Richard Smith Berne
40 plus years of experience in federal and state criminal defense.
PORTLAND MAINE CRIMINAL LAWYER & ATTORNEY
Mr. Berne has been practicing criminal law for over forty-two years. He received a B.S. degree from Harvard College, cum laude, in 1970 and his law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1974.
Prior to establishing his office in Portland, Maine, Mr. Berne served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of California, where he prosecuted cases involving narcotics, bank fraud, and various white collar crimes. Upon leaving the Government in 1981, he entered private practice with a nationally prominent white collar defense firm in New York City and, in 1992, established his own law practice in Portland, Maine.
Mr. Berne specializes in the defense of criminal cases in Federal and State Courts in Maine, Massschusetts, Vermont, and New York. These cases have included investigations and prosecutions of complex narcotics cases, child pornography, fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering, as well as driving, assault, and unlawful sexual conduct matters. Additionally, he has an active civil litigation practice, primarily in the areas of personal injury, medical and legal malpractice law.
He is a member of the Maine, Massachusetts, and New York State Bars; is admitted to Federal courts in these jurisdictions; and has taught CLE courses in Federal and State practice in Maine and elsewhere.
Mr. Berne has also served on the boards of various civic and charitable organizations in the Greater Portland area.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- White Collar Crime
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
- pardon law
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
- Maine
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- Massachusetts
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- New York
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- English: Spoken, Written
- Assistant United States Attorney
- United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of California
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- I prosecuted several complex criminal matters including drug, fraud and securities cases.
- Assistant United States Attorney
- United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York
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- I prosecuted several complex federal criminal cases including drug, fraud and other federal criminal matters.
- Boston University School of Law
- J.D. (1974)
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- Harvard College
- B.A. (1970) | Economics
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- Honors: cum laude
- Activities: varsity football
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- National Associaiton of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- member
- - Current
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- Maine Bar Association
- member
- - Current
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- New York State Bar # 1866672
- Member
- - Current
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