New officers to head the Maine State Bar Association

AUGUSTA — The votes have been counted, and the 3,000 members of the Maine State Bar Association have a new slate of officers and board members for 2008, headed by President Brett D. Baber of Veazie. He replaces Peter B. Lafond of Portland.

A 1982 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern Maine and a 1985 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Maine School of Law, Baber is employed at the Bangor law firm of Lanham & Blackwell and practices insurance, personal injury and employment law. He recently received training as a mediator and has served as a neutral in various cases within his fields of practice. He also provides legal services through the University of Maine Student Government legal clinic, and has been the public address announcer for the University of Maine women’s basketball, football and hockey teams. He is admitted to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the U. S. District Court for the District of Maine and all Maine state courts.

Baber told MSBA members he hopes to focus his presidency on accomplishing four goals this year: promoting implementation of the Justice Action Group’s Access to Justice plan, honoring Maine lawyers who have served in the theaters of combat in the Middle East, coordinating joint efforts with county bar associations to enrich the professional lives of Maine lawyers, and to improve the Association’s finances to enhance the MSBA’s services to members.
Brett D. Baber
The association’s new president elect, who steps up from vice president, is Virginia E. Davis of China, a lawyer in the Augusta offices of Preti Flaherty, where she focuses her practice on environmental law issues. She graduated from Skidmore College and earned a master's degree at the University of Denver. She graduated cum laude from Seton Hall Law School in 1974.
Virginia E. Davis
The association’s new vice president is Geraldine G. Sanchez, of the Portland law firm of Pierce Atwood LLP, where she maintains a nationwide trial and litigation practice and represents clients regularly in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University (1987) and a juris doctorate from Columbia Law School.
Geraldine G. Sanchez

Robert Marden returns as the association’s treasurer. He practices primarily real estate law, estate planning and probate law at the Waterville firm of Marden Dubord Bernier & Stevens. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maine and his law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Robert Marden
Other members of the MSBA’s 2008 board of governors, new and returning, are:

Robert Conkling is a lawyer at the Skowhegan firm of Wright & Mills, where he focuses on appellate work and commercial matters, estate planning for the elderly, family law and criminal defense work. After completing undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University, he received master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago and graduated with honors from the University of Maine School of Law.

Edward L. Dilworth III of Norway.

David A. Dunlavy.
Diane Dusini of Portland is a lawyer at the Portland firm of Mittel Asen, where her practice focuses on family law and specifically the tax and business implications of divorce. She is certified by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts as a certified divorce planner, and periodically teaches family law at the University of Maine School of Law.
Judson Esty-Kendall of Orono is the northern regional managing attorney for Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc. in Bangor. In addition to his managerial responsibilities he maintains a general practice in poverty law issues with a focus on housing and Social Security law. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard and his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.
Judson Esty-Kendall
Peter C. Felmly of Yarmouth is an associate in the litigation department in the Portland firm of Drummond Woodsum & MacMahon, handling a variety of employment, civil rights and school matters. He received his undergraduate degree from Colby College and his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.  
Peter C. Felmly
Keith R. Jacques is a partner at the Saco firm of Smith Elliott Smith & Garmey PA, where his practice includes arbitration and mediation, commercial and corporate law, construction law, education law, medical malpractice, municipal and administrative law, personal injury, product liability, and zoning and land use. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville, Tenn.
Keith R. Jacques
Phillip E. Johnson is a partner in the Augusta law firm of Johnson & Webbert, LLP.  A trial lawyer, he concentrates in aviation litigation, employment law and litigation, business litigation, personal injury litigation, legal ethics and legal malpractice. He is the former chair of the Professional Ethics Commission of the Board of Overseers of the Bar, and he is a frequent author and lecturer on legal ethics.  He graduated from Miami University in Ohio in 1972 and from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1975.
David Levesque of Newcastle practices general civil law with concentrations in taxation, real estate and estate planning from his office in Damariscotta. He is president of the Lincoln County Bar Association and also serves on the boards of the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce and the University of Southern Maine Alumni Association. He serves on the governing council of the American Bar Association’s general practice, solo and small firm division. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Southern Maine and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law.
David Levesque
Jeffrey Lovit lives and practices law in Milbridge as a sole practitioner. He is a graduate of MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill. and Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Mo.
Patricia A. Peard is a partner at Bernstein Shur in Portland, where she heads the firm’s labor and employment practice group and practices in all areas of employment and labor law with a special emphasis on the needs of colleges, universities, and private secondary schools.  She has a bachelor’s degree from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.
Patricia A. Peard

Steven C. Peterson practices law in West Rockport.
William D. Robitzek is a partner and trial lawyer at Berman Simmons in Lewiston, focusing his practice on personal injury, professional malpractice, complex litigation including business torts, anti-trust, and class actions. As a frequent participant and moderator at MSBA seminars, his topics typically include evidence, deposition taking, trial tactics, openings and closings, and medical malpractice. He is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Bar’s professional ethics committee. He is a graduate of Williams College and Boston University School of Law. 
Anne-Marie L. Storey is a partner in the Bangor law firm of Rudman & Winchell. She is a member of the board of directors of the Bangor Area Chamber of Commerce and is president of the board of directors of the Bangor Humane Society, and also serves on the Advisory Committee on the Maine Rules of Evidence. Chambers & Partners USA lists her as a leading business lawyer in employment law in Maine. She graduated from Middlebury College and Vermont Law School, cum laude, and was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand.
David S. Wakelin is a partner at Wakelin, Hallock & O'Donovan LLP in Portland, and has practiced ERISA and employee benefits law for 32 years, including five years as an associate and five years as a partner at the Portland law firm of Pierce Atwood, and two years as president of the Portland investment firm of H.M. Payson & Company. He lectures regularly on employee benefit and ERISA matters in Maine and New England. He is a graduate with distinction of Dartmouth College and a cum laude graduate of Boston University School of Law.
David S. Wakelin