James B. Barns

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...

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...

Tudor Goldsmith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Tudor, who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tudor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Asha’s specialty is dispute resolution involving construction, energy, insurance, and banking claims. In addition to being an attorney, Asha is a licensed professional engineer, with LEED accreditation and years of experience designing and coordinating multi-million dollar projects as a civil engineer with Parsons Brinckerhoff. Her firsthand experience with the ins and outs of construction, and energy projects makes her an especially effective advocate in litigation matters and contract...

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...

Rob has served as legal counsel and as business and financial advisor to Native American governments and their enterprises since 1983. His professional practice has included service as outside general counsel and advisor in business and financial transactions for federally recognized Indian tribes and businesses throughout the country. Current clients of Rob’s include Tribes such as the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Four Winds Casino Resort, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Natio...

For nearly 30 years, Alan MacEwan has advised businesses, entrepreneurs and investors on a comprehensive spectrum of corporate matters. Alan focuses on mergers and acquisitions, although he prefers to think of his practice more as “buying and selling companies.” He has successfully negotiated over 100 such transactions ranging from $1 million to $300 million, and combines client-specific expertise with creative problem-solving to deliver on his clients’ transaction objective...

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...

Charles M. Katz-Leavy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Charles M., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ron Ward has substantial expertise in all aspects of real estate law, development law, commercial leasing and financing, secured transactions (representing both lenders and borrowers), and administrative and environmental law – particularly local, state, and federal permitting. Ron advises real estate developers and entrepreneurs on the development and financing of complex commercial developments, as well as significant residential developments. Ron successfully handled the legal aspect...