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

Enforcers Make It Easy to Report Cartels

This article was originally published in the American Bar Association  Antitrust Newsletter  on February 8, 2023.  Did you know that global competition enforcers have easy-to-find websites to encourage reporting of anticompetitive conduct? Not only...

Event

Jeff Talbert to Moderate Panel on PFAS Regulatory Action at ABA Toxic Torts & Environmental Law Conference

Jeff Talbert, Chair of Preti Flaherty's Environmental Law Group, will moderate "Regulatory Action: History & Horizon" at the ABA Toxic Torts & Environmental Law Conference. This panel will discuss the 2016 EPA health advisory, the...

Publication

Maine Workers’ Compensation New Year Update 2023

The new year brings proposed legislation, an update to the Medical Fee Schedule, and two recent decisions from the Appellate Division. Proposed Legislation Workers’ compensation bill LD 53 (HP 28) would amend 39-A M.R.S.A...

News

Benchmark Litigation Names Preti Flaherty 2023 “Maine Firm of the Year”

Benchmark Litigation has named Preti Flaherty as 2023 Litigation Firm of the Year in the State of Maine. The Benchmark Awards honor distinguished litigators and law firms in all 50 states and 10 practice...

News

Attorney Jeffrey Thaler Named to 2023 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Energy Law

For the second time, Preti Flaherty attorney Jeffrey Thaler has been recognized by the esteemed legal publication Lawdragon as an elite practitioner in the field of energy law. Jeff is the only Maine-base lawyer...

Press Coverage

Authorities Refuse to Release Records for Maine School Shooter Hoax Calls

On November 15, 2022, multiple law enforcement agencies in Maine received false calls alerting police to active shooter situations at several high schools throughout the state. In the wake of this widespread hoax, the Kennebec...

Publication

FY2024 H-1B Registration Fact Sheet for Employers

Registration Process To file H-1B petitions subject to the FY2024 cap for an employee, you must first electronically register and pay a $10 fee for each electronic registration. The electronic registration includes basic information about...

Press Coverage

What’s Inside Maine Freight Trains? Public Can Only Hazard a Guess

Due to an exemption from the state's Freedom of Access Act, Maine residents are prevented from reviewing information regarding the transportation through their communities via freight trains of potentially hazardous materials. Rail industry officials...

News

Maine Lawyers and Judges Once Again Show Overwhelming Support of Campaign for Justice

2022 proved to be another challenging year for Mainers. Skyrocketing inflation, an uncertain economic future, an ongoing housing crisis and more factors continue to push more at-risk individuals into a tight spot. Maine’s civil...

Event

Bodie Colwell will be a Featured Panelist at ABI Annual Spring Meeting

Bodie Colwell will be a featured panelist on "Danger Ahead! Avoiding and Addressing Ethical Landmines in Attorney Engagement and Compensation" at the American Bankruptcy Institute's Annual Spring Meeting. The panel focuses on disputes regarding engagement...