General Information
Year founded:
1915
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
Bernstein Shur Sawyer & Nelson is a New England-based law firm that advises clients from across the U.S. and around the world. Our 120+ award-winning attorneys and professionals practice in more than 20 critical areas and a variety of industries. In 2023, Bernstein Shur was named one of Maine’s Best Places to Work for the tenth time.While we’re proud of our roots, accolades, and wide-ranging expertise, it’s not only our substance that sets us apart; it’s also our approach. We relish simplifying the complex. We believe that sophisticated doesn’t have to mean stuffy, and we’re not just accessible—we’re approachable. We fight hard for our clients, but calm persistence and collaboration are often our weapons of choice. Most importantly, we believe that being mindful of our clients’ bottom lines is ultimately better for our own. Over the past century, these values have become the essence of Bernstein Shur. And they produce better results—and better experiences—for our clients.
Rankings
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. is metro ranked in 37 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsMetro Rankings
Augusta-ME
Tier 1 for Land Use and Zoning Law
Tier 2 for Government Relations Practice
Tier 3 for Administrative / Regulatory Law
Manchester
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
Rankings
Regional Rankings
Augusta-ME
Tier 1 for Land Use and Zoning Law
Tier 2 for Government Relations Practice
Tier 3 for Administrative / Regulatory Law
Manchester
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
Tier 1 for Construction Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 1 for Government Relations Practice
Tier 1 for Land Use and Zoning Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Construction
Tier 1 for Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier 1 for Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Tier 1 for Litigation - Real Estate
Tier 1 for Real Estate Law
Tier 2 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 2 for Commercial Finance Law
Tier 2 for Energy Law
Tier 2 for Environmental Law
Tier 2 for First Amendment Law
Tier 2 for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Tier 3 for Health Care Law
Tier 3 for Nonprofit / Charities Law
Tier 3 for Trusts and Estates
Portland-ME
Tier 1 for Administrative / Regulatory Law
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Construction Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Employment Law - Management
Tier 1 for Energy Law
Tier 1 for Franchise Law
Tier 1 for Land Use and Zoning Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier 1 for Litigation - Construction
Tier 1 for Litigation - Real Estate
Tier 1 for Municipal Law
Tier 1 for Nonprofit / Charities Law
Tier 1 for Project Finance Law
Tier 1 for Real Estate Law
Tier 1 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 1 for Tax Law
Tier 2 for Arbitration
Tier 2 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 2 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier 2 for Health Care Law
Tier 2 for Labor Law - Management
Tier 2 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 3 for Energy Regulatory Law
Tier 3 for Environmental Law
Tier 3 for Mediation
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate Practice
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
- Construction Law
- Corporate Compliance Law
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- Economic Development Law
- Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Employment Law - Individuals
- Employment Law - Management
- Energy Law
- Energy Regulatory Law
- Environmental Law
- Franchise Law
- Government Relations Practice
- Health Care Law
- Labor and Employment Law - Management
- Labor Law - Management
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - First Amendment
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
- Municipal Law
- Nonprofit / Charities Law
- Oil and Gas Law
- Project Finance Law
- Real Estate Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Tax Law
- Technology Law
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. has 43 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in
America®.
By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings.
For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards.
Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Main Location
Portland,
ME
West Tower
100 Middle Street
P.O. Box 9729
Portland, ME 04104-5029
United States
207-774-1200
Call our Portland, ME location at 207-774-1200
Get Directions
Get directions to our Portland, ME location
Office Locations
Augusta,
ME
45 Memorial Circle PO Box 5057
Augusta, ME 04332-5057
United States
207-623-1596
Call our Augusta, ME location at 207-623-1596
Get Directions
Get directions to our Augusta, ME location
Manchester,
NH
Jefferson Mill Building, Suite 108
670 North Commercial Street
P.O. Box 1120
Manchester, NH 03105-1120
United States
603-623-8700
Call our Manchester, NH location at 603-623-8700
Get Directions
Get directions to our Manchester, NH location
Management and Personnel
Chief Executive Officer
Joan Fortin