James B. Barns

Attorney Benjamin Gideon is "widely considered the premier plaintiff's attorney" in Maine. He is trusted by his clients to handle some of the most complex, high-profile legal battles in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and elsewhere in New England and the nation. Many of Ben’s cases involve people who were seriously injured or killed because of negligence within large corporations. He is motivated to hold negligent corporations accountable, and to prevent similar tragedies from happening ...

Steve is a tax attorney who specializes in employee benefits, executive compensation, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). He works with employers of all stripes—including health care entities, businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and individuals—on ERISA requirements and liabilities, Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MEPERS) compliance and controversies, as well as the tax and ERISA implications of mergers and acquisitions. In addition, Steve repres...

Having worked in human resources and management in the private sector, Katy Rand brings hands-on experience to her practice. Her client work primarily involves employment law, with a focus on discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage / hour issues. Katy helps employers avoid litigation, counseling them on compliance and employee relations issues and, where appropriate, negotiating early resolution of disputes. She also has an active litigation practice, routinely advocating on behalf ...

Michael High was the leader of the firm’s Business and Commercial Services Practice Group for more than 20 years and currently serves as co-leader of the Group. He has extensive experience in representing businesses, investors, lenders and borrowers in a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including entity formation, shareholder/owner relations, corporate governance, drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex contracts, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, corporate fina...

As a shareholder in Bernstein Shur’s Real Estate Practice Group, Eliza represents timberland investment companies and wind energy developers on real estate-based projects in Maine and around the country. Her acute knowledge of all aspects of real estate transactions and financings, robust organizational and drafting skills, and calm demeanor under pressure are a boon to companies whose complex projects often involve multiple parties and many moving parts. Eliza’s previous experien...

Gretchen L. Jones is a shareholder and Business Practice Group Leader at the law firm of Eaton Peabody, resident in the Brunswick, Maine office. Ms. Jones earned her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law and her undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Bowdoin College. Ms. Jones’ practice is focused on representing and counseling financial institutions and other businesses. She has extensive experience in legislative and regulatory advocacy on behalf of clients before th...

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 ...

David Bobrow is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. David, 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 David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nolan Reichl is a partner in Pierce Atwood’s Litigation Practice Group, where he focuses his practice on civil litigation and appellate matters, including commercial disputes and challenges to administrative actions. Nolan represents institutional clients in a range of industries, and has represented some of the largest institutions in the United States and Maine, including Central Maine Power Company, J.P. Morgan, Verso Corporation, Bank of America, and Eli Lilly and Company. As part o...

Drawing on over 30 years of trial work and federal government experience, Toby Dilworth represents individuals and businesses in complex criminal and civil litigation and investigations. In his civil practice, Toby has represented businesses and business owners in disputes about contracts, corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and trade secrets. He has achieved notable and varied successes in the courtroom and arbitration. Representative matters include: Prevailed in an appeal to the Maine ...