Matthew Nichols

Matie B. Little is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Nonprofit / Charities Law and Trusts and Estates. Matie B., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matie B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian Rayback focuses his practice on environmental and land use law, with expertise in all aspects of water, air, natural resources, solid waste, and zoning regulation. Brian provides cost-effective, strategic advice on project permitting, enforcement matters, appeals of agency decisions, regulatory compliance, and legislative issues for property developers and owners, trade associations, utilities, construction companies, and industrial and manufacturing facilities. He regularly appears bef...

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...

Jennifer Riggle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Jennifer, who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 ...

Hawley’s practice focuses on representing real estate investors and developers in the acquisition and development of residential and mixed-use commercial properties—both regionally and nationally. He regularly provides guidance and assistance at all key points in commercial real estate transactions, from project financing to leasing. Hawley’s knowledge of state and local laws and ordinances and his detail-oriented approach help to facilitate deals that are streamlined and sm...

Bill Stockmeyer devotes his practice to advising municipalities, schools, and other local government entities on a wide variety of ever-evolving financial and business matters. Leader of the firm’s Public Finance Group, Bill is rated AV, the highest rating awarded by Martindale Hubbell, is listed in Best Lawyers in America in both Public Finance Law and Education Law, and is elected to the American College of Bond Counsel. Bill guides clients through bond issuance, budgetary matters, sc...

After clerking for Maine Supreme Court Justice Robert Clifford for a year after law school, Mike dove straight into construction law, defending architects and engineers in construction cases at a small Portland insurance defense firm. Since joining Bernstein Shur a decade and a half ago, Mike has had the pleasure of representing the full panoply of participants on a construction project: developers, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders, and sureties in everything fr...

Justin attended Portland schools through high school, graduating from Cheverus in 1989. He then graduated from the University of Vermont in 1993 and the University of Georgia School of Law, magna cum laude, in 1999. Justin served as Clerk for the Honorable Leigh I. Saufley of the Maine Judicial Court as his first job after law school. After working briefly at a general practice firm in Portland, he moved in 2001 to a smaller firm which limited its practice to estate planning and related matte...

Jack has over fifteen years of experience litigating complex, high-stakes cases where there are millions or even billions of dollars on the line. Even under these pressures, Jack remains cool and grounded during the most heated and stressful cases. His broad range of experience includes defending the United States in large civil suits in federal courts across the country, such as two bellwether suits brought by residents of Greater New Orleans for flood damages incurred in Hurricane Katrina. ...