Bernstein Shur Welcomes Ovide Lamontagne to the Firm

Lamontagne is “One of New Hampshire’s most accomplished attorneys and highly regarded community leaders”

Manchester, NH, Portland and Augusta, ME (December 21, 2015): Bernstein Shur today announced the addition of Ovide Lamontagne as a shareholder in the firm’s growing Manchester office, where his primary areas of concentration will be commercial litigation as well as providing corporate counsel to a diverse array of commercial, charitable, nonprofit and institutional clients.

Lamontagne is a Manchester native who has distinguished himself as one of New Hampshire’s most accomplished attorneys and highly regarded community leaders since beginning his private practice in 1986. During that time, Lamontagne was called upon to serve as counsel in a number of high profile matters, developing a practice that ably served clients with a rare combination of legal, business, media and public policy expertise.

In 2012, Lamontagne was the Republican nominee for governor in New Hampshire, earning the votes of nearly 300,000 Granite Staters. Since early 2013, Lamontagne has served as general counsel to Americans United for Life, a public policy organization located in Washington, DC.

On his return to New Hampshire and private practice, Lamontagne said: “I’m excited to join Bernstein Shur today. As I considered re-entering private practice in New Hampshire, my top priority was finding a law firm that has great talent and regional reach and a culture that puts clients, community and service first. The attorneys and professionals that Bernstein Shur has brought together in Manchester are impressive and a testament to their ongoing and growing commitment to our state. I’m honored to join them and look forward to re-engaging with our state’s legal, business, political and charitable communities in the months and years ahead.”

Bernstein Shur CEO Pat Scully added: “We are excited to add an attorney and community leader of Ovide’s caliber to our growing, and politically diverse, New Hampshire team. Bernstein Shur is dedicated to providing our clients with exceptional service, while as a firm and individually working to make a difference in the communities in which we live and work. Ovide has impressively embodied this approach throughout his career, providing excellent legal counsel that has been consistently recognized by his peers and publications alike and giving back to the community through countless hours of charitable service. We are honored that our

Bernstein Shur clients and friends will now have the benefit of Ovide’s counsel and support.”

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.

About Ovide Lamontagne:   Ovide Lamontagne was born and raised in Manchester, NH. He is a fourth-generation New Hampshire native and a 1975 graduate of Trinity High School. Lamontagne is a 1979 graduate of The Catholic University of America. Following graduation, he was a high school social studies teacher for three years before attending the University of Wyoming College of Law where he served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review, was a member of the Order of the Coif, and received his J.D. with honors in 1985. Following graduation, Lamontagne served as law clerk to the Honorable James E. Barrett of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

Beginning his private practice in 1986, Lamontagne served as legal counsel for the New Hampshire State Senate in 1991. In 1993, he was appointed by Gov. Stephen Merrill as chairman of the New Hampshire State Board of Education. Lamontagne was recognized and ranked in Chambers USA 2011 as one of America’s leading attorneys in General Commercial Litigation. He was also selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 in the field of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.) and has an AV rating with Martindale and Hubbell.

Lamontagne has established himself as an effective leader in New Hampshire’s civic and nonprofit communities, having been honored in 2009 as New Hampshire’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Daniel Webster Council – Boy Scouts of America. He has served as chairman of St. Mary’s Bank Board of Directors, director of Easter Seals New Hampshire, trustee of the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund, CASA of New Hampshire, Manchester Crimeline, the Mayhew Program, New Hampshire Judicial Council, and the Governor’s Commission on Domestic Violence.

From 2002 through 2006, Lamontagne served as president of the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America. He is the founding president of the Franco-American Center and past Honorary Consul of France to New Hampshire. In 2002, he was named Franco-American of the Year.

Lamontagne and his wife, Bettie, have been foster parents since 1987. They have two daughters, Madeleine and Brittany, and a foster son. When not at home in Manchester, Lamontagne may be found at the family camp on Lake Umbagog, where he and his family enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking and snowmobiling.