 2008. Before joining MREA, Payne was the government affairs director for the ME Association of Realtors and was a field coordinator for CasinosNO! He also served in the administration of then-Gov. Angus King as the director of external affairs. He is based in Augusta.

Andrea Nadeau will serve as a project manager for The Bernstein Shur Group and will continue in her role as deputy director for MREA. For the past 10 years, Nadeau has worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for Bernstein Shur, building expertise in the ME Legislature, the ME Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices and the ME Public Utilities Commission. She is based in Augusta.

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.