The Firm

Deliberately Different.

We came together because we wanted to build a different kind of law firm. We looked around the legal landscape and saw firms following stuffy traditions and preset rules, staying in the lines and abiding by what they were “supposed” to do. But we envisioned redrawing the lines and setting new precedents, giving clients the kind of creative and forward-thinking law firm that they need.

We’re proud to say that’s exactly what we did. When we opened our doors, we were a small group of litigators, lobbyists and corporate lawyers with big ideas. Today, we have more than 100 lawyers across New England bringing new approaches and innovative solutions to all major fields of law. And as our communities and culture evolve, so do we. We carve out new areas of law where before none existed.

Some may say we’re a little rebellious, and we’re good with that. Because that’s exactly what the model we had in mind is all about. We set out not to help our clients best conform to the law, but to reshape laws and longstanding conventions and define new solutions and new ways to serve our clients.

What does doing things differently look like? Well, if we bump up against an unreasonable or outdated law, we go to the legislature and get the law changed. If we’re facing restrictive precedents, we craft new arguments and creatively reset the course of a case. If a client has a problem that extends beyond the law, we pair our legal strategy with strategic communications tools to reframe the narrative.

We enjoy what we do, and we can say with confidence that we’re good at what we do. We’ve earned that confidence. And we hope you’ll bring us your business goals so we can help you achieve them and earn your confidence. Together, we can continue to chart a new course.

Deliberate.

“Nostalgia’s supposed to make me say, ‘We had no idea how much we would accomplish, how big we would grow,’ but that’s just not true. We had big aspirations, important goals, and we are now exactly the firm we wanted to be.”

Harold Pachios, Founding Partner
Different.

“We’re about 45 years old—in the law firm world, that’s young. And our approach really embodies the best characteristics of youth. Bold, daring, limitless, not taking no for an answer, fueled by the idea that you can do anything you want to do.”

David Van Slyke, Managing Partner

Firm Highlights

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...