Gordon Smith

Practice Areas

Environmental & Land Use

Energy

Judicial Appeals—Energy

Wind

Real Estate Litigation

Coastal & Shoreland

Appellate

Solar

Career

Gordon brings together legal experience and a results-oriented, commonsense approach to provide clients with regulatory solutions, court victories, and strategic advice on a range of environmental and land use issues. Gordon fights to achieve sane and beneficial outcomes for his clients, allowing them to do what they want to do on their property. Gordon heads up the firm’s Coastal and Shoreland Group and co-chairs the firm’s Appellate Practice Group.

His practice includes particular experience in:

-Resolution of land use issues and real estate disputes

-Shoreland and coastal land use issues

-Renewable energy development

-Infrastructure permitting, financing, and operation

-Federal and state wildlife protection statutes

-Civil, administrative, and appellate litigation related to environmental, land use, and real estate disputes in state and federal courts

Gordon also counsels developers on the best ways to navigate the regulatory process in order to get projects built. In particular, Gordon has represented wind and solar power developers in all phases of project development, from land acquisition to obtaining local, state, and federal permits to supporting project finance and successfully defending projects against litigation in state and federal courts.

Gordon serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law, where he has taught real estate transactions and land use law.

Professional Memberships

-Volunteer Attorney, Maine Homeless Legal Project

-Pro Bono Legal Counsel Provider, The Nature Conservancy

Publications

-"The Risks and Regulations Associated with Waterfront Development in Maine" - Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA)

-"Saving Seaweed Via Maine Property Law" -Law360

Personal

When not practicing law, Gordon likes to do house carpentry, landscape, play tennis, hike, bike, ski, grill, and sip whiskey. Gordon is lucky enough to go home to his wonderful wife, daughter, and son, and the trusty house cat Scout, who is also known as Cuddles.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Gordon is admitted to the Maine bar.

In addition, Gordon is admitted to the following courts:

-U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

-U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Languages Spoken

English

Education

Awards