Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

James Clifford focuses his practice on employment law, commercial litigation, disability rights, and special education law and advocacy. He is admitted to the Maine and Massachusetts Bars, the U.S. District Courts in Maine and Massachusetts, and First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jim began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Massachusetts, then became a commercial litigation associate at large law firms in Portland and Boston. Thereafter, he served as general counsel to several start ups and small businesses. He returned to private practice in 2007.

Jim grew up in Lewiston and comes from a long line of lawyers and public servants. He obtained a B.A. in History and Government from Colby College and graduated cum laude from Suffolk University Law School, where he was awarded the Drinan Fellowship in Criminal Law.

Jim has had a lifelong interest and commitment to advocating for people with disabilities. Prior to earning his law degree, Jim taught school and worked with young adults with developmental disabilities. A significant part of his law practice focuses on representing injured or disabled individuals. On a more personal level, he is also a parent of a child receiving special education services. Jim serves on the board of Disability Rights Center, Maine's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities; Southern Maine Parent Awareness, a statewide parent advocacy group; and StriveU, which provides services for young adults with developmental disabilities as they transition from high school.

Jim is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Maine State Bar Association, Maine Employment Lawyers Association, and Maine Trial Lawyers Association. Jim also sits on the Town of Cumberlandâs Housing Authority and Personnel Appeals Board. He is an avid Red Sox fan, and enjoys golf and skiing. He and his family live in Cumberland.

McKee Law was formed in 2012 by Walter McKee after 17 years in a highly successful practice with an Augusta-based law firm. Mr. McKee's work focuses on litigation.

Mr. McKee's criminal defense practice ranges from traffic offenses to murder. He has been involved in countless high-profile criminal cases in Maine over the past 18 years and is a veteran of over 150 fully contested civil and criminal jury trials. Mr. McKee's practice is statewide and also includes representation of criminal defendants in federal criminal matters in Maine's federal district courts as well as the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. As one Federal judge put it, Mr. McKee's defense of the accused is nothing less than "outstanding" and rises "above and beyond the call of duty."

Mr. McKee's personal injury practice focuses on automobile accident cases but also includes premises liability and general negligence matters. He has handled numerous, significant automobile collision cases and has obtained substantial settlements and verdicts in a variety of negligence cases. In his first ten years of practice alone he successfully settled or received trial verdicts in excess of $10,000,000. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and is a strong advocate for corporate responsibility in Maine.

But that's not all he does. Mr. McKee also maintains an active general litigation practice that runs the gamut from litigation of real estate cases and business matters to probate and construction to name but a few. There'svirtually no matter that he has not fought and litigated over. He also represents professionals before dozens of State of Maine licensing boards.

An early riser - Mr. McKee gets up every morning at 3:00 a.m. - means that there are few if any who can outwork him. Mr. McKee. specializes in criminal defense, personal injury and general litigation. There is no type of criminal case that Mr. McKee hasn't handled. We have represented people accused of nearly every criminal offense in Maine, felony or misdemeanor, as well as civil and criminal motor vehicle offenses including Operating Under the Influence (OUI). Personal injury cases have long been a specialty and include all types of cases including automobile accidents; trucking accidents; motorcycle accidents; premises liability; underinsured or uninsured motorist cases; and dog and animal bites, just to name a few. All types of general civil litigation are also handled and there is no area of civil litigation that Mr. McKee can not handle for you.

In addition to his work with clients, Mr. McKee served as president of the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) from 2006-2008 and continues to work as chair of MACDLâs Legislative Committee. In this capacity he testifies regularly before the Maine Legislature on criminal legislation, and his advocacy in this arena has been called "polished" and the work of someone who "doesn't break." For his work on behalf of MACDL Mr. McKee received MACDL's highest award, the President's Award, in 2011.

Mr. McKee is recognized around the state as one of Maine's premier attorneys. He has been selected as a New England Super Lawyer in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America. He is AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. McKee also chairs the state's Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. At his confirmation hearing he was described as someone who was one of the state's most talented and skilled attorneys" who was "respected by judges and his colleagues" for being someone "absolutely by the book" and a "straight shooter." In 2007 Mr. McKee was asked to serve on the selection committee for the first Federal Defender in Maine. In 2009 he was tapped to serve on a similar committee to make recommendations to Congress and the President for the appointment of the United States Attorney for Maine.

Mr. McKee lives in Hallowell with his wife, Kristin Aiello, and their children. Kristin is a staff attorney at the non-profit Disability Rights Center where she is actively engaged in the representation of persons discriminated against because of their disabilities. Kristin formerly served as a Commissioner on the Maine Human Rights Commission. Mr. McKee is an avid runner, hunter, alpine and nordic skier, mountaineer and classical violinist; is a licensed private pilot; and served for eight years as a JAG officer with the Maine Army National Guard. For 15 years he also co-hosted the weekly local cable television show "It's the Law!". The show reached over 1,000,000 people throughout Maine.

Mr. McKee is also active in community affairs, most recently serving as the middle / distance event coach for the Hall-Dale Middle and High School track teams. He also served for many years as a soccer coach with the Hall-Dale Youth Soccer program and as the president of the Pineland Suzuki School (PSS). PSS is a non-profit local music school that his children attend that teaches violin and cello using the world-renowned Suzuki method.

Mr. McKee does not sleep.

Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Criminal Defense; General Litigation

Admitted: 1993, South Carolina; 1994, Maine and U.S. District Court, District of Maine; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit; 1999, U.S. Supreme Court

Attorney Peter J. Cyr graduated from Piscataquis Community High School in 1989. Following High School, he attended Providence College where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Social Science in 1993.
In 1994, attorney Cyr spent a year in Austin Texas as a VISTA Volunteer (Volunteers in Service to America)working with kids to help them stay in school.
Attorney Cyr stayed in Texas and worked as a carpenter building houses West of Austin.
In 1997, Peter commenced his first year at the University of Maine School of Law. He graduated Cum Laude and received the alumni association award for excellence in writing and communication skills.
Following his graduation, he was admitted to practice in Maine and Massachusetts.
He currently runs his own practice focusing mainly on criminal, family, and civil litigation.