How can we help you?

You've got better things to do than deal with a lawsuit. Litigation can be a terrible drain on the resources of a business and the attention of management and staff. But when you must bring or defend a claim, we focus on handling it for you as efficiently as possible, to bring about a successful outcome with as little impact on your personnel and business as possible.

We handle all types of business litigation, from antitrust and securities to commercial contracts including software licensing, commercial lease and other disputes. We offer a combination of insightful and relentless factual investigation, sophisticated legal analysis, and creative strategic positioning to put your case in the best posture for successful trial or settlement.

We handle cases for plaintiffs and defendants, in traditional courtroom litigation as well as arbitration. Our lawyers have successfully settled and tried to verdict or award all manner of cases, from small, routine matters with tens of thousands of dollars at stake, to cases with tens of millions at stake.

If you have a business-related or contract dispute, contact Cliff Ruprecht, Gigi Sanchez, and David Bischoff. They'll handle the litigation, so you can handle the competition.

The Firm’s Energy practice delivers a broad spectrum of services tailored to participants in the electric, natural gas, and CNG industries.  Our practitioners commonly appear as counsel of record in major regulatory dockets and provide advice and counsel to clients throughout the New England region.

State Regulatory

With our deep understanding of the regulatory process, we represent energy clients on state regulatory matters in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  Our attorneys have handled virtually every type of regulatory proceeding, including rate setting and rate design, electric and gas rulemakings, regulatory compliance and waivers, electric transmission policy and planning, regulatory approvals for CNG facilities and private natural gas pipelines, as well as a wide variety of regulatory investigations focusing on utility management practices, gas safety, and the accelerated replacement of natural gas infrastructure. 

Nuclear Decommissioning Financing

Our attorneys have unique and specialized expertise in nuclear decommissioning financing.  We routinely work with decommissioning cost experts, financial consultants and in-house nuclear operations experts to develop decommissioning cost estimates, strategic long-range plans, and obtain necessary regulatory approvals for decommissioning funding.  We have also developed, and obtained regulatory approval of, financing alternatives beyond traditional nuclear decommissioning trusts that provide for the early return of funds to plant owners, a significant advantage over an NRC decommissioning trust that prohibits withdrawals until decommissioning has been completed even if the trust is significantly overfunded.

Litigation

Our energy expertise is broader than the regulatory arena and includes litigation in state and federal courts as well as before mediation and arbitration panels.  We work with clients who participate in every aspect of the energy industry, including generators, wire companies, pipeline owners, and sellers and purchasers of energy commodities in wholesale and retail transactions.  When disputes arise, we assist clients in negotiating a satisfactory resolution, whenever possible.  When agreement cannot be reached, our attorneys advise, counsel and represent clients through every step of the litigation and appeals process.

Transactional

Our energy practitioners are familiar with the intricacies of the energy markets and the transmission and distribution systems that deliver commodities to end users in competitive markets.  We rely on that knowledge to assist clients in the negotiation of energy transactions for the purchase and sale of wholesale and retail energy.

If you work in a regulated industry, you know the importance of retaining regulatory counsel with the right experience, relationships and industry knowledge. Our lawyers have significant multi-disciplinary regulatory experience, including obtaining regulatory approval of mergers and acquisitions, insurance rate setting, and working through the intricacies of insurance and securities enforcement proceedings. One of our lawyers has been lead counsel in most of the significant insurance and rate-setting developments in Maine over the last 15 years, litigation and negotiation of nearly all major regulatory insurance consent agreements in Maine, and state and multi-state insurance and securities enforcement matters, ranging in size from $50,000 to over $10 million.

We know the players, we know the industry, we know the law and if we don't know you well yet, we will. Whether you need regulatory approval to move your business forward, or are facing the threat of regulatory enforcement, contact Chris Roach to find out how he can help you navigate the challenging regulatory waters.

When your license is on the line, we can help. We represent regulated professionals in liability lawsuits and in proceedings before disciplinary boards. We have represented many professionals in the regulated financial professions, including securities and insurance professionals, as well as lawyers in proceedings before the Board of Overseers of the Bar. One of our lawyers is a leading authority on attorney professional ethics. He was a member of the Task Force responsible for the first wholesale revision of Maine's Rules of Professional Conduct in three decades and is a member of the Advisory Committee on those Rules. Another of our lawyers has practiced for over 15 years before the Bureau of Insurance, representing individuals and insurers in professional licensing and other regulatory matters. As a result, we have a deep understanding of the regulators and the issues involved in such proceedings. If you are facing a disciplinary proceeding or a liability lawsuit arising out of your professional activities, contact Chris Roach and Cliff Ruprecht to see how we can help.

Our domestic relations team prides itself on providing assertive, efficient representation tied to a strategy tailored to the unique nature of each particular case. Our attorneys recognize that every case is different, but that every case is deeply personal and profoundly important to you. Whether a case involves sophisticated, highstakes financial or business affairs, presents complicated child custody issues, involves complex emotional issues or is a less-complicated, more straightforward divorce or custody matter, our attorneys recognize the importance of establishing and deploying a strategy that will enhance your position, whether in settlement negotiations or at trial. It is in carrying out the strategy where our attorneys set themselves apart from others. Our attorneys call on their trial and litigation skills honed over years of experience with virtually every possible type of divorce or family law matter to best position your case for achieving the outcome you desire. Contact David Bischoff and Gigi Sanchez to discuss what we can do for you.

For Individuals

For Referring Attorneys

Our lawyers have substantial experience with complex litigation and class actions. They have handled class actions involving a wide variety of claims, including securities fraud, antitrust violations, policyholder claims, consumer protection and unfair trade practices, and data breach. One of our attorneys has been lead or liaison counsel in almost every MDL class action transferred to the District of Maine, has authored the Maine chapter of the ABA's 50-state guide to class actions, has argued class issues before numerous state and federal courts, and has argued Rule 23 and CAFA issues many times to the District of Maine and the First Circuit. Another of our lawyers is a leading Maine authority on e-discovery issues, and we are well-positioned to handle the complexity of discovery that arises in complex cases. Over the years, our lawyers have partnered successfully with lawyers from firms all over the nation. Whether you are a client potentially involved in a class action, or counsel to such a client in need of local counsel in Maine, call Cliff Ruprecht to learn what we can do for you.

There are alternatives to trial. Our lawyers are not only skilled advocates in arbitration and mediation. They have the skill set that experienced counsel seek out in choosing arbitrators and mediators. When representing clients, we pride ourselves on the combination of sophistication and practicality we bring to every representation to help clients identify successful solutions and strategies for achieving them. That same blend of sophistication and practicality makes us an excellent choice the next time you need an arbitrator or mediator. We have the ability to understand complex legal, financial and other factual issues, and the ability to find practical answers to the questions that difficult disputes pose. And our lawyers have the wide-ranging experience to understand essentially any kind of civil dispute that you might want to arbitrate or mediate. We can help you find a mutually agreeable negotiated solution to your dispute, or help the parties try such a dispute to a fair and enforceable arbitral award with the confidentiality, efficiency and expertise that parties seek in arbitration, all at a price that makes sense in the context of their particular dispute. Call Gigi Sanchez and Cliff Ruprecht to learn what we can do for you.

When your case goes up on appeal, it requires a fresh look and a new perspective. The issues the courts care about on appeal are often narrower and different than the issues that may be most important at trial. An experienced appellate lawyer can help with a frank evaluation of your chances on appeal, as well as with development of the best strategy for appeal, which may be very different from the trial strategy.

Our attorneys have substantial appellate experience, having handled cases at every appellate level. They have argued administrative appeals in the Superior Court, appellate cases in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and have even briefed cases to the U.S. Supreme Court. Our lawyers have successfully settled many cases while they were on appeal, based on a proper evaluation of the risks and benefits of the appeal, the strength of our written advocacy and our reputations as appellate advocates.

We are not only well positioned to defend our trial victories or correct trial errors on appeal; we are happy to assist trial counsel with an appeal, or to take over a case after trial. If you have a case that is on appeal or is expected to be, call Cliff Ruprecht and Chris Roach for a consultation.