Business Details
45 Years
experience
Your Trusted Commercial Law Partner in Portland, Maine
Pearce & Dow is a commercial law firm established in Portland, Maine, with a legacy of providing high-quality legal counsel grounded in solid analysis and practical solutions. Our practice areas include corporate and business law, commercial real estate, bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and commercial lending. With decades of collective experience, we serve a diverse client base ranging from international banks to local businesses and individuals. Our attorneys are recognized for their expertise in complex legal matters, including debtor-creditor relations, land use, and mergers and acquisitions. We prioritize client needs while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.Our team includes attorneys with specialized roles in zoning boards and bankruptcy proceedings, ensuring comprehensive legal support. Client testimonials highlight our tireless advocacy, thoroughness, and ability to deliver results in challenging cases. We offer seminars for lending professionals and maintain strong relationships with financial institutions. Our commitment to excellence has earned us an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting our legal knowledge and ethical standards. We represent clients in all Maine state and federal courts, with experience extending across New England and the Eastern United States.
Services
Corporate Law
Commercial Real Estate
Bankruptcy Representation
Commercial Litigation
Commercial Lending
Land Use Law
Mergers and Acquisitions
Details
- Year established: 1981
Highlights and features
- Over 30 years of experience in commercial law and bankruptcy proceedings
- Recognized by Martindale-Hubbell with AV Preeminent peer rating
- Attorneys with zoning board expertise and specialized bankruptcy knowledge
- Proven track record with complex cases involving lenders and developers
- Offer free educational seminars for banking professionals
Associations and certifications
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
What people say
Outstanding attorney
Highly regarded workout firm
Top flight bankruptcy attorney
Consummate professional
Excellent lawyer
Services
Corporate and Business Law
We provide comprehensive corporate legal services for business formation, mergers, acquisitions, and ongoing operations. Our attorneys guide clients through complex transactions while maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations. With over 30 years of experience, we help businesses navigate legal challenges while protecting their interests in shareholder disputes, contract negotiations, and corporate restructuring matters.
Commercial Real Estate
Our commercial real estate practice handles transactions, zoning issues, and land use disputes. We represent developers, lenders, and property owners in complex real estate matters including condominium declarations and large-scale development projects. Attorneys with zoning board experience provide strategic guidance for clients facing permitting challenges and municipal approvals across Maine and New England.
Bankruptcy Representation
We represent creditors, debtors, and trustees in all bankruptcy proceedings including Chapter 11 reorganizations. Our team has extensive experience in preference litigation, asset sales, and creditor rights protection. With regular appearances before Maine Bankruptcy Court, we help clients achieve favorable outcomes in complex insolvency cases while minimizing financial losses through strategic legal representation.
Commercial Litigation
Our litigation practice focuses on resolving commercial disputes through courtroom advocacy and alternative dispute resolution. We handle shareholder conflicts, contract disputes, non-compete agreements, and complex commercial torts. The firm's approach emphasizes cost-effective solutions while maintaining aggressive representation to protect client interests in high-stakes litigation matters involving millions of dollars in potential recoveries.
Commercial Lending
We provide legal counsel for lenders and borrowers in complex financing transactions. Our services include loan documentation, collateral structuring, and workout agreements. With deep bankruptcy expertise, we help financial institutions avoid problematic loan structures while representing clients in secured and unsecured lending matters across diverse industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and real estate development.
People
Michael J. Pearce
Managing Partner
With over 40 years of experience, Michael Pearce specializes in banking law, real estate, and corporate matters. He has represented financial institutions in loan originations and bankruptcy proceedings, earning recognition as a top commercial attorney. His practical approach combines legal expertise with business acumen.
Joshua R. Dow
Partner
Joshua Dow focuses on bankruptcy and creditors' rights with particular expertise in Chapter 11 cases. Recognized as a top bankruptcy attorney in Maine, he combines meticulous attention to detail with effective case management strategies to achieve favorable outcomes for clients in complex insolvency matters.
Aaron P. Burns
Partner
Aaron Burns serves as chairman of his city's zoning board while representing clients in land use and real estate matters. His practice includes complex permitting issues and municipal proceedings, drawing on extensive experience with environmental regulations and development projects across diverse geographic regions.
Questions
What areas of law does Pearce, Dow & Burns specialize in?
We specialize in commercial law, including corporate transactions, real estate, bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and lending. Our attorneys have particular expertise in complex commercial disputes and debtor-creditor matters.
How long has the firm been in business?
The firm's origins date back to 1981 when Michael Pearce established the practice after working at a larger law firm, making us one of Maine's most experienced commercial law practices.
Do you represent both lenders and borrowers?
Yes, we represent financial institutions and individual borrowers in lending transactions, with particular expertise in identifying potential issues from both perspectives through our bankruptcy practice.
What makes your firm different from other law firms?
Our combination of bankruptcy expertise with transactional practice, along with attorneys serving on zoning boards, provides unique insights that benefit both litigation and deal-making for commercial clients.
Do you offer educational resources for clients?
Yes, we provide free seminars for banking professionals covering lending issues and legal developments that help financial institutions better understand potential risks in commercial transactions.
