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Pierce Atwood has an excellent reputation in Maine for trusts and estate services. "They are the best trust and estate firm in the state," enthuses a source, while another says that "they are as good as it gets in Maine."
Commentators particularly praise the firm for its bench strength. "They are the deepest bench we have in this area," an interviewee comments, also adding: "They can communicate with clients and convey what the impact is. If something is complex, they are the go-to group, they can handle all issues. They are very accessible and you can rely on them to be responsive." One market expert describes the team as "phenomenal - they are incredibly bright and extremely creative."
Notable practitioners
Barbara Wheaton focuses her practice on estate and trust planning and administration for high net worth individuals. Wheaton is praised by several sources for her technical ability. One source describes her as "one of the best technical estate planners out there," explaining: "Her ability to get to the crux of a problem and solve it is incredible." Another source enthuses: "She is wonderful, I refer everything to her. I value her technical skill and judgement, she understands the dynamics of families and she has an extraordinary skill set and exceptional judgement. She can prioritise projects within their needs, and she is a good global thinker."
Jana Magnuson assists affluent clients on a range of trust and estate planning matters. "Jana is very down-to-earth - there are no pretensions with Jana," says a source, adding: "She can relate with clients on a human level in a rather unique way while doing high-quality work." One contributor remarks that she is "very responsive" and "she is great to meet with and her work is of a good quality."
Marianna Putnam Liddell assists high net worth individuals and families with estate planning and administration, business succession planning and tax planning. "Molly Liddell is a high-level trust and estate attorney and an impressive leader," one source notes. Another source explains: "She is terrific and fantastic. She brings a level of energy and enthusiasm - she has a real spirit about her that is refreshing." One interviewee describes her as "very collaborative," and adds that she is "charming, affable and accessible, as well as technically rigourous."
