Top 8 law firms in Maine: A data-driven guide

Ramp processes billions of dollars in business expenses across thousands of companies every month. Our unique position in the payments ecosystem provides visibility into actual spending patterns, including legal services expenditures across diverse industries and business sizes.

In Maine's legal market, where 3,865 actively practicing attorneys serve a population of 1.3 million residents, data-driven insights become essential for businesses navigating the state's unique economic landscape. With 157,133 small businesses comprising 99.3% of all Maine enterprises and emerging sectors like adult-use cannabis generating $217 million in 2023 sales, understanding which firms excel in specific practice areas directly impacts business success and legal outcomes.

Understanding Maine's legal landscape

Maine's legal services market reflects the state's distinctive economic drivers and demographic challenges. The $76.057 billion state GDP relies heavily on natural resource industries including forest products, marine/aquaculture, and outdoor recreation, creating specialized regulatory and transactional legal needs. The state faces a severe indigent defense crisis with only 224 attorneys accepting court-appointed criminal cases—a 45% decline since 2019—while handling over 31,000 annual cases. Simultaneously, emerging markets like sports betting with $446.5 million total handle since legalization drive demand for compliance and licensing expertise. This bifurcated market sees large firms serving corporate clients while nonprofit entities address critical access-to-justice gaps, creating distinct niches for firms of varying sizes and specializations.

Top 8 firms in Maine

Based on our analysis of legal spending patterns and market positioning, the following firms demonstrate exceptional capabilities in serving Maine businesses. The top three firms—Bernstein Shur, Drummond Woodsum, and Preti Flaherty—collectively employ over 300 attorneys and consistently rank among the state's most recognized practices across multiple disciplines, from complex corporate transactions to specialized regulatory work in emerging industries.

Bernstein Shur

Bernstein Shur, founded in 1915, operates from Portland and Augusta, Maine, plus Manchester, New Hampshire, with over 100 attorneys serving regional, national, and international clients. The firm excels across 20+ practice areas with particular strength in business law, litigation, and municipal law, representing diverse clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Recognized as a "Best Place to Work in Maine" for 12 consecutive years, the firm has earned Tier 1 rankings in 29 practice areas from U.S. News/Best Lawyers and pioneered Maine's only pro bono fellowship program integrating paid public service into summer associate training.

Key practice areas

• Corporate transactions and securities regulation
• Intellectual property and technology law
• Government investigations and white-collar defense
• Financial institutions and healthcare compliance
• Municipal law and public finance

Best for

Companies seeking sophisticated corporate counsel for complex transactions, regulatory compliance, or litigation matters benefit most from Bernstein Shur's deep bench and century-long market presence. Their combination of regional expertise and national capabilities makes them ideal for Maine-based businesses with growth ambitions or out-of-state companies entering the Maine market.

Notable facts

Recent strategic additions include regulatory specialists Elliot Kelly (advertising compliance) and Eviana Woodlinn (complex litigation), strengthening corporate advisory capabilities. The firm's commitment to community service extends beyond traditional pro bono work, with attorneys holding leadership positions across Maine's civic and charitable organizations while maintaining the state's most comprehensive summer fellowship program.

Drummond Woodsum

Drummond Woodsum, established in 1965, operates across four offices including Portland, Maine; Manchester and Lebanon, New Hampshire; and Flagstaff, Arizona, with over 100 attorneys. The firm has built a national reputation representing 60+ tribal nations and tribal enterprises, making it a leader in indigenous law while maintaining strong practices in education law, labor/employment, and complex litigation. Drummond Woodsum has earned 30 Chambers USA rankings across 11 practice areas and received the "Law Firm of the Year" designation for Native American Law.

Key practice areas

• Tribal law and sovereignty litigation
• Education law and Title IX compliance
• Labor, employment, and benefits
• Real estate and land use
• Complex commercial litigation

Best for

Tribal nations, educational institutions, and municipalities find Drummond Woodsum's specialized expertise invaluable for navigating complex regulatory frameworks and sovereignty issues. The firm's unique public service sabbatical program and deep community engagement make it particularly attractive to organizations prioritizing social responsibility alongside legal excellence.

Notable facts

The firm's attorneys hold over 100 organizational board memberships, demonstrating unparalleled community integration. Their successful litigation of landmark tribal sovereignty cases has shaped federal Indian law nationally, while their education practice serves school districts across New England, handling everything from special education compliance to construction contracts.

Preti Flaherty

Preti Flaherty, operating since the early 20th century, maintains multiple Maine offices including Portland with additional locations across New England, employing 100+ attorneys. The firm specializes in serving regulated industries, technology companies, and government entities with particular strength in environmental compliance, energy/telecommunications, and intellectual property. Recent high-profile work includes offshore wind permitting and cannabis licensing, positioning the firm at the forefront of Maine's emerging industries.

Key practice areas

• Environmental compliance and permitting
• Energy and telecommunications regulation
• Intellectual property and technology transactions
• Government relations and lobbying
• Privacy and data security

Best for

Renewable energy developers, telecommunications companies, and businesses in heavily regulated industries rely on Preti Flaherty's deep regulatory expertise and government relations capabilities. Their expanded privacy and data security practice serves technology companies and healthcare providers facing evolving cyber regulations and compliance requirements.

Notable facts

The firm's recent promotion of Cameron Ferrante to partner in 2025 strengthens their municipal finance group, reflecting strategic growth in public sector representation. Preti Flaherty attorneys regularly receive Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers recognition, particularly in environmental and energy law, where they've advised on Maine's first offshore wind projects.

Eaton Peabody

Eaton Peabody, founded in 1939, operates three Maine offices in Augusta, Bangor, and Portland with nearly 30 attorneys focusing on business law, municipal finance, real estate, and healthcare compliance. The firm serves local governments, school districts, healthcare systems, and manufacturing companies, maintaining strong regional presence through multi-generational client relationships. Their attorneys include multiple Best Lawyers and Chambers USA honorees, particularly in banking/finance law.

Key practice areas

• Municipal finance and bond issuances
• Healthcare compliance and transactions
• Real estate development and financing
• Business formation and succession planning
• Banking and financial services regulation

Best for

Municipalities, healthcare organizations, and established Maine businesses value Eaton Peabody's deep local knowledge and long-term relationship approach. Their expertise in municipal bond issuances and healthcare mergers makes them particularly valuable for public sector entities and regional healthcare providers navigating complex transactions.

Notable facts

Recent work includes guiding small businesses through COVID-19 relief programs and advising on broadband expansion initiatives in rural communities, demonstrating responsiveness to emerging client needs. The firm's multi-generational client relationships, some spanning over 50 years, reflect their commitment to consistent, reliable counsel through economic cycles.

Oleaga Law LLC

Oleaga Law LLC, established in 2021, operates from Portland, Maine, and New York City as Maine's first law practice dedicated exclusively to assisted reproduction technology (ART) law. Founded by Megan Oleaga following legislative changes in surrogacy regulations, this boutique firm with two attorneys handles approximately 100 ART contracts annually, representing intended parents, surrogates, gamete donors, and fertility clinics in complex family formation matters.

Key practice areas

• Gestational carrier agreements
• Parentage orders and adoptions
• Embryo disposition contracts
• Fertility clinic compliance
• Multi-state surrogacy coordination

Best for

Intended parents, fertility clinics, and surrogates navigating Maine's evolving reproductive law landscape find Oleaga Law's specialized expertise essential for ensuring legal parentage and protecting all parties' interests. Their multi-state capability particularly benefits clients involved in cross-border surrogacy arrangements requiring coordination across jurisdictions.

Notable facts

Oleaga Law publishes authoritative guides on evolving reproductive legislation and participates in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's legal advisory group, establishing thought leadership in this niche field. Their work establishing legal parentage for non-biological parents in multi-state surrogacy arrangements has created important precedents in Maine's developing ART legal framework.

Petruccelli, Martin & Haddow, LLP

Petruccelli, Martin & Haddow, LLP, founded in 1980, operates from Portland with 10+ attorneys specializing in litigation, particularly insurance defense, professional liability, construction disputes, and environmental law. The firm represents insurers, corporations, and professionals in high-exposure cases across New England, with attorneys successfully arguing before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on insurance coverage interpretation issues. PMH maintains an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Key practice areas

• Insurance defense and coverage disputes
• Professional liability and malpractice defense
• Construction litigation and mechanics liens
• Environmental and toxic tort defense
• Commercial litigation

Best for

Insurance companies, design professionals, and businesses facing high-stakes litigation rely on PMH's trial expertise and strategic approach to complex disputes. Their deep bench of former prosecutors and judicial law clerks provides tactical advantages in cases requiring sophisticated motion practice and appellate work.

Notable facts

The firm's successful defense in toxic tort cases and architect malpractice claims has established important precedents in Maine professional liability law. Their recognition in Best Lawyers for insurance law reflects consistent excellence in coverage disputes, while the trial team's collective experience includes hundreds of jury trials and numerous appellate arguments.

Trafton, Matzen, Belleau, Frenette

Trafton, Matzen, Belleau, Frenette has served northern Maine since 1974 from its principal office in Auburn with additional locations in Lewiston and Augusta, employing 15+ attorneys. The firm focuses on personal injury litigation, workers' compensation, family law, and estate planning, representing individuals and small businesses across Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Oxford counties. Founding partner Richard Trafton brings over 40 years of trial experience as a Maine Super Lawyers honoree.

Key practice areas

• Personal injury and wrongful death litigation
• Workers' compensation claims
• Family law and divorce proceedings
• Estate planning and probate
• Small business representation

Best for

Injured workers, accident victims, and families in central and northern Maine benefit from Trafton Matzen's regional focus and contingency fee arrangements. Their multi-office presence and community partnerships make them accessible to rural clients who might otherwise struggle to obtain quality legal representation.

Notable facts

The firm has recovered multi-million dollar settlements in catastrophic injury cases and complex workers' compensation claims, demonstrating ability to handle high-value matters despite their regional focus. Their sponsorship of local scholarship programs and partnership with Pine Tree Legal Assistance on pro bono initiatives addresses rural access to justice gaps in underserved Maine communities.

Verrill

Verrill, tracing origins to 1862, operates 11 offices including Portland and Augusta in Maine, plus Boston and multiple Connecticut locations with 100+ attorneys. The firm serves regional and national clients in healthcare, education, energy, and tribal governance, having advised on Maine's first offshore wind procurement and representing tribal nations in sovereignty litigation. Strategic combinations with Friedman Gaythwaite Wolf (2013) and Levett Rockwood (2015) expanded their litigation capabilities and geographic reach.

Key practice areas

• Renewable energy development and permitting
• Healthcare transactions and regulatory compliance
• Native American law and tribal governance
• Education law and institutional governance
• Environmental and land use law

Best for

Healthcare systems, renewable energy developers, educational institutions, and tribal governments leverage Verrill's combination of historical market knowledge and sophisticated practice capabilities. Their multi-state presence particularly benefits clients with regional operations requiring coordinated legal strategies across New England.

Notable facts

Verrill attorneys have received 30+ Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" awards and maintain Tier 1 rankings in environmental, healthcare, and energy law. Their pro bono program handles 3,000+ hours annually through partnerships with Pine Tree Legal Assistance, while the firm's role in Maine's first offshore wind procurement positions them at the forefront of the state's renewable energy transition.

What to consider when choosing a firm in Maine

Selecting legal counsel in Maine requires understanding how the state's unique economic drivers—from traditional industries like forestry and fishing to emerging sectors like renewable energy and cannabis—shape firms' expertise. Consider whether your needs align with firms serving Maine's 157,133 small businesses or require the sophisticated capabilities of practices handling offshore wind development and tribal sovereignty matters.

Geographic coverage matters significantly in a state where rural communities face documented access-to-justice challenges. Firms with multiple Maine offices or strong referral networks can better serve businesses with statewide operations, while Portland-centric practices may offer deeper specialization but limited reach. Evaluate whether a firm's community involvement—from pro bono commitments to board service—aligns with your organization's values and local market presence.

Industry-specific regulatory knowledge proves critical given Maine's evolving legal landscape. Cannabis businesses need counsel familiar with the state's $217 million adult-use market, while healthcare providers require expertise in rural hospital challenges and telehealth regulations. Request specific examples of similar client representations and outcomes rather than general practice area descriptions.

Budget considerations should account for Maine's bifurcated legal market, where top-tier firms command premium rates for complex matters while smaller practices offer competitive pricing for routine business needs. Many firms now offer alternative fee arrangements, flat-rate packages for standard services, and hybrid models combining hourly and success-based compensation. Request detailed fee estimates and billing practices upfront, particularly for litigation matters where costs can escalate quickly.

To make an informed decision, schedule consultations with 2-3 firms that match your criteria, preparing specific questions about their experience with your industry and legal challenges. Request references from current clients in similar businesses and verify the firm's standing with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar. Consider starting with a discrete project to evaluate responsiveness, work quality, and cultural fit before committing to a long-term relationship. Maine's legal community remains relatively small and interconnected, making reputation and relationships particularly valuable when navigating local courts, agencies, and business networks.