Nolan L. Reichl
Nolan Reichl is an experienced trial attorney and appellate advocate who serves as a partner in Pierce Atwood’s Litigation Practice Group, including as co-chair of the firm’s Appellate and Amici team.
Nolan focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, trade secret theft, toxic tort litigation, as well as administrative, constitutional, and appellate litigation. Nolan represents institutional clients in a range of industries, and has represented some of the largest institutions in the United States and Maine, including Central Maine Power Company, Camden National Bank, J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, Sappi North America, and Eli Lilly and Company.
During his career, Nolan has tried cases in Maine’s state and federal courts, and has argued numerous appeals in Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Nolan has authored amicus briefs submitted to the United States Supreme Court (including in the landmark case United States v. Windsor), testified numerous times before the Maine Legislature concerning the constitutionality of proposed legislation, provided commentary on legal and government affairs to print and broadcast media outlets across Maine, and is the author of the leading treatise chapter concerning Maine administrative law.
As part of his practice, Nolan focuses on e-discovery law and technology, and has assisted numerous clients with matters that have posed significant legal and technological challenges with respect to document collection, review, and production.
Nolan is a member of Pierce Atwood’s Pro Bono Committee, leads the firm’s summer associate program, and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Camp Susan Curtis, which assists economically disadvantaged youth in Maine.
Nolan joined Pierce Atwood in 2011 after working as a litigator in the New York office of international law firm Covington & Burling. There, Nolan represented Fortune 500 and other institutional clients in securities actions and other complex matters.
Before joining Covington, Nolan served as a law clerk to Marjorie O. Rendell of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Prior to his legal career, Nolan served as a member of the senior staff of Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and as a staff person for the Democratic National Committee and the Gore 2000 campaign.
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Administrative / Regulatory Law, Appellate Practice, and Commercial Litigation (2022-present)
- Katahdin Counsel (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Co-author, "Cross-Appeals in Maine: Making Sense of the Law," Maine Bar Journal 36, no. 3 (2021): 114-117
- “Something Erie This Way Comes: The Dueling State and Federal Law Governing Personal Jurisdiction,” Maine Bar Journal 32, no. 2 (2017): 13-17
- “Civil Appeals” – A Practical Guide to Superior Court Practice in Maine, MCLE New England (1st ed. 2015)
- Chair, Board of Trustees, Susan L. Curtis Foundation
Practice Areas
- Represented international paper company in PFAS contamination claim brought by local landowners, successfully argued motion to dismiss all claims against company as a matter of law – Saunders v. Sappi North America, Inc. (Me. B.C.D., Jan. 2, 2024)
- Prevailed as lead litigation counsel in challenge to signatures gathered by ballot question committee in support of effort to place citizens’ initiative on Maine ballot – Dunn v. Bellows (Me. Super. Ct., Ken. Cnty., Mar. 7, 2023)
- Prevailed as lead litigation counsel, through appeal to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, in a landmark administrative law dispute concerning the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands grant of a lease to Central Maine Power Company in connection with the construction of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line – Russell Black v. Bureau of Parks and Lands, 2022 ME 58
- Prevailed as lead litigation counsel, through appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, in constitutional challenge to Maine legislation prohibiting the forest products industry from employing H-2A visa recipients in certain jobs, successfully obtaining a permanent injunction against enforcement of the law and attorneys’ fees – Maine Forest Products Council v. Cormier, 51 F.4th 1 (1st Cir. 2022)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully obtained preliminary injunction, and later consent judgment, on behalf of Maine engineering and software development company in claim against former employee for theft of trade secrets under federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, marking the first successful grant of a motion for preliminary injunction under the DTSA in Maine federal courts – Progress Engineering, LLC v. Bennett, 2022 WL 16701324 (D. Me. 2022)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully defeated motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of former employee accused of theft of trade secrets – TideSmart Global, LLC v. Jackowitz, 2022 WL 1046267 (D. Me. 2022)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully obtained dismissal of all claims brought by former employee against railroad services company under Federal Employers’ Liability Act – Brown v. NBM Rail Services, Inc., 646 F. Supp. 3d 130 (D. Me. 2022)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully obtained preliminary injunction, and later consent judgment, on behalf of Maine bank in claim against former employee for violation of non-compete and non-solicitation covenants – Camden National Bank v. Buzzell (Me. Super. Ct., Cum. Cnty., Nov. 16, 2020)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully defeated motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of former employee accused of theft of trade secrets and violations of restrictive covenants – UIG, Inc. v. Guerin (Me. Super. Ct., Cum. Cnty., July 12, 2019)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully obtained dismissal of claims for lack of personal jurisdiction, through appeal to the United States Court of Appeals, in securities dispute over limited partnership interests – LP Solutions LLC v. Duchossois, 907 F.3d 95 (1st Cir. 2018)
- As lead litigation counsel, successfully obtained dismissal of all claims brought by commercial real estate landlord against national retailer in lease dispute – Rosenthal v. J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc., 2017 WL 3381218 (D. Me. 2017)
- Successfully obtained summary judgment for health care facility, affirmed following oral argument in the Maine Supreme Court, in connection with whistleblower claim brought by former employee – Sullivan v. St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Residence, 2016 ME 107
- Successfully represented international paper company in defense of labor law and antitrust claims brought by union in connection with shutdown of Bucksport mill – Int’l Ass’n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO v. Verso Paper Corp., 2015 WL 71472 (D. Me. 2015)
- Successfully represented national bottled water company in defense of Lanham Act and tortious interference claims brought by competitor – Maine Springs, LLC v. Nestlé Waters North America, Inc., 2015 WL 1241571 (D. Me. 2015)
- Successfully represented a condominium association, through appeal to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, in defense of claims brought by condo owners – America v. Sunspray Condominium Assoc., 2013 ME 19
- Successfully represented operator of international gas pipeline in appeal of arbitrator award, through appeal to United States Court of Appeals – Bangor Gas Co., LLC v. H.Q. Energy Services (U.S.) Inc., 695 F.3d 181 (1st Cir. 2012)
- Represented operator of international oil pipeline in constitutional challenge to local municipal ordinance
- Represented national roofing manufacturer in warranty actions
- Represented Eli Lilly and Company in products liability action
- Represented Maine boarding school in commercial dispute with licensee
- Represented New Hampshire e-commerce company in technology license dispute
- Represented national real estate development firm in Unfair Trade Practices claim
- Represented Fortune 500 investment bank in securities fraud litigation
- Represented private equity firm in securities fraud litigation
- Represented international film production company in dispute with domestic distributor