J. Sampson "Sam" Hamilton

Jeffrey Herbert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Jeffrey, who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sara Murphy focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation and class action defense, representing clients from a number of different industries, including financial services, energy, pulp and paper, insurance, and professional services. Sara’s litigation practice includes disputes related to breach of contract, unfair trade practices, claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and other business-related torts. She also handles cases involving claims for ...

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 transac...

Ken Lehman is a shareholder in Bernstein Shur’s Litigation Group and he co-chairs the firm’s Health Care Group. Ken has practiced health care law for more than 35 years. He is a former Maine Assistant Attorney General where he had responsibility for cases before Maine’s professional licensure boards that license physicians and PAs, nurses and nurse practitioners, dentists, psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, chiropractors, and other health care providers....

A straight-shooting, disciplined former naval officer and present-day real estate attorney, Bill gets projects done on budget and on time. Throughout his career, Bill has helped major real estate developers realize large-scale commercial projects in the Greater Portland area and throughout the state of Maine. His skill set includes acquisitions, sales, development projects, entity formation, financing, and leasing. He currently heads up Bernstein Shur’s Massachusetts Real Estate Initiat...

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.

William V. Ferdinand, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Regulatory Law and Government Relations Practice. William V., who practices law in Brunswick, Maine, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Calm under pressure, dependable, and a true advocate for her clients, Mary is an experienced municipal and environmental law counselor. Having worked in the public sector for years before joining Bernstein Shur, she has a firsthand understanding of the issues faced by municipal and state employees and boards—and how to help her clients confront them. Her most recent public sector position was associate corporation counsel to the City of Portland, where she advised the city staff and cou...

Seth W. Brewster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Antitrust. Seth W., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Seth W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peg Smith handles all aspects of commercial acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing, title review and analysis, with particular expertise in drafting and analyzing conservation easements. She represents timberland companies, commercial developers, nonprofit organizations, and individual clients with respect to their various real estate needs, and regularly assists energy companies with real estate matters related to solar development, hydroelectric facilities, and transmission corrid...