Black Bear Title Attorney Staff:

Gregory J. Farris, President & Senior Partner: Mr. Farris, an attorney since 1973, is licensed to practice in all State of Maine courts and in the United States District Court. Practicing in the areas of domestic law, general civil litigation, personal injury and business planning, he brings years of experience and savvy to bear in working with clients to resolve their unique problems. As a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the Maine State Bar Association, and the Kennebec County Bar Association, Greg Farris is recognized as one of the state's top litigators. He is a loyal, persistent, vocal advocate for his clients' interest with the result that many of his clients are long-time clients and friends.
Mr. Farris is a former Treasurer of the Maine State Bar Association and a former Director of the State YMCA Camp in Winthrop, Maine.

George Heselton, Senior Partner: An attorney since 1960, George Heselton is a fourth generation attorney practicing law in Central Maine. After thirty years with the firm of Heselton & Heselton, he joined our firm as a partner in 1990. A member of the Board of Directors of Gardiner Savings Institution, FSB since 1975, Mr. Heselton brings a unique perspective and depth of experience to his representation of his clients in the areas of residential and commercial real estate transactions, estate planning and civil action foreclosures. George is a veteran having served in the United States Army. His personal commitment to his community is reflected in his past service as a Representative in the Maine legislature and President of the Gardiner Board of Trade. He is a member of the Gardiner Lions Club and Gardiner Sportsman's Club.

J. Scott Ladd, Senior Partner: Knowledgeable in all aspects of real estate practice, Mr. Ladd practices primarily in residential and commercial real estate transactions as counsel for lenders, sellers and purchasers. He is also counsel for a number of successful small to moderately sized business ventures. Mr. Ladd graduated from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1985 and has been a member of the Maine Bar since that time. Mr. Ladd has been a member of the Title Standards Committee of the Real Estate of the Maine State Bar Association since 1987. He is a licensed title insurance agent for First American Title Insurance Company and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. Scott is a former director of the Winthrop (Maine) YMCA. He is a member of both a regional charitable corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts and a local charitable corporation located in Central Maine. He is also a member of the Lincoln and Therese Filene Charitable Corporation and the Helen and George Ladd Charitable Corporation.

John S. Bobrowiecki, Senior Partner: A member of the firm since 1989, Mr. Bobrowiecki is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and a fully certified Judge Advocate in the United States Military Justice system. He is also the City Solicitor for the City of Gardiner. Mr. Bobrowiecki incorporates this background of service and dedication into his representation of his clients within the State and Federal Courts in the areas of personal injury and general civil litigation, and criminal defense work. He provides determined, compassionate and professional counsel to clients who have suffered an injury to their person, a civil wrong or the threat of punishment by the criminal justice system. Mr. Bobrowiecki's commitment to his professional and his community is evidenced by his current standing as President of the Kennebec County Bar Association and his level of participation in local civic groups and entities including serving as an Officer and Director of Riverview Federal Credit Union and Gardiner Youth Football. He also coaches in a variety of youth sports leagues.

Sean M. Farris, Senior Partner: Mr. Farris is a fourth generation attorney in the Maine's Capitol Area. Licensed to practice in the State of Federal Courts, he provides his clients with professional, personal and aggressive representation in the full diversity of civil and criminal litigation. With a reputation for the diligence and persistence of his advocacy for his client's interest, Mr. Farris is the attorney you want on your side. He is a member of the Maine State Bar Association and the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.

Daniel W. Bates, Senior Partner: Daniel W. Bates is a partner at Farris & Bates, with offices in Gardiner and Portland. He has been engaged in trial law, first as a prosecutor of criminal cases for the State of Maine (1978-1982), and then in the civil arena. He has successfully tried some thirty cases to a jury. His considerable appellate success has included employment cases before the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He has worked primarily in employment and labor law, in the state and federal courts of Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Kentucky, before National Labor Relations Board across the U.S., and in Human Rights Commissions in Maine and several other states. He has been a frequent lecturer on employment law topics for over fifteen years to the Maine State Bar Association, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, the National Employment Lawyer's Association, human resource workers, adult education classes at the University of Southern Maine and several client companies in Maine and New Hampshire. Mr. Bates is a graduate of Denison University and Capital University Law School. He received national attention as lead trial counsel for Ellenwood v. Exxon in 1992, and prevailed before the First District Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court in Ashmore v. Cargil in 1996, both employment retaliation cases. He is a founding member of the Maine Employment Lawyer's Association, and a member of the Maine Bar, Maine Trial Lawyers, and American Bar Associations.

Michelle Allott, Senior Partner: Michelle Allott joined the Farris Law team this January. She will primarily be working out of our Falmouth office. Michelle graduated magna cum laude from University of Rhode Island and obtained her JD from University of Maine. Since graduating in 1989, Michelle has been practicing predominantly in the field of civil litigation. Her practice has been focused on personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, construction and environmental litigation. She will continue to work in these areas with our firm as well.

Jennifer Bryant, Attorney at Law: Jennifer is a recent addition to Farris Law, having practiced previously in Hallowell. In 2000, Jennifer graduated with honors from the University of Maine Law School. She works to understand her Clients' needs and provide each Client with assertive, quality representation in civil and criminal litigation. Jennifer is licensed to practice in both State and Federal Courts and is a member of the Maine State Bar Association and the Kennebec County Bar Association.

Tammy Ham-Thompson, Attorney at Law: Tammy Ham-Thompson joined the firm in the fall of 2003. Tammy received her B.A. from the University of Southern Maine and a J.D. from the New England School of Law. She is a memeber of the Maine Bar and the Cumberland County Bar Association. Tammy resides in Gardiner, Maine with her family.

John R. Lemieux, Attorney at Law: A native of Portland, John R. Lemieux graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1977 with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies, then from Boston College Law School in 1980.  He has been a member of the Maine bar since 1980, as well as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow with Pine Tree Legal Assistance, representing low-income clients and doing community organizing. John was also an original member of the Maine Peoples Alliance.
From 1984 to 1995, John worked for the Maine State Employees Association, serving as Attorney, Chief Lobbyist and Chief Legal Counsel. In 1995, John established a private practice in Readfield, focusing on employment law, family law and civil litigation. John remained in private practice until April, 2003 when he joined Farris Law. As an attorney with Farris Law, John continues to focus on civil litigation before administrative agencies, state courts and federal courts. John is enthusiasctic about his affiliation with Farris Law because of the talent and resources that the firm can bring to bear to represent its clients effectively. John is a member of the Kennebec County Bar Association, the Maine Bar Association, the Maine Employment Lawyers Association, and the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

John R. Lemieux, Attorney at Law: A native of Portland, John R. Lemieux graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1977 with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies, then from Boston College Law School in 1980.  He has been a member of the Maine bar since 1980, as well as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow with Pine Tree Legal Assistance, representing low-income clients and doing community organizing. John was also an original member of the Maine Peoples Alliance.
From 1984 to 1995, John worked for the Maine State Employees Association, serving as Attorney, Chief Lobbyist and Chief Legal Counsel. In 1995, John established a private practice in Readfield, focusing on employment law, family law and civil litigation. John remained in private practice until April, 2003 when he joined Farris Law. As an attorney with Farris Law, John continues to focus on civil litigation before administrative agencies, state courts and federal courts. John is enthusiasctic about his affiliation with Farris Law because of the talent and resources that the firm can bring to bear to represent its clients effectively. John is a member of the Kennebec County Bar Association, the Maine Bar Association, the Maine Employment Lawyers Association, and the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

Jill K. Randall, Attorney at Law: Jill joined the firm in 2001, working primarily in our domestic practice. Born and raised in Maine, Jill is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Maine in Orono and graduated from the University of Maine School of Law. As a lifelong resident of the State of Maine, Jill understands the goals, aspirations and problems facing people in this State, and she works closely with her clients to pursue achievement of their goals and aspirations while constructively addressing their problems.
She is a member of the Maine State Bar Association and the Kennebec County Bar Association.

back to top