Damariscotta firms merge to form Gallagher, Villeneuve, and DeGeer, PLLC

Mon, 01/11/2016 - 1:30pm

    Two Main Street law firms in Damariscotta, Gallagher and Stein and The Law Offices of Marcia E. DeGeer have merged to form Gallagher, Villenueve & DeGeer PLLC. The merger will bring together two well-established practices to offer a wide scope of services while remaining true to long standing traditions of integrity, advocacy, communication and collaboration.

    The firm primarily handles matters in the areas of real estate, wills, trusts, estate and tax planning, elder law, probate, business entity formation, corporate transactions and family law. The firm also offers dispute resolution services and its clients benefit from collaborative business relationships across a regional and state network.

    Attorney Jim Gallagher, Damariscotta native and Lincoln Academy alumnus, is enjoying watching his daughter carry on the legal profession, a profession inspired by his father, the Honorable Ralph A. Gallagher who practiced law in Damariscotta from 1935 until his death in 1965 and served as judge in Lincoln County. Gallagher was admitted to the Maine Bar in 1977. In 1987, Gallagher and the late Gordon E. Stein formed Gallagher and Stein, which operated as a general practice at its Main Street Damariscotta location for 28 years. Gallagher’s practice has focused on real estate, wills, trusts and probate administration. He served as Lincoln County Commissioner for 20 years and has served on numerous local boards. Gallagher is an active pilot and enjoys travel with his wife of 46 years.

    After completing her Juris Doctor at University of New Hampshire in 2000, Attorney Jenny Villeneuve worked in the public sector, first as a prosecutor for the Strafford County Attorney’s Office in Dover, NH and then as Staff Attorney for the New Hampshire Municipal Association where she provided legal advisory services for 236 member municipalities. She returned to Damariscotta to join Gallagher and Stein in 2004. Villeneuve focuses her practice on simple and complex property and business solutions, helping preserve family legacies and also representation of municipalities. Villeneuve serves on the Skidompha Library Business Council and Development Committee for Damariscotta Montessori School and is a member of the Lincoln County and Maine Bar Association. She lives in Alna with her family on a small farm.

    Attorney Marcia DeGeer, also a Maine native, received her Juris Doctor from New England Law/Boston and practiced in New York City with Skadden, Arps, Meagher, and Flom LLP before returning to Maine in 2010 to found her law firm, the Law Offices of Marcia E. DeGeer. Her practice focuses on family law, elder law, wills, trusts and estate planning, real estate and probate. She is a rostered Guardian Ad Litem and a trained mediator. She serves as Governor on the Maine State Bar Association, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and is a member of the Lincoln County Bar Association. DeGeer lives in Nobleboro with her husband, Derek, owner of local bakery Hootenanny Bread and her daughter.

    Attorney Tim Kimpton graduated with his Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law in 2002. He practiced with attorney Eliot Field in Wiscasset for 10 years. In 2013, he joined the Law Office of Marcia E. DeGeer. Kimpton’s practice focuses on all aspects of estate and tax planning and asset preservation, real estate and family law, civil litigation and nonprofit and business planning. Kimpton serves on the Board of Inn Along the Way, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of elders, the infirm and their caregivers. Kimpton is also a member of the Lincoln County and Maine Bar Associations and lives in Waldoboro with his wife Marcia.

    The Attorneys continue to be supported by experienced staff. Karen Helmuth, brings to the firm 16 years of experience as a legal assistant and is the regular point of contact for the firm’s clients and business partners. Dale Wenners also brings decades of experience to support the firm’s real estate practice as well as the many administrative and financial aspects to the practice. Marie Genthner also supports the front office with her extensive experience in client communications.

    Attorneys and staff at Gallagher, Villeneuve, DeGeer look forward to continuing to serve and collaborate with clients, professionals and business partners in the greater mid-coast area. Offices are located at the former location of Gallagher and Stein, 181 Main Street in Damariscotta, next to the post office. Client parking is still available behind the office. For more information drop by the office, call (207) 563-5828 or visit www.gvdlaw.com.