Barbara Goodwin

bgoodwin@mpmlaw.com

Barbara is a shareholder and director at MPM.  She joined the firm in 2001, after practicing for four years at another Portland law firm, where her work focused on employment law and education law.  Before entering private practice, Barbara served as a law clerk for Judge Conrad K. Cyr, of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Since joining MPM, Barbara’s practice has focused on employment law, providing counsel to both employers and employees on a variety of issues.  For employers, Barbara provides support for daily operations, inclduing drafting employee handbooks and policies, drafting and enforcing non-competition agreements, and providing assistance with difficult human resources matters.  She also represents employers in all manner of employment-related disputes, including proceedings before the Maine Human Rights Commission and the EEOC, mediation, arbitration, and state and federal litigation.  Barbara also provides employment advice to employees regarding termination issues, including evaluating potential discrimination claims and representing employees pursuing those claims, negotiating severance terms, and helping to address concerns about employee benefits.

Barbara is the editor of the Maine Employment Law Letter, a monthly publication providing legal updates and human resources ideas to Maine employers.  She is also on the Advisory Board of Editors of HR Insight, a national monthly newsletter for human resources professionals, and is a contributor to the annual publication “50 Laws in 50 States,” which provides summaries of 50 different laws in each of the 50 states.  Barbara speaks nationally on employment law topics, and is featured in “12 Danger Zones,” a DVD employment law training system for supervisors.

In addition to her employment law practice, Barbara provides general counsel in litigation and dispute resolution.  Barbara provides representation in a wide range of civil disputes, whether in state or federal court, mediation, or arbitration.  Her litigation practice has included, in addition to employment litigation, commercial disputes, contract disputes, and civil rights litigation.

Barbara was born and raised in Portland, and returned to the Portland area after graduating from college.  Barbara lives in Standish, with her husband Tim and their children, Zoe and Adam.

 Bar and Court Admissions

             Maine (1996)
            U.S. District Court for the District of Maine (1999)
            U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (2003)

 
Education

             Harvard University , A.B., cum laude, 1990
             University of Maine School of Law, magna cum laude, 1996

             Faculty Scholastic Achievement Award (given to the valedictorian of the graduating
             class)
             Maine Law review:  Articles Editor, 1995-96; staff member 1994-95
             Legal Writing Instructor, 1994-96

Practice Areas