Murray Plumb & Murray recently announced new shareholder appointments and practice group leadership. Nicholas Bernate and Micah Smart were elected as shareholders, Lauren Weliver was named a shareholder and chair of the firm’s Trust and Estate Planning & Administration Practice Group, and Sean Turley was named chair of Murray Plumb & Murray’s Land Use Practice Group.
“Our firm is built on talented people who care deeply about their work and the people they serve,” said Michael Traister, Managing Partner of Murray Plumb & Murray. “With this announcement, we’re proud to recognize attorneys across a range of practice areas whose dedication, leadership, and collaboration continue to strengthen our firm.”
Nicholas Bernate is a member of Murray Plumb & Murray’s litigation team, where he represents businesses and individuals in complex state and federal litigation and appeals. His practice spans a broad range of disputes, including commercial, real estate, construction, condominium, and estate litigation.
Bernate has been recognized as a top-rated civil litigation attorney in both Maine and Northern California, he has been named as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” multiple times, and was selected by his peers for Best Lawyers New England: Ones to Watch for commercial litigation. Bernate is a graduate of the Santa Clara University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Micah Smart is a partner in Murray Plumb & Murray’s Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization and Litigation Practice Groups, specializing in representing businesses, lenders, and individuals in bankruptcy, collection, and commercial litigation matters. His bankruptcy practice focuses on representing creditors in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 proceedings and he regularly advises clients on commercial collections, workouts, distressed property sales, and foreclosure matters.
Smart also has substantial litigation experience, with a focus on construction disputes and mechanics’ liens and representing contractors, property owners, and lenders across all facets of litigation, from initial dispute resolution through post-judgment collections. He earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University. He lives in Saco.
Lauren Weliver serves clients throughout Maine in need of estate planning, trust administration, or probate services. She regularly helps families with plans that protect their minor children, individuals with plans that address future, potential incapacity, and all clients with plans that ensure that their hard earned assets are efficiently distributed according to their wishes after death, in a way that minimizes conflict. She is skilled in understanding people and relationships in addition to the technical know-how of trust and estate matters. She previously operated Weliver Law and holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. Weliver lives in Cumberland.
Sean Turley practices land use and environmental law advocating on behalf of clients before municipal boards and state agencies, litigating complex real estate and property disputes, interpreting and drafting deeds and covenants, and advising clients on the viability of proposed developments. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in the areas of land use and zoning.
Prior to joining Murray Plumb & Murray Turley served as a law clerk for the Maine Superior Court and as a fellow at the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. He holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law, a master’s degree in education from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College.
