Practice Focus

Business Law, Real Estate and Local Government, Land Conveyancing and Small Estate Planning

Biography

Michael J. Gentile is a skilled negotiator and expert in Maine process and development. He has consistently been in the forefront of significant business acquisitions and exit strategies for large land holding entities, aiding with energy projects such as small power production facilities, co-generation facilities and transmission lines. Michael also counsels in real estate transactions for land development, subdivisions, tax increment financing and local permitting. Michael has been a Partner of Preti Flaherty since its founding in 1978. He is a native of Auburn, Maine.

Representative Matters

• Represented a diverse group of clients in the purchase and sale of businesses and holdings including tracts of land, commercial buildings, cable television companies, auto dealerships and many others.
  
• Counsels the municipalities of Jay, Fayette, Vienna, Rangeley and Dixfield on environmental ordinances, solid waste ordinances, contracts and all aspects of municipal issues.
  
• Represented the owner in the sale of the hydroelectric assets of the Rumford Falls Power Co. in Rumford, Maine to an affiliate of Brookfield, formerly known as Brascan, at a purchase price in excess of $100 million. The electrical generating facility and adjancent paper mill had been operated as an integrated operation, requiring intricate real estate structuring, including shared water rights and cross-easements. The matter also involved complex contractual arrangements for the sharing of key infrastructure components during a post-sale transition period.
  
• Represented Saddleback Land & Timber Corp. following the purchase of over 8,000 acres on Saddleback Mountain in 2003. Our Real Estate Group and Land Use and Permitting Group assisted the family owners in transforming the existing ski resort into an environmentally sensitive, affordable, family-oriented vacation area. During the first phase of the project, we successfully took Saddleback’s interests before LURC and gained subdivision permits to allow additional ski trails and 54 condominium units. We continue to coordinate phase two of the project, which involves creating condominiums, house lots, drafting architectural control covenants and other aspects of achieving Saddleback’s 10-year development plan.

Professional Achievements

Listed in Woodward/White's The Best Lawyers in America 2008 edition

Previous Legal Experience

A former judge of probate for Franklin County, Michael was active in the implementation of Maine’s new Probate Code when it was adopted in 1980. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for Pine Tree Legal Assistance in Skowhegan. In 1968, his class action suit on behalf of one client resulted in a special statutory three judge Federal court (two district court judges and one appellate court judge) declaring Maine's debtor collection process unconstitutional and led to the statewide elimination of debtor prisons.

Admissions

• Admitted to practice in Maine
• Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court for nearly 30 years
• Member of the Oxford County, Franklin County and Maine State Bar Associations

Education

Michael graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in mathematics before serving as a second lieutenant and artillery officer (Nike-Hercules missiles) in the U.S. Army at Thule Air Force Base in Greenland. On his return to the United States, he worked as a computer programmer while earning his law degree at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Civic Involvement

• Former member of the Jay Planning Board
• Current member of the Maine State Bar Association’s Title Standards Committee
• Former Trustee of the Franklin Memorial Hospital, with two years as Chairman

Education
J.D., Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, 1968
B.A., University of Maine, 1963 (Math)