Biography

Rick practices with the firm's Real Estate and Finance and Corporate and M&A practice groups and is the former Chair of the Corporate and M&A Practice Group. He handles all types of commercial transactions, with emphasis on buying and selling businesses, structuring business relationships, lending transactions, construction contracting, and technology procurement.

Previous Legal Experience
After receiving his law degree from Yale Law School in 1972, Rick worked in the Maine Governor's Office as Federal State Coordinator, Maine Alternate to the New England Regional Commission and Special Assistant to Governor Kenneth M. Curtis. As the governor's aide, Rick had staff responsibilities for natural resources, energy, environmental protection, economic development and Native American affairs. He served as Development Officer and General Counsel to the Maine State Housing Authority from 1975 to 1977. In 1977, he became Administrative Assistant to Governor Curtis during the governor's term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. A year later, he joined Preti Flaherty.

Professional Activities

  • Fellow, American College of Mortgage Attorneys
    • Opinions Committee
    • Legislative Committee
    • Former State Chair for Maine
    • Former Member of Board of Regents
  • Maine Bar Foundation, Former Member of Board of Directors, President and Treasurer
  • Maine Real Estate Development Association, Public Policy Committee

Honors & Recognition

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America
  • Recognized by New England Super Lawyers
  • Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale Hubbell
  • Maine Real Estate Development Association, Legislative Committee
    • Public Policy Advocacy Award, 1992
    • Founder's Award, 2002
  • Lectured on legal opinions in business transactions, eminent domain and health privacy matters

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, Inc.
    • Quality Committee
    • Former Member of Board of Directors, President and Treasurer
  • Maine Historical Society, Member
  • New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Member
  • Ohio Genealogical Society, Member

Firm Highlights

Publication

Schutz and Harriman Author Article for MLRC on Mill's Veto of Constitutionally Fraught Legislation

In an article for the Media Law Resource Center's July 2023 Media Law Letter,  Preti Flaherty attorneys Sig Schutz and Alex Harriman explore Gov. Janet Mills' recent veto of L.D. 1610, “An Act to Prohibit Campaign Spending...

Publication

How to navigate the legal side of nondisclosure agreements

Preti Flaherty attorney Kristy Abraham has authored an article for  MaineBiz  on navigating the legal side of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), outlining six questions for organizations to review before entering into a NDA.

Publication

Municipal Update: Maine Legislature Acts to Clarify Sales of Tax-Acquired Properties

Early this week, in response to the  United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in  Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota  (598 U.S. (2023)) , the Maine Legislature passed emergency legislation establishing a new process for...

Press Coverage

Maine Media Organizations Oppose Foreign Electioneering Ban

Question 2 on Maine’s November ballot asserts that corporations owned or controlled by foreign governments do not have the same rights to political speech as companies here in the U.S. and that foreign governments should be prohibited...

Press Coverage

Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Wins Public Records Dispute with York County Jail

Event

2023 Maine Employment Law Summit

For nearly 30 years, Preti Flaherty's Employment Law team has provided Maine employers with practical guidance and best practices at our annual Employment Law Summit. Join us  Thursday, October 5  for the 2023 Employment...

News

Matt Warner Named to Cannabis Law Journal Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers 2023

Preti Flaherty attorney and Cannabis Business Group member Matt Warner has been named to the list of Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers for 2023-2024. A joint publication of  Cannabis Law Report and  Cannabis Law...

News

Preti Flaherty Litigation Practice Group Adds Four New Attorneys

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce the addition of four experienced Associates to the firm’s Litigation Practice Group: Stephen Garvey, Michael Hanify, Hanna May, and Tiffany Ottenga. Stephen Garvey is a graduate of Boston...

Publication

131st Maine Legislature End of Session Update

The First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature was expected to end on June 15th or soon after. Instead, the First Regular Session ended on March 30th, and the Governor signed the “continuing services&rdquo...

News

Jeffrey Talbert Named to American College of Environmental Lawyers

Jeffrey Talbert, Chair of Preti Flaherty’s Environmental Law Group, has been invited to become a Fellow in the distinguished American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL). Membership in the premiere association of environmental lawyers is by...