Bernstein Shur

Firm Overview:

Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a female-led, New England-based law firm that advises clients across the United States and around the world. The firm’s 115+ award-winning attorneys and professionals work in 18 industries, providing support in 29 unique practices and services. Bernstein Shur has offices in Portland and Augusta, Maine, as well as Manchester, New Hampshire.

CEO: Joan Fortin

Number of shareholders: 67

Total number of attorneys: 109

Main Areas of Practice:

Business & Corporate Law:

Bernstein Shur’s business and corporate attorneys routinely advise clients in a wide range of transactions, including those related to: mergers and acquisitions, entity formation, private capital, corporate restructuring, intellectual property, data privacy and cybersecurity, tax and estate planning, international business, and succession planning. The group’s work spans the energy, construction, insurance, health care, manufacturing, distribution, technology, direct response, internet, financial services, securities, entertainment (including media and marketing), hospitality, food and beverage, cannabis and automotive industries, among others. Attorneys in this group regularly advise large multinational organizations, as well as entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Business Restructuring & Insolvency:

Bernstein Shur’s business restructuring and insolvency attorneys represent clients throughout the United States, including the busy reorganization courts in Delaware, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of Virginia. Within New England, the group plays a significant role in the majority of business bankruptcy and Chapter 11 cases filed, with an emphasis on the representation of debtors in Chapter 11, as well as purchasers of assets. Outside New England, members of the group have represented private equity funds and other asset purchasers in section 363 and plan sales of assets, as well as major parties-in-interest in Chapter 11 cases and business bankruptcy-related litigation. The group includes two American College of Bankruptcy Fellows, a former President of the American Bankruptcy Institute (“ABI”), and a recent recipient of the ABI’s “40 Under 40” award to rising stars in the field.

Energy & Environmental:

Bernstein Shur’s experienced, interdisciplinary energy practice represents independent generators, merchant transmission developers, utilities, and renewable energy developers, assisting them in contract negotiation, governmental approvals and permitting, negotiation of insurance coverage, control of real estate for linear and nonlinear projects, and tax valuations of energy assets for abatement or economic impacts. The firm’s environmental attorneys regularly handle issues associated with energy, industrial, and commercial developments and transactions related to project permitting, water and air quality, hazardous waste, development of contaminated real estate, species protection, wetlands, waste management, alternative energy sources, and any environmental litigation that may arise.

Government & Public Affairs:

Bernstein Shur’s government and public affairs attorneys and consultants have extensive experience working with the firm’s clients on public affairs, communications, lobbying, political campaign, and government relations projects. The group is well connected to lawmakers and key decisionmakers in Maine, New Hampshire, and beyond, and regularly advocates on behalf of small and large corporations, nonprofits, municipalities, and trade associations.

Labor & Employment:

Bernstein Shur’s labor and employment attorneys counsel a broad range of public and private sector clients in the municipal, healthcare, education, financial services, retail, energy, non-profit and food and beverage industries. As one of the largest groups of labor and employment attorneys north of Boston, this practice also represents clients in employment litigation, administrative hearings, labor negotiations, collective bargaining, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) work, and provides Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), benefits and executive compensation counsel and advice. This practice also includes a nationally recognized Campus and Workplace Investigations and Resolutions practice, which is actively involved in numerous high profile, highly publicized investigations around the country. The Campus and Workplace Investigations and Resolutions practice is the largest such group in New England, and handles work for public/private colleges and universities, private secondary schools, public k-12 schools, sports organizations, and all manner of for profit and not-for-profit corporations.

Litigation:

Bernstein Shur’s experienced and sophisticated litigators provide results-oriented representation in a broad array of matters, including commercial litigation and business disputes, construction, data security, products liability, real estate, toxic tort and environmental litigation, auto and equipment dealers litigation, and municipal litigation. The firm works closely with lawyers in the firm’s other practice groups to meet the needs of clients across a wide range of industries. The firm’s services include trials, arbitrations, mediations and negotiations, as well as counsel on litigation avoidance and risk management.

Real Estate:

Bernstein Shur’s real estate practice represents clients in sophisticated real estate transactions throughout New England and beyond. This group regularly handles energy projects, with a focus on site control and title for wind, solar, hydroelectric, natural gas and biomass projects. The group also represents clients in complex commercial development projects, including subdivision planning, permits, and approvals. Other areas of specialty include commercial leasing, condominium development, real estate litigation, tax-enhanced, tax increment, and new market tax credit financed projects, affordable housing, retail and franchise transactions, conservation easements, timberlands, telecommunications development and site location, and lender, bank, and finance work.