Administrative Law

Smith Legal represents private individuals and businesses in a wide array of administrative proceedings at the local, state, and federal level. We represent clients with investigations, rulemakings, obtaining licenses/permits, disciplinary and professional licensure matters, condemnation and eminent domain proceedings, and other adjudicatory and non-adjudicatory matters. Smith Legal works steadfastly to ensure that government bodies adhere to constitutional and statutory requirements and clients are accorded due process.

A few representative matters include the following:

• Represented a private citizen in an ethics complaint involving a municipal official’s alleged violation of a town code of ethics and conduct policy in a highly contested matter. Successfully convinced fellow board members to direct that their colleague be recused from participation in matters in which the member’s bias and impartiality had been called into question.
• Represented a private developer in municipal and state permitting proceedings for a quarry and successfully enjoined an illegal moratorium imposed by the Town that had been presented to voters without adherence to proper statutory notice and other requirements (ongoing).
• Defended purchasing decisions of the Maine Public Utilities Commission that awarded a $32 Million contract for the State of Maine’s NextGen 911 system, and the chosen bidder was ultimately awarded the contract after two strongly contested appeals.
• Defended purchasing decision of the Maine Public Utilities Commission relating to certain competitively solicited grants relating to projects funded with state energy efficiency and conservation funds, and the awards were upheld on appeal.
• Represented both employees and employers, achieving positive results in a variety of investigations, complaints, and appeals before the Maine Department of Labor (including the Unemployment Compensation and Workplace Health & Safety Divisions), the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.