Atty. David A. Soley

Atty. David A. Soley

David Soley leads Bernstein Shur’s Real Estate Litigation Group, is the author of the American Bar Association’s nationally acclaimed Real Estate Litigation Handbook and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Real Estate Litigation. Mr.

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Profile Summary

About David A. Soley at a glance

David A. Soley is a business, real estate, estate litigation, and litigation attorney based in Portland, Maine, practicing at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA. Admitted to practice in Maine, State of Maine, Georgia, State of Georgia, Maryland, State of Maryland, and District of Columbia, District of Columbia. Educated at Emory University (JD, 1984) and Bates College (BA, 1980). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Real Estate (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate Law (2026). Serands clients in Portland, ME and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • David Soley leads Bernstein Shur’s Real Estate Litigation Group, is the author of the American Bar Association’s nationally acclaimed Real Estate Litigation Handbook and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Real Estate Litigation
  • Mr. Soley concentrates his practice in the areas of business, real estate and constitutional litigation
  • He regularly represents entrepreneurs and property owners in disputes over boundaries, titles, easements, mortgage priorities, partitions, purchase and sale agreements and other real estate issues
  • Mr. Soley spent four years as a trial lawyer in Washington D.C. before returning to Maine
  • Over the course of more than thirty-six years as a trial lawyer, Mr. Soley has specialized in complex litigation involving some of the largest companies in the United States and Europe
  • He routinely handles trials in federal and state courts, and has litigated high profile constitutional cases involving drug testing, pregnancy testing, mandatory jury fees, congressional term limits, prison headgear policies, ebola quarantines, no-contact policies applied to suspected victims of domestic violence, and the right of jail inmates to receive prescribed medications
  • He has also co-authored the ABA’s “The Trial Lawyer’s Guide to Success and Happiness. ”Every case is different and comes with distinct challenges in problem solving and achieving success
  • Mr. Soley thrives on mastering the facts, understanding and appreciating the needs of his clients and vigorously delivering successful and innovative results
  • David is also very experienced in: The acquisition, financing and rehabilitation of real estate and, in his spare time, is active in acquiring and improving commercial buildings and properties in the Greater Portland area

Practice Areas Explained

David A. Soley's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases David A. Soley handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

David A. Soley is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Maine →

Real Estate Law

Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.

David A. Soley is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Maine →

Estate & Trust Litigation

David A. Soley is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in Maine →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

David A. Soley is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Maine →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Maine

Practicing law in Maine. Legal matters in Maine are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Portland are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Maine state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Maine brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Maine courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Maine attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Portland or all attorneys in Maine.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about David A. Soley

Where is David A. Soley's law office located?
David A. Soley's law practice is located in Portland, Maine. The firm is Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does David A. Soley handle?
David A. Soley focuses on business, real estate, estate litigation, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Maine.
Where did David A. Soley go to law school?
David A. Soley earned their education at (JD, 1984); (BA, 1980).
How can I contact David A. Soley for a consultation?
You can contact David A. Soley directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has David A. Soley received?
David A. Soley's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Real Estate; Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate Law; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation.

Education

JD
Emory University
- 1984
BA
Bates College
- 1980

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Real Estate
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — John Gilbert Gornall International Studies Award
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Real Estate, Portland (ME)
- 2022

Bar Admissions

Maine, State of Maine
Georgia, State of Georgia
Maryland, State of Maryland
District of Columbia, District of Columbia

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