Bruce has for many years been recognized as one of the area's leading corporate and commercial finance lawyers, providing a lead role in numerous large business and financial transactions in New England. He serves as outside general counsel to a significant number of Maine's leading corporations and acts as bond counsel for several Maine municipalities. He has been recognized by the Finance Authority of Maine for his leadership in helping Maine businesses compete more effectively.
Bruce served as managing partner of Pierce Atwood from 1997 to 2008 and prior to that was the long-time head of Pierce Atwood's Corporate Practice Group. From this he has developed a keen sense of the business needs, as well as the legal needs, of the firm's clients and takes a practical approach to addressing issues and solving problems for clients.
Recent Experience
- General corporate advice to New England businesses and their owners and directors
- Formation of business entities and advice on appropriate form of entity
- Negotiating, advising and supervising due diligence and documenting mergers and acquisitions in various fields, both from the buy and sell sides
- Negotiating, advising and documenting major financial transactions including both equity and loan transactions
- Negotiating and drafting contracts in manufacturing, construction, distribution and ship-building industries
- Advising on public/private partnership projects
- Assisting startup companies to access capital
- Bond counsel in municipal bond offerings
Honors & Distinctions
For the past 24 years, Bruce has been a Uniform Laws Commissioner for the State of Maine. Bruce is the only lawyer to receive a Dirigo Award from the Finance Authority of Maine, awarded for his leadership in helping Maine businesses succeed.
He is listed in Chambers USA for Corporate Law and has been listed in Best Lawyers for Corporate, M & A and Securities law, and for Public Finance Law for more than 10 years. In 2010, Best Lawyers named Bruce the Portland, ME -Corporate Law "Lawyer of the Year", in 2012 named him the Portland, ME - Public Finance "Lawyer of the Year", and in 2013 named him the Portland, ME -Corporate Law "Lawyer of the Year." He is also listed in New England Super Lawyers for Corporate Law. As a member of The Uniform Laws Commission, Bruce has participated in drafting numerous Uniform Laws, including Articles 2 and 5 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act.
Professional Activities
Uniform Laws Commissioner for the State of Maine, 1987 - present
Member, Maine Economic Incentives Commission
Life Member, American Law Institute
Life Member, American Bar Foundation
Member, American and Maine Bar Associations
Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
Founding Member and Board Member, Maine Enterprise Growth Fund, a state-sponsored venture capital fund, 1997-2007