Biography

As Chair of Verrill's Litigation and Trial Group, Martha leads a team of more than 40 attorneys, paralegals, and staff. An accomplished trial attorney committed to success on behalf of her clients, Martha is an ardent supporter of the civil jury system.

Martha has spent the bulk of her professional career representing clients before juries. At last count, Martha had tried more than 150 civil jury trial cases to verdict. Over the years, Martha has handled a wide variety of complex commercial matters throughout the country, including product liability cases arising from aviation, agricultural and workplace accidents, and medical devices.

In addition to handling jury trials, Martha has decades of experience handling non-jury and administrative matters. Although the focus of her trial work has involved product liability and commercial litigation, Martha has developed a dedicated interest in environmental law, which started when she worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before becoming a lawyer.

Services/Industries

Education

  • Suffolk University Law School  (J.D., cum laude)
    • Member, Suffolk University Law Review
  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst  (B.A., cum laude)

Public Service

  • Lawyer's Fund for Client Protection, Trustee and Secretary (2011-2014); Trustee (2017-Present)
  • Grievance Commission Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar (2007-2009); Panel Chair (2009-2012)
  • Fee Arbitration Commission, Panel Member (1997-2011); Panel Chair (2001-2003)
  • Board Member, My Place Teen Center (2014-Present)

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Florida
  • Connecticut

Memberships

  • Defense Research Institute
  • Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
  • Maine State Bar Association
  • Maine Trial Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates

Honors

  • Named the Best Lawyers© 2023 Product Liability Litigation – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Portland, Maine
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Litigation: General Commercial
  • AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Named a Local Litigation Star for Aviation, Environmental, Mass Tort/Product Liability, Product Liability, and Shipping & Maritime by Benchmark Litigation
  • Named as one of the "Top 250 Women in Litigation" by Benchmark Litigation (2014-2021)
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2021 Litigation – Insurance "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Product Liability Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Health Care, Litigation – Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants in Portland, Maine
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Personal Injury - Products: Defense, Professional Liability: Defense, Personal Injury - General: Defense
  • Katahdin Counsel Recognition for pro bono efforts

To learn more about third-party ratings and rankings, and the selection processes used for inclusion, click here.

Clerkships

  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Hon. George Carr
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Hon. Thomas G. Wilson
  • Massachusetts Superior Court, Middlesex County, Hon. James J. Nixon

Court and Other Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maine
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Firm Highlights

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

Matter

Elections and Constitutional Law: Successfully Challenged Certification of Initiative Petition

In a victory for consumers and the ride-hailing public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently barred the Secretary of State from placing on the November ballot initiative petitions proposed by companies such as Uber...

Blog

New Options for Retirement Plan Distributions Under SECURE 2.0

This post summarizes the new distribution options, including penalty-free withdrawals, applicable to defined contribution plans under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (“SECURE 2.0”) and provides a timeline of their effective dates. The new...

Blog

GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH!

Remember that old parody of the Battle Hymn of the Republic we used to sing before there was an Internet? There are apparently many versions, but they all generally involve children inflicting various types...

Publication/Podcast

U.S. Tax Considerations When Buying Property Abroad with Ruth Mattson

Verrill partner Ruth Mattson was recently featured on The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel 's podcast series Trust and Estate Talk . In this podcast, U.S. Tax Considerations When Buying Property Abroad...

Publication/Podcast

State Trademark Registration

The United States has two levels of trademark registration: state and federal. A state trademark registration is issued by a state office and protects a trademark only in that state, whereas a federal trademark...

Event

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Human Resources in Small Business/Startups

Verrill associate Emily Waddell will be presenting at PROPEL 's Virtual Lunch & Learn: Human Resources in Small Business/Startups. In addition to presenters sharing their expertise, this session covers various Human Resource topics including...

News

Jim Cohen Discusses “No Blank Checks” Citizen Initiative Before Maine Legislative Committee

Verrill Partner Jim Cohen was recently quoted in a Spectrum News article " Maine Ballot Initiative To Require Voter Approval For $1B Borrowing Gets Broad Support.” Maine LD 1772 is a citizen-initiated ballot question...

News

Verrill Welcomes Partner Andrew M. Walsh to Firm’s Business Law Group

Blog

Tesla’s Cybertruck Raffle

On May 11, 2023, @BabyTesla3 sent out a Tweet: NEW: Tesla has revamped the Referral program and introduced a new loyalty program! Here’s what you need to know • S/X: 3,500 credits (referrer) &bull...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700