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V O L . X X X I N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 2 5 20 L AW / P O L I C Y F O C U S and Lowell, Mass., with three attorneys and 43 support staffers across all locations. Maine-based work is about 10% of the firm's overall workload, but a growing segment, says Neuman. at's aided by a focus on customer support, attention to detail and tools such as a platform called AbsolutePay to facilitate financial transfers and "mobile closing vehicles," fitted with conference rooms, that travel to clients throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts for real estate closings. e 600 Southborough Drive loca- tion could be open by Feb. 1 and offers the ability to expand. Maine-based busi- ness encompasses Cumberland, Oxford and Penobscot counties, as far as Bangor, both commercial and residential. More hiring is expected for South Portland. "We are actively looking," says Neuman. Virtual model In Greater Portland, Aleta Law launched in early 2024 as a virtual boutique firm with 10 attorneys and three staff members, all formerly with Portland-based Bernstein Shur. Led by Amanda Norris Ames and Kai McGintee, Aleta has since grown to 13 attorneys and four support staff across Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California and Georgia, recruiting through traditional avenues such as job postings and LinkedIn and through their network. "I think we're at a good, stable num- ber in terms of our attorneys and staff, but we will likely hire again within the next year or so," says McGintee. Aleta conducts external investiga- tions into allegations of discrimina- tion, harassment and misconduct for higher education institutions, K-12 schools, athletic organizations, non- profits and companies. "We continue to stay busy in an evolving landscape," says McGintee. From the hiring perspective, the virtual work model proved an advantage for attracting attorneys who didn't want to return to an in-person office environ- ment and preferred the flexibility of working remotely, says McGintee. e formation of new firms, along with mergers and closures, are likely to continue, she says. "I think there's been a lot of disrup- tion happening in our world and in our economy that lent itself to changes in the legal industry," she says. Creating a remote work environ- ment involves being intentional about collaboration, connection and team- building, she notes. "We've been really thoughtful about how we do that, how we create a culture that is built around our remote environment and connection, without losing the collaboration and the ben- efits of a team," she says. L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t l s c h r e i b e r @ m a i n e b i z . b i z » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Fisher Phillips Welcomes the Workplace Immigration Team of Russell Ford, Julia Broulidakis, and Nick Milliken to Its Growing Portland Office They join Portland immigration partner Mariana Baron in delivering practical, business-focused immigration solutions for employers across Maine and throughout the U.S. fisherphillips.com With over 750 attorneys across the United States, Mexico and Japan, Fisher Phillips is an international labor and employment firm providing practical business solutions for employers' workplace legal problems. Through our technology-driven approach, we partner with companies to achieve their business objectives, anticipate potential disruption, and provide the legal guidance to navigate and resolve the workplace matters critical to their success. One Monument Square, Suite 201 | Portland, ME 04101 | 207.477.7002 Russell Ford Partner | Portland, ME rford@fisherphillips.com Julia Broulidakis Associate | Portland, ME jbroulidakis@fisherphillips.com Nick Milliken Associate | Portland, ME smilliken@fisherphillips.com Mariana Baron Partner | Portland, ME mbaron@fisherphillips.com Our team has always enjoyed working with clients and colleagues in Maine, and business in this market has been growing significantly. — Matthew Neuman Absolute Title and the Law Office of Matthew W. Neuman P H OTO / A B S O L U T E T I T L E & T H E L AW O F F I C E O F M AT T H E W W. N E U M A N Matthew Neuman

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