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

Publication

FRBP 9006 Doesn't Take Vacations

Bodie Colwell of Preti Flaherty’s Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy Group, has authored the article "FRBP 9006 Doesn't Take Vacations," appearing in the October 2023 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute's Young & New Members Committee newsletter...

Press Coverage

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

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...

News

David Van Slyke Reappointed by Governor Mills to New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission

Van Slyke is one of five Commissioners from the state of Maine overseeing NEIWPCC PORTLAND—Preti Flaherty’s Managing Partner, David Van Slyke, has been reappointed by Governor Janet T. Mills to the New England Interstate...

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

Remembering Preti Flaherty Founder Robert F. Preti

We at Preti Flaherty are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our founding partners and longtime friend, Robert Preti. Bob was not just a part of our firm; he was a part...

Publication

Maine Workers’ Compensation Update - November 2023

The following is an overview of developments with respect to proposed legislation as well as new procedures on independent contractor determinations, medical fee schedule updates, and the use of updated Board forms, including medical...

Event

Eric Osterberg Presents Webinar on IP Rights and Infringement With Podcasts and Livestreaming

Eric Osterberg joins a panel of industry experts to present “IP Rights and Infringement With Podcasts and Livestreaming.” The panel focuses on guiding intellectual property counsel on the IP issues that arise when creating...

News

Preti Flaherty Welcomes Employment Law Attorney Brooke K. Haley to the Firm

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce that attorney Brooke K. Haley has joined the firm’s Employment Law Practice Group as a Partner. Brooke will work primarily from the firm’s Portland office. Brooke’s practice centers...

Press Coverage

Bangor Releases Unredacted Files on Effort to Close Homeless Encampment

Following a five-month effort by local media, represented by attorney Sigmund Schutz, chair of Preti Flaherty's Media Law Practice Group, the City of Bangor finally released unredacted records related to its attempts to close a...