John W. Geismar

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.

With a strong professional and educational background in governmental administration and compliance, Joel is a practical, results-driven advocate who is uniquely qualified to represent clients in property tax and regulatory matters. He understands the importance of long-term relationships with regulators and municipalities, and leverages his training and experience to distill large amounts of complex data into clear, thoughtful, and effective counsel. In his energy practice, Joel represents g...

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....

Eliza Nichols is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Eliza, 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 Eliza is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gerald F. Petruccelli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Mediation and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Gerald F., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review su...

Michael was born in Norfolk, Connecticut. He attended college in Maine, went away to law school and returned to begin his practice of law with Jensen Baird Gardner & Henry in 1985. Mike chairs the firm's Business Services Practice Group. Mike also serves on the firm's Management Committee, currently in the position of President. His practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate, business and commercial law, and non-profit corporation law. He represents large, medium and small Maine b...

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...

Emily Cooke’s practice focuses on commercial transactions, compliance, and corporate governance for a range of clients, including banks and other financial institutions, health care organizations, insurance industry participants, educational institutions, nonprofit entities, and small businesses. She negotiates third-party vendor contracts for banking services, negotiates master services agreements for outsourcing critical processing functions for national bank and insurers, and provide...

For more than 30 years, Eric Herlan has been representing public school districts on a wide variety of legal issues, focusing on both special education and general school law questions. Eric gives clients practical guidance on how to resolve problems consistent with the law, often coming up with creative solutions to help them achieve their goals, even with the most complicated legal issues. He has represented Maine and New Hampshire school districts in more than 100 special education due pro...

Barbara Wheaton concentrates her legal practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, charitable giving, and related disciplines. Barbara's clients include high net worth individuals, business owners, family offices, charities and fiduciaries. She represents her clients' interests in probate proceedings involving trustee or executor duties, guardianships, trust administration and reformation, and contested estate administrations. Barbara also works extensively with nonprofit or...