Bernstein, Shur Hosts Germany's Consul General

Talk to be Held May 4 at Firm for Business Community

PORTLAND, Maine á Germany's Consul General, P. Christian Hauswedell, Ph.D., will address a group of Maine business leaders about opportunities in Germany and throughout Europe on May 4 in an event hosted by Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson.

Hauswedell's talk will focus on doing business in Germany and elsewhere in the European Union, and the current economic situation in that region of the world. Representatives from German businesses either currently conducting business in Maine or interested in doing so also are expected to attend.

Bernstein, Shur's International Law and Trade Practice Group is hosting the Thursday, May 4, event as a adjunct activity to Maine World Trade Day. Hauswedell's address and a reception will be held at 10 a.m. at Bernstein, Shur, located at 100 Middle Street in Portland. For more information about the event, please call (207) 774-1200.

"We want the Maine business community to become aware of business opportunities that exist in Germany and throughout the European Union," said George D. Hepner, III, co-chair of the international practice group at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, one of northern New England's largest law firms. "This event offers attendees a great chance to learn more about the region and begin to network with German businesses and others in Maine who share their interests."

Attorneys in Bernstein, Shur's 12-member International Law and Trade Practice Group advise Maine companies on doing business overseas, and also are active in assisting foreign nationals in the purchase and development of businesses in the U.S. Attorneys have recently assisted French, British, Canadian, Thai and South African companies with start-up projects in northern New England. Also, the firm has translated its award-winning web site, www.mainelaw.com, into six languages.

The practice group also counsels clients in a number of other areas of the law with international aspects, including immigration, tax, estate planning and energy law. The firm's Energy Practice Group, for example, has recently been active in energy and contract law work in countries such as the Dominican Republic and India.

Bernstein, Shur attorneys in the International Practice Group include: co-chairs George D. Hepner, III and Frederick L. Lipp, as well as Gordon F. Grimes, Philip H. Gleason, John H. Montgomery, James A. Houle, John L. Carpenter, David A. Soley, Scott E. Schul, Daniel P. Riley, Joel A. Wuesthoff and Kurt W. Adams.

BSSN is also the only Maine law firm that is a member of Lex Mundi, an international association of 151 law firms that exchange resources, legal counsel, research, office space and libraries. Through its Lex Mundi affiliation, the firm regularly acts as local counsel for the clients of foreign law firms.

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson is one of northern New England's largest law firms with more than 60 attorneys in offices in Portland and Augusta. The firm provides legal services in all major subject areas, including corporate and commercial law, litigation and trials, municipal and governmental affairs, and tax and estate planning. In addition to international law, BSSN also has an active practice in health law, environmental law, technology and e-commerce, employment law, legislative law, intellectual property, electric utilities and other regulated industries. For more information, log on to the firm's web site at www.mainelaw.com.

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NOTE to REPORTERS/EDITORS: Media are welcome
to attend the talk and reception. Please call Beryl Wolfe at 775-5115 or the law firm at 774-1200 for details.