Christopher R. "Chris" Smith
About Christopher R. Smith
Christopher R. Smith is a lawyer based in Portland, ME and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2009. Christopher R. Smith is recognized in the following practice areas:
- Portland, Maine
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Current Firm: Verrill
Education: Emory University, J.D., graduated 1998 and Harvard University, AB, graduated 1995
Location: Portland, ME
It takes just a few minutes to optimize your profile for clients looking to engage and lawyers who are ready to refer.
Activate your profile and highlight why your peers recognized in Best Lawyers today.
Nearby Lawyers
Having worked as an urban planner, as chair of the Portland Zoning Board, and inside state government, Phil is well acquainted with municipal and land use law. That experience, combined with his legal expertise, makes him extremely adept at counseling municipal officials and boards and obtaining land use approvals at local, state, and federal levels for real estate developers and property owners. And he’s just as equipped to help clients with legislative issues: he helped draft and pass...
Jana Magnuson advises individuals, couples, and families with respect to estate planning, including the preparation of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, durable financial powers of attorney, and health care directives. She understands that clients find themselves stuck with respect to these important decisions and documents, and enjoys working to clarify their decision-making so that they can move forward with confidence about their futures and the future of their family members and ot...
With a past as a securities regulator in the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation, Joel has deep expertise in the federal and state securities laws—and the practical insight it takes to navigate today’s financial markets successfully. Whether you’re an operating company seeking early stage or later round financing, Joel will help you structure capital-raising transactions and prepare disclosure documents that have every “i” dotted and every “t&rdqu...
Lisa Gilbreath is a partner in the Environmental, Land Use, and Energy Infrastructure Development, Acquisition & Financing practice groups. Lisa works on a wide variety of environmental and energy matters, offering clients strategic advice in regulatory, legislative, and judicial proceedings. In her environmental practice, Lisa assists clients with numerous issues including energy project development permitting, energy and environmental litigation, air quality legislative and regulatory a...
Christopher P. Stief is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christopher P., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Griff Leschefske’s practice centers on estate planning, charitable giving, and probate, trust, and fiduciary litigation, in which he represents individuals, families, fiduciaries, and institutional clients in all aspects of trust and estate planning, administration, and controversy. Griff also represents charitable organizations, educational institutions, and corporate clients with respect to planned giving and philanthropy matters. In his estate planning practice, Griff provides counse...
Kasia S. Park is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law. Kasia S., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kasia S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
After clerking for Maine Supreme Court Justice Robert Clifford for a year after law school, Mike dove straight into construction law, defending architects and engineers in construction cases at a small Portland insurance defense firm. Since joining Bernstein Shur a decade and a half ago, Mike has had the pleasure of representing the full panoply of participants on a construction project: developers, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders, and sureties in everything fr...
Dave Barry is a partner in Pierce Atwood’s Litigation Practice Group. Dave served as the firm’s managing partner from 2016 through 2025. Previously, Dave was chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and chaired the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense practice. Dave has managed complex business litigation in federal and state courts and has extensive experience assisting clients with government enforcement and compliance matters invol...
Kevin M. Noonan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Kevin M., who practices law in Topsham, Maine, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Explore and Learn
The Family Law Loophole That Lets Sex Offenders Parent Kids
by Bryan Driscoll
Is the state's surrogacy framework putting children at risk?
Recognizing Legal Leaders: The 2027 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan and Singapore
by Jamilla Tabbara
Market drivers, diversity trends and the elite practitioners shaping the legal landscape.
Holiday Pay Explained: Federal Rules and Employer Policies
by Bryan Driscoll
Understand how paid holidays work, when employers must follow their policies and when legal guidance may be necessary.
Can a Green Card Be Revoked?
by Bryan Driscoll
Revocation requires a legal basis, notice and the chance to respond before status can be taken away.
New Texas Family Laws Transform Navigating Divorce, Custody
by Bryan Driscoll
Reforms are sweeping, philosophically distinct and designed to change the way families operate.
How Far Back Can the IRS Audit You?
by Bryan Driscoll
Clear answers on IRS statutes of limitations, recordkeeping and what to do if you are under review.
US Tariff Uncertainty Throws Canada Into Legal Purgatory
by Bryan Driscoll
The message is clear: There is no returning to pre-2025 normalcy.
Can You File Bankruptcy on Credit Cards
by Bryan Driscoll
Understanding your options for relief from overwhelming debt.
Musk v. Altman: The Lawyers Behind the Case
by Jamilla Tabbara
Meet the Trial Lawyers Shaping One of AI's Biggest Legal Disputes.