Pierce Atwood Announces Molly Liddell as New Managing Partner
Pierce Atwood is pleased to announce that Molly Putnam Liddell has been selected as the firm’s new managing partner, effective January 1, 2026. Molly succeeds David Barry, who has led the firm since 2016.
As managing partner, Molly will oversee the firm’s strategic initiatives, operations, and continued commitment to delivering exceptional client service across all offices. She will work closely with the firm’s leadership team to guide Pierce Atwood’s growth while maintaining its strong culture of professional excellence, collaboration, and innovation.
Molly stated, “I am honored that the partnership has chosen me to lead the firm and to guide its continued success. I deeply respect and admire the lawyers who built this firm from the distant to the very recent past, and I look forward to collaborating with all the talented attorneys and skilled professionals at Pierce Atwood today to build on our rich history and write the firm’s next chapter.”
Since 2018, Molly has been Chair of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group and has served in a variety of leadership roles in the estate planning community, including as a Fellow in The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and as a member of Maine Courts’ Probate and Trust law Advisory Commission and the Maine Estate Planning Council. She has also been a member of the firm’s management committee since 2013.
Since 2016, Molly has received a top Band 1 ranking in Private Wealth Law in Maine in Chambers High Net Worth Guide, where clients consistently recognized her partnership, dedication, and responsiveness, and for providing “an extraordinary level of client service.” Since 2013, Molly has been recognized for her Trusts & Estates practice by Best Lawyers in America® and was twice named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Maine for Trusts & Estates.
David Barry’s decade as managing partner marked a period of strong growth and development for the firm. Under his leadership, the firm has grown strategically and enhanced its strength and depth in key practice areas firmwide. This growth underscores Pierce Atwood’s commitment to thoughtful expansion aligned with client demand and the continued development of the firm’s regional and national capabilities. Dave will remain engaged in the firm’s strategic direction, client relationships, and its top ranked litigation practice.
In discussing the firm’s leadership transition, Dave stated, “It has been a privilege to lead Pierce Atwood for the last decade, a period in which the legal profession has seen great change, challenges, and opportunity. I’m immensely proud of what our firm has achieved, and I step aside knowing that the firm is vibrant and strong with a deep and talented team of lawyers and leaders. Molly Liddell’s vision, integrity, and commitment to our client-first culture make her the ideal leader for Pierce Atwood, and I know the firm will continue to thrive under her leadership.”