Atty. Peter Felmly
Peter Felmly advises public schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations on a broad spectrum of school, employment, and labor law issues. Peter strives to provide his clients with timely, comprehensive, and creative solutions as they navigate the complex web of statutes and regulations governing their operations.
Profile Summary
About Peter Felmly at a glance
Peter Felmly is a employment and education attorney based in Portland, Maine, practicing at Drummond Woodsum. Educated at University of Maine School of Law (J.D., 2003). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Education Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Labor Law - Management (2026). Serands clients in Portland, ME and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Peter Felmly advises public schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations on a broad spectrum of school, employment, and labor law issues
- Peter strives to provide his clients with timely, comprehensive, and creative solutions as they navigate the complex web of statutes and regulations governing their operations
- Employers turn to Peter for guidance on compliance with a host of state and federal employment laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Maine Human Rights Act, and the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act
- Peter also routinely advises supervisors, HR professionals, and elected school boards on hiring practices, discipline and discharge practices, workplace investigations, and employee classification and compensation issues
- He helps employers conduct training for employees and supervisors, and assists them with the development of employment agreements, separation agreements, employment policies and handbooks
- Peter regularly represents employers at the bargaining table, in grievance arbitration proceedings, and before administrative agencies, including the Maine Human Rights Commission, the Maine Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor
- Peter draws on over a decade of employment litigation experience to give clients valuable insights into the options available to achieve their goals, the strength of their position, and the potential risks associated with particular employment decisions
- In addition, Peter provides advice and counsel to schools regarding the constitutional rights of students and school employees, public schools’ obligations under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, and compliance with a myriad of state and federal laws and regulations controlling the operation of educational institutions
- Peter has been recognized as one of the 2020-2022 Best Lawyers for Employment Law-Management and by New England Super Lawyers in the areas of Employment & Labor, Schools & Education, and Employment Litigation
- Peter is also the editor of Maine School Law and Practice for Board Members: A Practical Guide (5th Edition) published in 2017, Maine School Law and Practice for Board Members: A Practical Guide (6th Edition) published in 2023, as well as a co-author of Maine School Law in multiple editions: 6th edition (2018), 5th Edition (2014), and 4th Edition (2012)
- Peter is frequently invited to present to schools on a variety of topics including effective hiring practices, teacher evaluations, investigating staff misconduct, employees’ and students’ rights under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments, collective bargaining strategies, and copyright law
- Peter has also taught graduate-level school law courses at the University of Southern Maine
- In his free time, Peter enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters and their black lab
- He also enjoys fly fishing, camping, hiking, and travel
Practice Areas Explained
Peter Felmly's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Peter Felmly handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Peter Felmly is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Maine →
Education attorneys for special education (IEP), school discipline, Title IX, and student rights.
Peter Felmly is one of 24,079 education attorneys indexed nationally. Browse education 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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