Brann & Isaacson

Brann & Isaacson grew from a two?person law firm in Lewiston, Maine in the 1920?s that included a future Governor of the State of Maine, to one of the leading boutique law firms today representing over 100 online and multichannel companies across the country on the issues that affect that industry, including tax, intellectual property, privacy and data security, and consumer protection. This decades?long experience translates into shorter learning curves, greater efficiency, and more responsive representation. And we have not forgotten our roots. From our Maine offices in Lewiston and Portland, we continue to provide real?world advice to companies and others in Maine and elsewhere.

Brann & Isaacson was founded in the 1920?s in Lewiston, Maine, by Louis
Brann and Peter Isaacson. In 1932 and again in 1934, Maine voters
elected Brann as Governor. As the firm?s reputation continued to grow, Peter Isaacson turned to reorganizing Maine banks that had closed their doors during the ?Bank Holiday? of the Great Depression.
Since its inception, Brann & Isaacson has focused on providing the highest quality legal counseling and representation to the business community. The firm developed and maintained a deep sensitivity to the needs, concerns, and priorities of commercial enterprises. For almost 90 years, the firm has had the privilege to serve as special counsel for a broad range of individuals and companies across the country, successfully representing clients ranging from ground?breaking local entrepreneurs to national agricultural cooperatives, and from pioneering mail order companies to cutting edge Internet service providers.

The firm has strong ties to the community. Long after Louis Brann served as Governor, Irving Isaacson served as a municipal judge in the 1960?s. Bringing the same passionate, practical approach to government, the firm has represented municipalities, school districts, and the State of Maine over the years.

Our work for mail order companies and direct marketers began in the 1960?s with L.L. Bean of Freeport, Maine, one of the pioneers in the direct marketing industry. Increasingly, other mail order companies and direct marketers turned to us to provide advice on issues that are unique to this industry, such as tax, unclaimed property, and supply chain agreements. As mail order companies and direct marketers evolved into online and multichannel companies, they continued to turn to us for advice on issues that are unique to this industry, such as intellectual property on the Internet.

Brann & Isaacson is unique among its peers?a boutique law firm grounded in Maine that represents over 100 large and small online and multichannel companies across the country. The firm is general counsel to L.L. Bean, one of the most prominent and admired retailers in the industry. Today, we advise many of the companies in the Internet Retailer?s Top 500 Guide, as well as many small companies that hope someday to be included in that list.
Large and small online and multichannel companies come to us based on our expertise and efficiency resulting from decades of experience addressing issues that confront this industry. Whether it is taxation of remote sellers, or patent trolls who claim that they too invented the Internet, we use our familiarity with the industry to develop promptly practical solutions that allow our clients to get back to business.

With our national practice, we have represented clients before administrative agencies and state and federal courts in over half of the states in the country, and we have tried multi?million dollar cases to a jury verdict. Our lawyers have handled well over 100 appeals in most of the federal courts of appeal, and in many states, and in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Although we represent some of the largest and best?known companies in America, we have not forsaken our Maine roots. We bring the same passion and practicality to our representation of start?ups, entrepreneurs, and individuals in Maine. And we bring our commitment to service to our representation of public sector clients. Whether it is L.L. Bean or When Pigs Fly Bakery, the approach is the same?what is the best, practical solution from the client?s perspective.

Brann & Isaacson offers its lawyers challenging work, sterling clients, and a small firm setting, set against the backdrop of the beautiful State of Maine. In other words, we offer our attorneys the best of both worlds?a sophisticated national practice often found at much larger law firms within the confines of an intimate and familiar working environment that is the hallmark of smaller firms. Our attorneys litigate in state and federal courts from coast?to?coast, participate in administrative and regulatory proceedings, manage international intellectual property portfolios, handle commercial negotiations and employment issues for companies of various structures and sizes, provide comprehensive and sophisticated estate and wealth preservation counsel to individuals and multi-generational families, and advise municipalities and school districts on controversial issues that lie at the intersection of law and public policy.
Due to our small size, all of our lawyers soon enjoy substantial client interaction, work closely with their colleagues on small teams, and have significant opportunities to develop leadership roles. In order to foster collaboration and the development of highly creative and strategic solutions for our clients, we have an ?open door? policy.

Because of Maine?s small size, the firm?s lawyers can, and do, become involved in government and charitable organizations at both a local and state level. Outside the office, our lawyers find time to be jazz musicians, blacksmiths, screenwriters, college and law school professors, and community leaders. And, of course, our lawyers take advantage of Maine?s quality of life and natural beauty, which make it the perfect setting to build a professional and personal career.

In addition to hiring recent and lateral law graduates, we offer a summer program designed to immerse two or three highly qualified, first or second year law students in the breadth and scope of the firm?s practice. Summer associates work directly with partners and associates on varying legal issues for the firm?s national client base.

While legal research and writing are critical components of their work, our summer associates also participate in client meetings and strategy conferences, and attend hearings, trials, and depositions. We strive to make our summer program both a learning and a hands-on working experience. By the time the program ends, our summer associates know what it means to be a lawyer at Brann & Isaacson. Although the focus is on providing real work, we also host a variety of social activities for summer associates, which may include dinners, local theater, baseball games, firm functions, and informal gatherings.

Locations	No. of Attorneys
Lewiston, ME	17

Practice Areas	No. of Attorneys
Corporate	3
Intellectual Property - General	2
Labor & Employment	2
Litigation	1
Tax	1
Trusts and Estates	1