Atty. Peter Bennett
Recipient - Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar (1985 - 1st in class of 425 law students); Paul Liacos Scholar (1984); John Harvard Scholarship (1981); Harvard Scholarship (1980 & 1982). 2012 AV® Preeminent Attorney Rating in Labor & Employment Law; The Nation's Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys; Primerus International Society of Lawyers; College of Labor and Employment Lawyers; Fellow, American Bar Foundation, State of Maine Chair; Best Lawyers in America; Chambers USA; Boston University School of Law Silver Shingle Award for Service to the Profession; Fellow, Tort Trial and In
Collective Bargaining & More Attorney · Serving Portland, ME · 41+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Peter Bennett at a Glance
Peter Bennett is a President and Treasurer based in Portland, Maine, practicing at The Bennett Law Firm, P.A.. They have 41+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1985. Their practice focuses on employment, ip, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Texas (1985), U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1986), Maine (1987), and U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (1987). Educated at Harvard University (Bachelor, 1982). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Portland, ME and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from Peter Bennett in Portland
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About Peter Bennett
- Recipient - Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar (1985 - 1st in class of 425 law students)
- Paul Liacos Scholar (1984)
- John Harvard Scholarship (1981)
- Harvard Scholarship (1980 & 1982). 2012 AV® Preeminent Attorney Rating in Labor & Employment Law
- The Nation's Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys
- Primerus International Society of Lawyers
- College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation, State of Maine Chair
- Best Lawyers in America
- Chambers USA
- Boston University School of Law Silver Shingle Award for Service to the Profession
- Fellow, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Foundation
- ABA TIPS Public Service Honor Roll
- A-V Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- New England Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers National Business Edition
- Who's Who (Various Publications)
- Faculty, University of Southern Maine Department of Continuing Education for Business, Personnel Law, 1989-2009
- Employee and Labor Relations, 1995-2009
- 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
- Author - "A Strategic Approach to Employment Cases in the Courtroom" in "Inside the Minds: Courtroom Strategies", Aspatore Books, 2008
- "Adding Real Value for the Client" in "Inside the Minds: Domestic and International Litigation Strategies: Leading Lawyers on Trial Preparation, Risk Assessment, and Best Practices for Prosecution and Defense", 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
- National Judicial College •Chair, 2019 – •Treasurer and Trustee, 2014 – American Bar Association •House of Delegates, Maine State Delegate, 2018 – •Vice-Chair, Cybersecurity Task Force, 2017-2018 •AEFC Pension Plan Administration Committee, Chair, 2017 – •AEFC Pension Plan Administration Committee, Member, 2016 – •Liaison, ABA Commission on the American Jury Project, 2015 – 2016 •Standing Committee on the American Judicial System, Special Advisor, 2014 – •Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, 2006 – 2014, Chair, 2011 – 2014 •Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, ex officio 2011 – 2014 •Justice Center Coordinating Council, Member 2011 – 2014 •Presidential Task Force on Federal Agency Preemption of State Tort Laws, 2009 – 2010 •Section Officers’ Conference, Member, 2003 – 2008
- Executive Committee, 2004 – 2005 ABA Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section •Judicial Division/TIPS Task Force, Member, 2014 – 2015 •Task Force on Full Funding for Courts Initiative, Member, 2014 – 2015 •Chair, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2007 – 2008 •Chair Elect, 2006 – 2007 •Vice-Chair, Tort, 2005 – 2006 •Secretary, 2003 – 2005 •Executive/Administrative Committee, 2003 – 2009 •Council Member, 2000 – 2009 •Task Force on Leadership Diversity Initiative, Member 2006 –
- Dean, 2009 – 2010 •Past-TIPS Chairs Roundtable Caucus & Task Force, 2012 – •ABA TIPS Standing Committee, Member, 2008 – •Long Range Planning Committee, Chair, 2005 – 2006
- Member 2010 – 2011 •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 & Chair-Elect, 1994 – 1995 •Membership Committee, Chair, 1998 – 2000
- Member & 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 •Communications Coordinating Group, Member at various times •Financial Committee, Member at various times, including currently •Electronic Media Coordinating Group, Member in past Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section Foundation Director, 2012 – Fellow, 2010 – American Bar Foundation Maine State Chair, 2010 – 2017 Life Fellow (Membership Limited to 1% of the State’s Lawyers) Fair Courts Advisory Committee Member, 2011 – 2014
Practice Areas Explained
Peter Bennett's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Peter Bennett handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Portland.
Employment Law in Portland
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Peter Bennett is one of 167,770 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Maine →
Intellectual Property in Portland
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Peter Bennett is one of 105,285 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Maine →
Civil Litigation in Portland
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Peter Bennett is one of 450,751 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Maine →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Portland
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 venue, 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.
Portland Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Portland-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Maine attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Portland or all attorneys in Maine.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About Peter Bennett
Where is Peter Bennett's law office located?
What practice areas does Peter Bennett handle?
How long has Peter Bennett practiced law?
Where did Peter Bennett go to law school?
How can I contact Peter Bennett for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Peter Bennett received?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Portland Choose Peter Bennett
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Peter Bennett's practice in the field of employment, ip, and litigation.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Peter Bennett brings 41+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and Maine, Peter Bennett can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering employment, ip, and litigation, Peter Bennett can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Portland
A Portland-based practice means Peter Bennett attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Peter Bennett Handles in Portland
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Peter Bennett has experience with under Maine law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Peter Bennett directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Search Reference
How People Find Peter Bennett Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Portland commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Peter Bennett.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Peter Bennett directly.
Peter Bennett's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Awards & Professional Honors
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Peter Bennett
No reviews yet.