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Portland law firm Pierce Atwood to ring in 2026 with new managing partner

By Renee Cordes

Portland law firm Pierce Atwood will ring in the new year with a new managing partner when Molly Putnam Liddell takes the helm.

Molly Liddell of Pierce Atwood
Photo / Courtesy of Pierce Atwood
Molly Putnam Liddell

Liddell, who has served on the firm's management committee since 2013 and chaired its trusts and estates practice group since 2018, will start her new role on Jan. 1.

She will succeed David E. Barry, who has led the firm since 2016.

"I’m lucky to be stepping into this position with an incredibly strong group of attorneys and staff, interesting work and enough of it to keep us all busy, and a truly special culture," Liddell told Mainebiz via email. "My priority is to cultivate an environment where every one of our partners and employees finds their work fulfilling and every one of our clients finds their expectations exceeded."

Pierce Atwood was ranked fourth among Maine’s largest law firms in a Mainebiz list published last month. Rankings were based on attorneys employed in the state.

"We are projecting continued growth across multiple offices and practice areas, both in terms of strategically adding new attorneys and pursuing new client opportunities," Liddell said.

'Formidable' litigation team

Pierce Atwood's business practice group has been very busy, Liddell said, particularly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, technology transfer and data privacy.

"In addition, our highly regarded litigation group has a number of very strong junior lawyers coming up through the ranks, which will make it a formidable team for years to come," she said. "What I’m most pleased about is the quality of the new lawyers and clients that we have been able to attract."

Outside of Pierce Atwood, Liddell has  been a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has served on Maine's Probate and Trust Law Advisory Commission and the Maine Estate Planning Council.

Liddell earned an undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of Maine, where she also earned a master’s in higher education. She received her law degree from Boston College Law School.

'Immensely proud'

David Barry of Pierce Atwood
Photo / Courtesy of Pierce Atwood
David E. Barry

Barry said it has been a privilege to lead Pierce Atwood during a time of great change for the legal profession.

“I’m immensely proud of what our firm has achieved, and I step aside knowing that the firm is vibrant and strong, with a deep and talented team of lawyers and leaders," he said. 

“Molly Liddell’s vision, integrity and commitment to our client-first culture make her the ideal leader for Pierce Atwood, and I know the firm will continue to thrive under her leadership."

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