LIBBY O'BRIEN KINGSLEY - Key Persons
Brian L. Champion is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia in Washington D.C. He is also admitted to The First Circuit Court of Appeals and The United States Supreme Court.
Trusts & Estates: Mr. Champion believes that the caring for one's family and loved ones begins with careful and thoughtful planning. Besides planning for one's death, careful planning includes advanced preparation for periods of potential incapacity, whether caused by an accident, disease or illness. The best way for one to do so is to have in place, at a minimum, a will, a durable power of attorney, and a health care directive or proxy. Mr. Champion works closely with clients to understand their concerns, thoughts, and desires so that the client and their families are prepared to meet life's challenges. Mr. Champion represents individuals, trustees, and personal representatives in the administration of trusts and estates. He is also a member of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine Trust & Estate Bar Sections.
Mr. Champion is a member of NAELA, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. With a fast-growing Senior population, many find themselves ill-equipped to address important and necessary legal issues. These issues often include needing a Will, or updating an old Will that no longer suits one's needs. Also, many discover that they have not planned ahead to have someone named to help with things like paying their bills, or monitoring their bank account statements. This issue can easily be corrected by drawing up a Durable Power of Attorney, whereby a named agent can be authorized to act in place of the client. Lastly, all too often Seniors find themselves without someone designated to make health care and medical decisions for them, when they may not be capable of making them on their own. This problem is also easily solved ahead of time, by having drawn up a Medical Healthcare Proxy, or Health Care Directive.
Mr. Champion can assist Seniors with all of these important issues. He does so by working closely with the client and listening carefully to their wishes. He then draws up the necessary documents, explains them to the client, and then has them property signed, witnessed, and notarized.
Families often have their own small-to-medium-sized businesses. Mr. Champion assists them in forming limited liability companies or maybe a more traditional corporation to help protect and preserve their businesses. He prepares the necessary papers to file with the state, prepares by-laws for governance of the business, prepares buy-sell agreements to keep control over the client's business, and transfers assets into and out of trusts. Clients often seek Mr. Champion's assistance in preparing premarital agreements. Although Mr. Champion does not litigate cases, he works with litigators within the firm should someone require assistance in a court matter.
Mr. Champion and Libby O'Brien Kingsley & Champion take pride in assisting our clients, including Seniors, by working through all of these issues with them, and by providing personalized and specialized attention to each and every client. We are a unique law firm in that we truly do care for each and every one of our clients.
Gail Kingsley Wolfahrt established law offices in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Kennebunk, Maine after beginning her career at Burns & Levinson in Boston, Massachusetts, for several years. She is a respected and experienced estate planning attorney, with many clients in Maine and Massachusetts. She received her BS in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut and her law degree from Boston College Law School (J. D., cum laude). Ms. Wolfahrt earned an advanced law degree (LL. M. in Taxation) at Boston University Law School. She has served on the Board of Directors of Avesta Housing of Portland, Maine and as a Corporator of Kennebunk Savings Bank. Ms. Wolfahrt has been a frequent lecturer on the subjects of Estate Planning, Estate Taxation, Drafting Effective Wills and Trusts, Health Care Directives and Durable Powers of Attorney.
Gene has a rich history of litigation experience over the last 30 years. He has tried over 100 civil and criminal jury cases to verdict. His practice focuses on a wide variety of civil and criminal litigation representing individuals and small businesses, including divorce, real estate disputes, small business litigation, elder law, personal injury, professional negligence and criminal defense. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2003 and named a New England Super Lawyer by his peers. In 2010, he was named one of the top 100 Maine trial lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. He is rated by his peers AV® Preeminent (5 of 5), the highest rating available from Martindale-Hubbell, the country's oldest and most respected legal directory.
Gene served as District Attorney for York County between 1981-85. He continues to serve York County as General Counsel to the York County Commissioners and all County departments (Deeds, Probate, Sheriff, Corrections) since 1998.
He has undertaken numerous high profile divorce cases representing doctors, lawyers and corporate executives. He successfully litigated the first Maine divorce case to interpret the State's 1999 marital property statute. Warner v. Warner, 2002 ME 156, 807 A.2d 603.
Gene has thirty years of experience in litigating a diverse mix of civil and criminal cases. Developing his original trial expertise as District Attorney, Gene now also devotes his time to a variety of litigation matters. He gained early notoriety after leaving public office by successfully challenging, in a case of first impression, the introduction of DNA identification evidence. This was only the second time nationally DNA evidence had been successfully challenged. The case, Maine v. McLeod, was featured in a number of national publications including, The American Bar Journal, Science Magazine,Nature Magazine, The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA),Criminal Practice Manual. Gene's cross examination of the state's forensic expert has been used as a model in the permanent edition of the BNA Criminal Practice Manual entitled, "Cross Examination of Experts."
Gene has also represented a diverse group of business clients including The Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities of Maine and York County Government. His successes include:
J.R. Fallon has an extensive practice including family law, trusts & estates, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Beyond these areas of expertise, J.R. has developed the unique skillset to represent military members facing Uniform Code of Military Justice or administrative action allegations, as well as veterans navigating the complex discharge characterization upgrade process.
Before joining the firm, J.R. enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and subsequently served on active duty as a JAG officer for over six years. In this capacity, he served as a prosecutor and defense counsel and received an appointment as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Additionally, J.R. deployed throughout the Middle East where he earned the coveted Army combat patch in Iraq during his time as the sole legal advisor to a Special Operations Joint Task Force. J.R. continues to serve as a Major (O-4) in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
In 2017, J.R. received his J.D. from Suffolk University. Prior to law school, he earned his B.A. from Manhattanville University where he played college baseball. He also earned his M.S. from Boston University. He is currently admitted to practice law in Maine and New Hampshire as well as military courts worldwide.
Outside of work, J.R. enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and skiing. He is an average marathoner, cheers for all New England sports teams (and the Tampa Bay Bucs!), and has visited every MLB ballpark. J.R. lives in Kennebunk with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Firm As an Associate Attorney
Michael joined Libby O'Brien Kingsley and Champion, LLC as a trial lawyer with extensive experience at the federal, state and county level, including over 100 jury trials and 60 appellate cases before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He is a fellow in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a group certifying members with significant trial experience and high ethical standards. Michael practiced in the Maine Attorney General's Office, Criminal Division, and in the York County, Maine District Attorney's Office prior to entering private practice.
Michael's practice has included civil rights defense of police officers and municipal officials, and state, county and local entities and school administrative districts. His areas of expertise have included the successful defense of employment practices, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, and the defense of municipal ordinances, road reconstruction litigation, planning board appeals and property takings claims. He also handles product liability matters, specialty health care matters before state licensing boards and state and federal courts, and toxic tort and environmental cases, including asbestos litigation.
Michael has given presentations on various topics in employment liability, including retaliation, discrimination based on age, disability and pregnancy, and an employee's use of medical marijuana, as well as civil rights and municipal liability and evidentiary issues.
Michael recently ended a nine-year service (the maximum three consecutive three-year terms) on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence. He is the co-author of the Commentary to the Maine Juvenile Code, Vol. 8 Maine Revised Statutes Annotated (1980). He recently authored "Qualified Immunity for Private Actions" which appeared in For the Defense, the publication of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) in July 2014. He has served as the Chair of the Committee to Monitor the Implementation of the Juvenile Code, the Maine Criminal Law Advisory Commission, and the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Michael has also served as the National Chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, Washington D.C. In 1996, he received the Award of Excellence in Law from the Boston College Alumni Association.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Firm As an Associate Attorney
Sean C. Rogers focuses his practice on family law and has experience with Divorce, Parental Rights & Responsibilities actions, and Protection from Abuse actions. Sean's calm demeanor and affinity for numbers make him well-suited to handling high-asset divorces. Beyond Family Law, Sean is also interested in a diverse range of legal matters, including but not limited to: appeals, business organization, risk management, contracts, and constitutional law.
Born and raised in Maine, Sean earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maine School of Law in 2019. Prior to law school, he attended the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, where he graduated in three years with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in philosophy. Sean is a proud alumnus of Bridgton Academy (Class of 2013).
Before joining the firm, Sean practiced family law in Central Maine, handling a wide variety of family law cases. Outside of work Sean enjoys playing hockey, golf, writing, and spending time with his family.
Sean is formerly the Chair of the Family Law Section of the Maine Bar Association.
Timothy J. O'Brien has over 30 years of litigation experience. As a former prosecutor and in the course of his work in civil litigation, he has tried numerous cases before judges and juries. His practice focuses on employment and collegiate sports law issues.
Mr. O'Brien advises colleges, universities, athletic department administrators, SWA's, coaches, student-athletes, attorneys, and individuals on topics including Title IX, pay equity, sexual violence, harassment, hazing, NCAA rules compliance, eligibility, coaches' compensation, disability discrimination issues, and the restructuring of athletics departments. He conducts audits and provides training for institutions and conferences on all sports and employment law subjects. He conducts investigations into alleged misconduct by coaches, staff members, and student-athletes. He has participated in and moderated programs for the ABA, the NCAA, athletic conferences and educational institutions on many sports law topics involving athletic departments.
He is a co-author of the NCAA's gender equity manual, Gender Equity in Collegiate Athletics, and also Managing Legal Issues in College Athletics. He is the individual or co-author of numerous other articles on collegiate sports law issues and serves on the advisory panel of Campus Legal Advisor, a national publication that addresses the full range of legal issues arising on college and university campuses.
Based on his years of involvement with Title IX issues, he serves as an expert witness in litigation cases containing Title IX claims.
Mr. O'Brien also regularly handles a wide variety of employment issues including wrongful termination and discrimination claims, harassment claims, wage and hour claims, non-competition matters, theft or misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information, contract disputes, whistleblower, and retaliation claims, OSHA citations, and labor law issues throughout New England. He handles matters on both an individual and class action basis. He provides guidance and counsel on employee performance, disciplinary actions, and termination decisions. Mr. O'Brien also participates in and/or provides training on harassment, discrimination, hazing, unconscious bias, and other legal issues. He also conducts internal audits and investigations.
Tyler Smith joined Libby O'Brien Kingsley & Champion as an associate in 2012 and became a partner in 2018. He maintains a general litigation practice, with experience in criminal defense, employment law, appellate advocacy, defamation/slander, civil rights, undue influence, and other civil disputes. He is also experienced in representing professionals before professional licensing boards.
In 2024, Tyler was appointed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to the Advisory Committee on the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure. He has argued dozens of appeals before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and First Circuit Court of Appeals. Tyler has also authored multiple amicus briefs on behalf of the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in the area of OUI defense.
Although Tyler handles all manner of criminal charges, he has a specific interest in defending operating under the influence charges. To that end, he enrolled in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's DWI Detection and Field Sobriety Testing training course. This is the same training that law enforcement officers receive, making Tyler uniquely qualified to challenge evidence in OUI cases on behalf of his clients. He has successfully defended clients in license suspension hearings before the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and in criminal jury trials involving operating under the influence charges.
Tyler lives in Hollis with his wife and two children, and his two dogs. He enjoys skiing, running, and playing guitar.