For Immediate Release
July 05, 2005

Contact:
Rand Ardell
(207) 774-1200
Beryl Wolfe
(207) 883-6083
E-mail: beryl@wolfenews.com
Web Site: http://www.bssn.com

Bernstein Shur has expanded its Real Estate Law Practice Group with the addition of attorney Richard W. Smith, formerly Vice President, State Manager, and Counsel for Ticor Title Insurance Company in Portland.

A resident of Falmouth, Smith has more than 30 years in law and real estate and will practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate acquisition, divestiture, leasing, and complex title problems at Bernstein Shur.

Originally from Bath, Maine, Smith is a 1969 graduate of Bowdoin College and a 1973 graduate of the Boston University School of Law.

In recent years, Smith has been appointed by the Superior Court to serve as a Referee in real estate cases and has also been approved as an expert witness in real estate and title insurance matters. Smith also is a long-time member of the Title Standards Committee of the Real Estate Section of the Maine Bar Association and is a frequent lecturer at Bar Association and privately sponsored seminars on title, boundary, and title insurance topics.

“Rick has a thorough understanding of real estate, title, and land use issues, and his knowledge of State policies and the law is exceptional,” said Charlie Miller, managing shareholder at Bernstein Shur. ”He will be a tremendous asset to the firm and allow us to expand our services in a number of key areas.”

Smith is a member of the legislative committee of the Maine Real Estate and Development Association, where he works toward improvements in the areas of community development, land use, and transportation policies. He was a charter member of the Maine International Trade Center and an original stakeholder in the Maine Clean Cities organization, serving on its legislative committee.

Smith also is the president and founder of the Hydrogen Energy Center and is actively involved in promoting the use of hydrogen energy. He also served as chair of a Greater Portland Council of Governments committee on Alternative Transportation Modes.

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson is one of northern New England's largest law firms with more than 80 attorneys in offices in Portland and Augusta, Maine and in Manchester, N.H. The firm provides legal services in all other major practice areas, including corporate and commercial law, litigation and trials, municipal and governmental affairs, labor and employment law, education law, construction law, and tax and estate planning. The firm also has an active practice in bankruptcy, health law, environmental law, technology and commerce, legislative law, intellectual property, public utilities, and other regulated industries. For more information, visit the Bernstein Shur web site at www.bernsteinshur.com.

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