Arnold C. "Arnie" Macdonald

Arnold C. "Arnie" Macdonald

Portland, ME recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA

40 Best Lawyers awards

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Construction Law Corporate Law Project Finance Law Real Estate Law

Biography

Growing up working for his family’s flag and banner company, Arnie’s business education started at a young age. Today, he is a member of Bernstein Shur’s Succession Planning practice group, and provides counsel to small and mid-sized companies in business matters of all types, from formation issues and real estate deals to mergers and acquisitions. He’s particularly well-versed in financing, and works with both profit and nonprofit clients on a range of complex transactions, including low-income housing development, conduit financing, and private stock placements. Arnie worked as a laborer for Bob Vila of This Old House in college, and has advised clients on construction contracts throughout his career.

As the former chair of the Maine State Bar Association’s Business Law Section, Arnie is a trusted authority on corporate and limited liability company law, testifying on these issues before legislative committees and the Maine Supreme Court. He was a working group chair for the drafting of the Maine Business Corporation Act. He is also very active in providing legal service to indigent citizens, which prompted the Maine Bar Foundation to create the Arnie Macdonald Award, an honor given each year to a young attorney in recognition of his or her legal service work.

Arnold is also very experienced in:
  • Federal, state, and local affordable housing programs, including tax exempt bonds and tax credit financings
  • Product distribution and marketing, including advertising claims, antitrust, collections, and franchising
  • Representing low income housing developers
  • Advising contractors, subcontractors, owners, and suppliers on construction matters and mechanic’s lien law, including insurance coverage of construction disputes

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA

40 Best Lawyers awards

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA logo

Overview

  • University of Denver, JD, graduated 1985
  • Bowdoin College, BA, graduated 1981

  • Maine, State of Maine

  • US District Court, District of Maine
  • US District Court, District of Colorado
  • Maine, State of Maine
  • University of Denver, JD, graduated 1985
  • Bowdoin College, BA, graduated 1981
  • US District Court, District of Maine
  • US District Court, District of Colorado

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Construction Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Corporate Law, Portland, ME (2022)
  • Construction Law, Portland, ME (2019)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Construction Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Project Finance Law
  • Real Estate Law
Special Focus:
  • Advertising
  • Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
  • Closely-Held Businesses
  • Commercial
  • Commercial Development
  • Construction
  • Contract Review and Negotiation
  • Corporate Finance
  • Family Businesses
  • General Corporate
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Partnership and Limited Liability
  • Project Finance
  • Residential Development
  • Securities
  • Succession Planning

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