Biography

Sara is a member of the firm's Real Estate and Finance and Corporate and M&A practice groups. Her practice involves business transactions, including entity formations, mergers and acquisitions, commercial finance, and general commercial law and contract issues. She provides across-the-board counseling for businesses, from start-up advice, capital raises, and debt financing to acquisition, growth, and sale of the company. 

Sara works with clients in the banking and health care industries, and advises clients in the business aspects of the rapidly evolving cannabis industry.  Her experience with complex and nuanced transactions has led to a focus on highly regulated industries and the distinct business challenges they face as they grow and change. Her clients appreciate her pragmatic guidance in navigating their regulatory challenges. Whether wrangling with new and unclear legal issues, or facing difficult and obstructive opposing counsel, Sara’s rational, patient approach defuses emotions and arrives at solutions.

Sara has extensive experience counseling financial institutions in connection with secured and unsecured lending.  She has developed particular insight and skill in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and regularly advises clients and colleagues on security interests in personal property.  Sara is also adept at commercial mortgage lending. 

Prior to joining Preti Flaherty, Sara practiced at a law firm in Maine for nine years.

Sara lives in Cumberland with her family.

Professional Activities

  • Cumberland Bar Association, past president

Honors & Recognition

  • Super Lawyers New England Rising Star for seven consecutive years, including 2020

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • City of Portland Zoning Board of Appeals, past chair
  • Maine Community Foundation, Cumberland County Fund, past chair

Firm Highlights

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...