Our timberlands are rightly considered one of the region’s most important resources. In Maine, forests cover 89 percent of the state and contribute approximately $8.5 billion to the economy annually. Preti Flaherty has built a reputation successfully representing paper mills, saw mills, lumber companies, land management companies and industrial land owners with legal issues that are unique to the region we call home and its forest products and timberlands industries.

Leaders in Land Use

Our forest products attorneys orchestrate complex forest products and timberlands transactions and help clients secure state and federal funding. Our clients turn to us for assistance navigating a variety of issues, including:

  • Forest products and timberlands transactions including operating agreements, wood supply agreements and underwriting of timberland titles
  • Acquisitions or dispositions of mills and processing facilities, as well as timberlands in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Permitting of pulp and paper mills and associated energy assets as well as assistance in navigating state, regional and federal regulatory systems
  • Environmental permits related to air and water emissions, solid and hazardous waste issues and site law
  • Management of client energy needs and opportunities, including connecting clients with grants and incentive funding for energy projects
  • Immigration applications and appeals, Canadian work visas, H2A/H2B issues
  • Securing of financing, representation of borrowers in lending transactions, and assistance with bankruptcy and collection matters
  • Legislative and agency lobbying, campaign and strategic government relations management

Standing Side by Side in Growth

Despite the recent closure of several paper mills, the forest products industry is expanding – investments are being made in facilities, the housing market is growing, and lawmakers and large landowners are working with the industry to ensure its continued growth. At a time that is ripe with possibility, our forest products attorneys serve as a strategic partner ready to leverage opportunity and propel growth. One recent example includes working with a locally owned lumber mill and assisting with securing grants to both develop a highly-efficient, cost-cutting biomass-fueled cogeneration plant and begin a $20 million facilities expansion. We also recently assisted a paper company client in successfully overcoming the challenges of acquisition, permitting and start-up of an idled paper mill in Maine.

From mill or timberland sales and acquisitions to energy or permitting issues, Preti Flaherty attorneys fully understand the current trends in the forest products industry and work together to provide legal services reflecting that which makes this industry, these natural resources, and this region, so unique.

Firm Highlights

News

Attorney Jeffrey Thaler Named to 2024 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Energy Law

Preti Flaherty’s attorney Jeffrey Thaler has been recognized by  Lawdragon  as one of the top 500 Leaders in Energy Law. This is Jeff’s third time named to this prestigious list since the first publication...

Event

Accessing Police Misconduct Records

Preti’s Sigmund Schutz will be one of the Maine panelists in New England First Amendment Coalition’s Accessing Police Misconduct Records series. This series continues NEFAC’s freedom of information lessons and builds on the information...

News

Preti Flaherty Welcomes Trust and Estate Attorney Elise Salek to the Firm

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce that Elise Salek has joined the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. Practicing out of the firm’s Concord, New Hampshire office, Elise brings nearly three decades of experience...

Publication

November 7, 2023 Election Results

Maine’s November 2023 statewide elections were exclusively referendum questions, four were citizen initiatives, and four were proposed amendments to the Maine Constitution. Of these, Questions 5, 7 and 8 were placed on the ballot...

Publication

Helping Employers Navigate the New Independent Contractor Rule and Compliance Challenges

On March 11 th , the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) new Independent Contractor Rule goes into effect.  As your organization readies itself for compliance, it’s imperative to scrutinize your independent contractor classifications...

News

David Van Slyke Named to 2024 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law

Preti Flaherty’s Managing Partner David Van Slyke has been recognized by Lawdragon as one of the top 500 environmental lawyers in the U.S. It’s the third time he has been named to this prestigious...

Publication

Failure to Follow Your Contract's Notice Requirements Can be Costly

In Kinetic Systems, Inc. v. IPS-Integrated Projects Services, LLC et. al., No.: 20-cv-1125 (D.N.H. February 6, 2024), the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire granted summary judgment for a general contractor...

News

Benchmark Litigation Names Preti Flaherty 2024 “Maine Firm of the Year"

Benchmark Litigation has named Preti Flaherty as 2024 Litigation Firm of the Year in the State of Maine. Through extensive peer- and- client reviewed research, as well as analysis of casework; the Benchmark Awards...

Publication

USCIS Announces H-1B Registration Period for FY2025: New “Beneficiary Centric” Registration Process and Increased Fees

USCIS has recently announced a series of changes that will impact the FY2025 H-1B registration system and cap filing season. H-1B Registration Period and Organizational Accounts As in prior years, under this process, prospective petitioners...

Event

Sigmund Schutz to moderate panel at 36th Annual Media and the Law Seminar: Under Attack! Existential Threats to Journalism and Free Speech

From unlawful searches and seizures of newsrooms and highly contentious litigation to physical harassment and calls for violence online, journalists and news organizations are under attack like never before. At the 36 th Annual...