Labor Relations •Employment Law • Business Litigation

Trusted Advisor to Management Since 1962



Peter Bennett, Esquire
pbennett@thebennettlawfirm.com

 

EXPERIENCE:

 

1992 to Present

The Bennett Law Firm, P.A., Portland, Maine
Firm President
Practice of Labor and Employment Relations Law and Litigation

1988 to 1992

The Bennett Law Firm, P.A., Portland, Maine
Firm Member
Practice of Labor and Employment Relations Law and Litigation

1985 to 1988

Fulbright & Jaworski, Houston, Texas
Associate Attorney
Practice of Labor and Employment Relations Law and Litigation

 

 

EDUCATION:

Phillips Academy (cum laude, 1978)
Harvard University (A.B., cum laude, 1982)
Boston University (J.D., cum laude, 1985; M.B.A., 1986)

 

 

PROFESSIONAL HONORS:

Best Lawyers in America
Chambers USA
Boston University School of Law Silver Shingle Award for Service to the Profession
ABA TIPS Public Service Honor Roll
A-V Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
New England Super Lawyers 2007
Who’s Who (Various Publications)

 

 

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar
(ranked 1st in third year law school class of 425 students)
Liacos Scholar
(second year of law school)
John Harvard Scholarship
(Junior year of college)
Harvard Scholarship
(awarded twice, Sophomore and Senior years of college)

 

 

ADMISSIONS:

U.S. Supreme Court – 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit – 1992
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit – 1987
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit – 1986
U.S. District Court, District of Maine – 1987
U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire – 2007
U.S. District Court, District of Texas, Southern and Western - 1985
Maine - 1987
New Hampshire - 2007
Massachusetts – 2007
Texas – 1985

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

Maine State Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
New Hampshire Bar Association
State Bar of Texas (inactive)

 

American Bar Association
  • Chair, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2007 –
  • Chair Elect, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2006 – 2007
  • ABA Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, 2006 –
  • Executive/Administrative Committee, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2003 –
  • Vice-Chair, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2005- 2006
  • Section Officers' Conference, Member, 2003--; Executive Committee, 2004-2005
  • Council Member, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2000—
  • Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2005 – 2006
  • Secretary, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2003-2005
  • Task Force on Leadership – Diversity Initiative, 2005 –
  • Fall Meeting Arrangements Chair, 2004-2005
  • Scholarship Board, Member, 2001-2002
  • Committee on Employment Law & Litigation, Chair, 1993-1995, Chair Elect, 1992-1993, Vice Chair, 1989-1992 and 1995--
  • Public Relations Committee, Chair, 1995-1997, Member and Chair-Elect, 1994-1995
  • Membership Committee, Chair, 1998-2000, Member and Chair Elect, 1997-1998
  • Family Life Committee, Chair, 1997-1999
  • Task Force on Strategic Alliances, Member at various times
  • Task Force on Law Student Involvement, Member at various times
  • Continuing Legal Education Board, Member at various times
  • Communications Coordinating Group, Member at various times
  • Financial Committee, Member at various times including currently
  • Electronic Media Coordinating Group, Member in past
  • Member, Labor Law and Law Practice Management Sections
The International Society of Primerus Law Firms, Director, 2000-2007; Regional Vice-President, 2000 – 2005, Charter Member, 1998-Present
Boston University School of Law, Board of Visitors, 2003 --; Alumni Association President, 2002-2003; President-Elect, 2001-2002; Vice-President, 2000-2001; Treasurer, 1999-2000; Executive Committee, 1997--, Member
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America: Member, 1983-1996. (Young Lawyers Advisory Committee, 1991-1996; Employment Rights Section Executive Committee, 1993-1996)
Maine Trial Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
Million Dollar Advocates Forum

TEACHING:

 

 

Faculty, University of Southern Maine Department of Continuing Education for Business, Personnel Law, 1989-- present; Employee and Labor Relations, 1995--present
Faculty, American Institute of Banking, Portland and Kennebunk, Maine, Personnel Law, 1990
Guest Lecturer, Hotel and Hospitality Industry, Southern Maine Technical College, Personnel Law, 1993-1998
Guest Lecturer, University Maine School of Law, Employment Litigation, 1995

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

 

 

Portland Stage Company (Board of Trustees, 2006--)

Ingraham (Member, Board of Directors, 2003-- )
St. Joseph's Manor (Board of Trustees, 1994-2003; President, 1996-1998; President-Elect, 1995-1996; Treasurer, 2001-2003)
Junior Achievement of Maine, Inc. (Board of Trustees, 1992-2001)

SEMINARS, SPEECHES
AND PRESENTATIONS:

 

 

March 6, 2008, Phoenix, AZ, Welcome Remarks at ABA TIPS Conference, "Masters of the Courtroom: A Display of Innovative and Proven Trial Techniques"

I have given over 150 legal presentations in 19 states. The following is a partial list of seminars, speeches and presentations that I have conducted:

September 7, 2007, Chicago, Illinois, Facilitator, ABA Section Officers Conference,, “Effective Relations with Section Staff”

August 11, 2007, San Francisco, California, ABA Annual Meeting, Remarks honoring Robert Cartwright, Jr. at the Pursuit of Justice Reception

August 10, 2007, San Francisco, California, ABA Annual Meeting, “Why Be Active in the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section?”

May 23, 2006, South Portland, Maine, “Employment Law from A to Z”

January 6, 2006, Boston, MA, “Mental Disabilities Pose Challenge for Litigants Under ADA” (Labor and Employment Relations Association Conference)

December 2, 2005, “The Legal Issues Managing Difficult Employees in the Workplace” (Maine Association of Payroll Professionals)

September 14, 2005, “Maine FMLA Update 2005”

May 24, 2005, Portland, Maine, “Employment Law from A to Z”

July 20, 2004, Portland, Maine, “Human Resource Audits in Maine”
June 9-11, 2004, South Portland, Maine, “Twelfth Annual New England Payroll Conference”
May 25, 2004, South Portland, Maine, “Employment Law from A to Z in Maine”
November 19-21, 2003, Chicago, Illinois, “National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference & Exhibit”
July 22-24, 2003, Hyannis, Massachusetts, “Twenty-Third Annual National Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Medicine Seminar”
June 12, 2003, Portland, Maine, “Employment Law – From Case Intake to Trial,” (Maine State Bar Association)
May 29, 2003, Portland, Maine, “Hiring and Firing in Maine – How to do it Right!”
January 3, 2003, Washington, D.C., “When Zero Tolerance Makes Zero Sense: An Employer’s Perspective,” (The Industrial Relations Research Association)
December 6, 2002, Augusta, Maine, “Overview of Maine and Federal Statutes Governing Employee Leaves of Absence,” (Maine Association of Payroll Professionals)
December 3, 2002, Portland, Maine, “Preventing and Defending Sexual Harassment Claims in Maine”
August 10, 2002, Washington, D.C., “Violence in the Workplace: How to Predict and Prevent It While Protecting Employee Rights,” (ABA Annual Meeting; Labor and Employment Law Section)
July 31, 2002, Portland, Maine, “Employment Law Update in Maine: What Human Resource Professionals and Their Legal Counsel Need to Know – NOW!”
June 5, 2002, Portland, Maine, “Employee Handbooks in Maine: Drafting and Enforcing Sound Procedures and Policies”
March 1, 2002, New York, New York, “Restoring Professionalism to the Profession,” (American Bar Association; 2d Circuit Meeting of Law Student Division as Representative from TIPS)
December 5, 2001, Westbrook, Maine, “Human Resource Conference,” (Maine Credit Union League)
November 9, 2001, Atlanta, Georgia, “Handling Employee Misconduct Caused by a Disability,” (American Bar Association National Program Co-Sponsored by TIPS and Labor and Employment Law Section. Served as Program Co-Chair)
November 6, 2001, Portland, Maine, “Advanced Issues in Maine Employment Law”
September 22, 2001, Rockport, Maine, “Employment Law Update” (Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel - Fall Meeting)
August 5, 2001, Chicago, Illinois, “Employee Misconduct and the Americans with Disabilities Act,” (American Bar Association 2001 Annual Meeting)
July, 2001, Portland, Maine, “Bringing Professionalism Back to the Legal Profession,” (Kiwanis Club)
January 25, 2001, Rockland, Maine, “Litigating Sexual Harassment Cases: Tips and Twists,” (Maine State Bar Association) (Moderator)
July 8, 2000, New York, New York, “How to Find a Job,” (American Bar Association; 2000 Annual Meeting Law Student Division Luncheon as Representative from TIPS)
June 21, 2000, Manchester, New Hampshire, “Employment Law Conference 2000,” (Associated Grocers of New England)
April 7, 2000, South Portland, Maine, “Employment Law & Litigation,” (Maine Trial Lawyers Association)
January 26, 2000, South Portland, Maine, “Maine Employment and Labor Law for Non-Profit Organizations”
October 29, 1999, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Contemporary Issues in Human Resources and Employment Law, “Bullet Proofing Your Business from Employment Law Claims”
June 23-24, 1999, Westbrook, Maine, “Human Resource Conference,” (Maine Credit Union League)
April 8-10, 1999, Chicago, Illinois, American Bar Association Second Annual National Institute on the Americans with Disabilities Act (Faculty and Co-Chair)

 December 17, 1998, Boston, Massachusetts, “Bullet-Proofing Clients from Sexual Harassment Claims,” (Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.)
October 22-23, 1998, Boston, Massachusetts, “Emerging Issues in Employment Discrimination Litigation,” (American Bar Association: TIPS)
August 2, 1998, Toronto, Canada, “Trial Demonstration of a Workplace Electronic Monitoring Invasion of Privacy Case,” (ABA Annual Meeting)
July 29, 1998, Presque Isle, Maine, “How to Prepare Your Company Against a Unionization Campaign” (Northeast Society for Human Resource Management)
January 22-24, 1998, New Orleans, Louisiana, ABA First Annual National Institute on the Americans with Disabilities Act (Co-Chair and Faculty)
October 9, 1997, Presque Isle, Maine “Employment Law and Human Resources Conference,” (Northeast Society for Human Resource Management)
June 19, 1996, Portland, Maine, “Employment Law and Human Resource Megaconference”
January 30, 1996, “A Supervisor’s Guide to Employment Practices,” (Maine Health Care Association)
September 23, 1994, Portland, Maine, “Maintaining Non-Union Status in the Nineties and Beyond,” (American College of Health Care Administrators)
October 27, 1993, Augusta, Maine, “Labor and Employment Law,” (Maine State Bar Association, 1993 Legal Year in Review)
November 3, 1992, Presque Isle, Maine, “How to Make Good Hiring Decisions Without Running Afoul of the Law,” “Americans with Disabilities Act” and “Modern Approaches to Maintaining Non-Union Status” (Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce)
August 12, 1992, San Francisco, California, “Final Argument for the Employer in an Americans With Disabilities Act Trial” (American Bar Association; Annual Meeting TIPS Program)
April 10, 1992, Portland, Maine, “Representing Employers Before the Maine Human Rights Commission and in Court” (University of Maine School of Law)
March 10, 1992, South Portland, Maine, Employment Law Issues in the Hospitality Industry (Southern Maine Technical College)
September 7, 1991, Rockport, Maine, “Contemporary Issues in Employment Law” and “Maintaining Non-Union Status” (New Hampshire Motor Transport Association)
September 4, 1991, Augusta, Maine, “Contemporary Strategies for Maintaining Non-Union Status”
March 28, 1991, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, “Strategies for Avoiding Unionization and Employment Litigation in Tough Economic Time”
January 25, 1991, Bangor, Maine, “Compensation and Benefit Trends in Tough Economic Times”
December 5, 1990, Concord, New Hampshire, “Hiring; Discipline and Discharge; Sexual Harassment” (New Hampshire Beer Distributors)
July 26, 1990, Bethel, Maine, “Hiring and Discipline/Discharge” (Maine Transit Association)

PUBLICATIONS:

 

Author:

 

 

“Inside the Minds:  Domestic and International Litigation Strategies”, Aspatore Books, 2007
“Defamation Claims Arising Out of the Employment Relationship,” 33 Tort and Insurance Law Journal 857 (1998)
“Mediating or Arbitrating an Employment Discrimination Claim,” Employment Discrimination Litigation: Developments and Strategies, American Bar Association, 2000
“Supreme Court Defines Employer’s Liability for Sexual Harassment,” TortSource, 1998
“Direct Examination of the Defendant,” The Practical Litigator, ALI-ABA, 1999
“Direct Examination of the Defendant in a Wrongful Discharge Action,” Litigating the Employment Tort Case: A Guide for Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys, American Bar Association, 1995

Contributing Author and Editor:

 

 

Guide to Equal Employment Practices, Warren Gorham & Lamont, 1998

Contributing Author:

 

 

Bullet Proofing Clients From Sexual Harassment Claims, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 1998
“Foreword,” Litigating the Sexual Harassment Case: A Guide for Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys, American Bar Association, 1994

Editor:

 

 

Insurance Coverage of Employment Disputes, American Bar Association, 1996


PRIMERUS FIRM PROFILE
121 Middle Street, Suite 300
P.O. Box 7799
Portland, Maine, 04112-7799
Tel: 207-773-4775
Fax: 207-774-2366
Email: lawyers@thebennettlawfirm.com
Copyright © 2001 The Bennett Law Firm, P.A.