103 Exchange Street     P.O. Box 7108     Portland, Maine   04112     207-774-1486     888-295-2981

 
 

Attorneys
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Martica S. Douglas began her practice as a trial attorney in 1977, when it was rare to see women as trial counsel in Maine’s courtrooms. She has been trying cases before Maine juries ever since. She maintains a broad-based litigation practice that includes personal injury, commercial, professional malpractice, and product liability cases. She also offers her services as a mediator in these and other areas. Ms. Douglas graduated with honors from Barnard College in New York City in 1973 and obtained her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 1977. She is a member of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and the American and Maine Bar Associations. She has served on the Maine Courts' Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence and on the editorial board of the ABA’s Tort and Insurance Practice Section’s Law Journal. Her appellate practice has resulted in numerous decisions that are now an established part of Maine jurisprudence, particularly in the area of insurance coverage.
 

 
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  Alison A. Denham practices in the state and federal courts and before the Maine Workers' Compensation Board. Her insurance defense practice includes auto, premises and products liability matters. Ms. Denham also has expertise in unusual jurisdictional and insurance coverage problems in the workers' compensation arena. Ms. Denham graduated with distinction from Wellesley College in 1978 and from the University of Maine School of Law in 1981. She is admitted to the bars of Maine and Massachusetts and is a member of the Gignoux Inn of Court. Ms. Denham is a frequent speaker at seminars on medical/legal and workers' compensation topics.
 

 
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  Deborah A. Buccina began her legal career in 1981 as an assistant District Attorney in York County, where she acquired significant trial experience and an excellent reputation with both bench and bar. She joined the firm in 1985. She practices in the areas of personal injury, general tort litigation, and workers' compensation law. Ms. Buccina graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Colby College in 1977 and obtained her law degree from the University of Maine in 1981. She is admitted to the bars of both Maine and Massachusetts as well as the United States District Court, and is a member of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.
 

 
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  Elizabeth J. Ernst specializes in all aspects of employment law. She has extensive experience with state and federal discrimination laws, including the Maine Human Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. She practices in state and federal court as well as before the Maine Human Rights Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Maine Workers' Compensation Board. Ms. Ernst also serves as a mediator in cases involving employment issues. She maintains a subspecialty in the area of adoption law. Ms. Ernst graduated from the University of New York in Buffalo and obtained her law degree at DePaul University in Chicago in 1981. She is admitted to the bars of Maine and Illinois and is the coauthor of the Maine Employers' Guide, Workers Compensation, published by Northern New England Publishers, Inc.
 

 
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  Sheilah R. McLaughlin graduated from Tufts University in 1984 with a B.A. in English and Political Science. Ms. McLaughlin earned her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 1988, when she joined the firm. She is admitted to practice before the State and Federal courts in Maine. Ms. McLaughlin practices in the areas of estate planning, Social Security disability, insurance defense, workers' compensation defense, and general civil litigation. Ms. McLaughlin resides in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

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  Christine Kennedy-Jensen graduated from Mount Holyoke College cum laude in 1996 and earned her law degree with honors from the University of Maine School of Law in 1999. Ms. Kennedy-Jensen is admitted to practice in Maine and Federal Courts. While in law school, Ms. Kennedy-Jensen served as President of the Women's Law Association and was a student attorney in the criminal division of the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic. She practices in the areas of criminal law, medical malpractice, family law and civil litigation.

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  John M. Ney, Jr.
has been a trial attorney in Portland since 2003. Mr. Ney graduated from Assumption College in 1991, Boston University, magna cum laude in 1994 and earned his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 2002. Mr. Ney is admitted to practice in Maine and Federal Courts. While in law school, Mr. Ney was a student attorney with the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic representing clients primarily in family law and civil matters. Mr. Ney’s practice is in the areas of criminal law, family law and civil litigation. He also is a member of the Maine Bar Journal Editorial Advisory Committee and Maine State and Cumberland County Bar Associations.

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