Joseph M. "Joe" Kozak

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...

John Moran's practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, private financings, and general corporate matters. He represents acquirers and targets across a diverse range of industries, including hospitality and leisure, and guides clients through all phases of the deal cycle. John also advises businesses, higher education institutions, and individuals on liquor licensing and regulatory compliance matters and routinely contributes to the development of Maine's ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Casey McCullen is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Casey practices law in Portland, Maine Best Lawyers has recognized Casey McCullen since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Casey McCullen is held by other lawyers.

Kate works where the law, the Legislature, the governor and politics meet. Among the most highly regarded lobbyists and election law attorneys in Maine, she helps navigate the complex reality of elections and public policy. No challenge is too big, no campaign impossible. Kate takes on the tough – some might say, impossible – work that can change the world. With Kate, there’s no quit. She keeps working until she wins. Period. Kate has lobbied in Augusta for nearly 20 years, ...

Rick Shinay has devoted his entire professional career to the practice of real estate law and related areas. From 1981 to 1985, Rick was Branch Manager and State Counsel for the Portland, Maine office of Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation where he developed extensive expertise in real estate title and conveyancing matters and title insurance underwriting in a wide variety of commercial and residential transactions. Since joining Drummond Woodsum in 1985, Rick has represented individuals and ...

David Soley leads Bernstein Shur’s Real Estate Litigation Group, is the author of the American Bar Association’s nationally acclaimed Real Estate Litigation Handbook and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Real Estate Litigation. Mr. Soley concentrates his practice in the areas of business, real estate and constitutional litigation. He regularly represents entrepreneurs and property owners in disputes over boundaries, titles, easements, mortgage priorities, pa...