Patricia A. "Patti" Nelson-Reade

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...

Sarah Tracy advises energy generation facilities, large commercial energy users, and utilities with respect to state and federal energy regulatory issues throughout New England. Sarah assists owners of utility scale and distributed energy generation facilities and off-takers negotiate key energy agreements, including power purchase agreements, net energy billing agreements, renewable energy credit purchase and sale agreements, natural gas supply agreements and firm gas transportation agreemen...

Chuck M. Graceffa, a partner in the firm's Business Group, has a general corporate and securities law practice concentrated in the areas of private equity, emerging company representation, public and private mergers and acquisitions, and securities law compliance. Chuck also has experience in commercial real estate transactions. Many of Chuck's clients turn to him on a daily basis for general business advice as he plays an active role in the strategic growth and advancement of his clients' bu...

William V. Ferdinand, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Regulatory Law and Government Relations Practice. William V., who practices law in Brunswick, Maine, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peter Felmly advises public schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations on a broad spectrum of school, employment, and labor law issues. Peter strives to provide his clients with timely, comprehensive, and creative solutions as they navigate the complex web of statutes and regulations governing their operations. Employers turn to Peter for guidance on compliance with a host of state and federal employment laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical L...

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...

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...

Katie Porter represents private and public employers and helps emerging companies establish and maintain all aspects of their employment policies and practices. She regularly provides advice and counsel to multistate clients on emerging and complex employment issues. Katie conducts workplace investigations and assists the firm’s corporate group on employment aspects of corporate transactions. She also advises independent schools on legal issues impacting students and assists with school...

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 ...

Jonathan Shapiro has extensive experience in employment, labor and employee benefits law and litigation. He represents employers before state and federal courts across the country in complex wage-and hour class and collective actions and cases that involve discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and other employment matters. Jonathan has defended executives in white-collar criminal investigations and litigation. In addition, he counsels employers on various issues concerning employm...