Biography

Geoff is both an attorney and a licensed professional engineer. His practice focuses on labor and employment law, construction law and litigation involving technical and engineering issues. He counsels a number of major Maine businesses on employer-employee matters such as unionization efforts, grievance procedures, employee discipline and discrimination complaints.

He has successfully handled cases in both state and federal courts and before several state and federal administrative agencies. Recently, he spearheaded a major Portland employer's successful efforts in opposing a union's attempt to organize employees.

Geoff was formerly a civil engineer and construction troubleshooter at remote sites in Africa, South America, the Mideast and the Caribbean. He served as a consultant on many projects including dams, tank farms, power plants and pipelines and often faced the task of providing advice on resolving legal problems arising out of various projects. This led to his decision to return to the United States and attend law school.

He was born in Port Chester, New York. He graduated from Syracuse University with undergraduate degrees in forestry and engineering; later, he earned a master's degree in civil engineering.

In 1982, he graduated from the University of Maine School of Law. After his admission to the bar that same year, he became counsel to the Maine Department of Transportation and successfully brought before the Maine Supreme Court the first two major cases defining the department's potential liability under the Maine Tort Claims Act. He joined Preti Flaherty in 1984.

Professional Activities

  • Cumberland County Bar Association
  • Maine State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • American Society of Civil Engineers

Honors & Recognition

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America

Firm Highlights

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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...

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...