Verne E. Paradie

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...

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.

Joseph G. Carleton, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Community Association Law and Real Estate Law. Joseph G., 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 Joseph G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

Griff Leschefske’s practice centers on estate planning, charitable giving, and probate, trust, and fiduciary litigation, in which he represents individuals, families, fiduciaries, and institutional clients in all aspects of trust and estate planning, administration, and controversy. Griff also represents charitable organizations, educational institutions, and corporate clients with respect to planned giving and philanthropy matters. In his estate planning practice, Griff provides counse...

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...

Amanda Lynch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Amanda, 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 Amanda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Stevenson is a tax attorney and Co-Leader of the Business Services practice group, who advises clients on a wide range of federal and state tax compliance issues and tax controversies before taxing authorities. Also a Certified Public Accountant, Chris delivers exceptional value to his clients, who are looking for practical, comprehensible and efficient solutions to complex legal problems. In his transactional tax practice, Chris frequently advises businesses on the tax aspects of merge...

Benjamin J. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law and Energy Regulatory Law. Benjamin J., who practices law in Augusta, Maine, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...