Atty. Nelson A. Toner
Whether it’s international, federal, or state tax planning, business succession planning, or estate planning, Nelson is ready with thoughtful, practical, and effective guidance. He is eager to provide clear explanations of tax policies and help his clients swiftly and confidently navigate the tax consequences of even the most complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, tax-free exchanges, reorganizations, and municipal and private activity bond financing.
Profile Summary
About Nelson A. Toner at a glance
Nelson A. Toner is a tax attorney based in Portland, Maine, practicing at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson PA. Admitted to practice in Maine, Maine State Bar Association and Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bar Association. Educated at Case Western Reserve University (JD, 1984) and Trinity College (BS). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Tax Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Bankruptcy (2026). Serands clients in Portland, ME and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
Whether it’s international, federal, or state tax planning, business succession planning, or estate planning, Nelson is ready with thoughtful, practical, and effective guidance. He is eager to provide clear explanations of tax policies and help his clients swiftly and confidently navigate the tax consequences of even the most complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, tax-free exchanges, reorganizations, and municipal and private activity bond financing.
Nelson advises educational organizations, health care agencies, hospitals, and nonprofits on a range of tax matters, including Maine sales and use tax issues, real property tax, and public charity and private foundation status. He frequently shares his expertise at seminars for the Maine Bar Association and with law students at the University of Maine Law School as adjunct professor of estate and gift tax. In 2007, Nelson received the firm’s Barnett I. Shur Civic Award in recognition of his steadfast service to the community.
Nelson is also very experienced in:- Advising charitable organizations on private inurement and private benefit matters
- Counseling individuals on their various estate planning options, like revocable and irrevocable trusts, gift planning, family limited partnerships, and limited liability companies
Practice Areas Explained
Nelson A. Toner's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Nelson A. Toner handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt, international tax, estate planning, and tax court litigation.
Nelson A. Toner is one of 85,302 tax attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax 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.
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