Biography

With courtroom successes for public companies, regional businesses, news outlets, and individuals, Sig is a trial lawyer with more than twenty-five years of hearings to his credit, including jury trials in state and federal court, multi-week complex arbitrations, and high-stakes administrative hearings. In a complex business case, Sig won a $13.6 million jury verdict in Maine state court. He has been counsel of record in many state and federal reported judicial decisions, including more than thirty state and federal appeals.

Sig's courtroom experience includes a range of complex state and federal litigation and appeals, including commercial litigation, owner/shareholder disputes, product liability claims, construction litigation, civil rights and constitutional litigation, professional liability disputes, government contracts appeals, and unfair trade practices.

In his media law practice, Sig represents the news media in First Amendment matters, defamation and privacy, state and federal freedom of information, newsgathering, and cyber law. He has also served as counsel in copyright, trademark, and advertising disputes.

Sig's environmental law practice includes toxic torts litigation, state and federal environmental enforcement defense, environmental damage and remediation claims, defense of natural resource damage claims, and land use litigation and appeals.

Active in securities disputes, Sig handles claims involving broker-dealers, securities fraud, and investment malpractice. He has participated as counsel in numerous Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations and in securities litigation in state and federal court. He is also a rostered American Arbitration Association (AAA) commercial arbitrator.

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • Maine State Bar Association
  • New Hampshire Bar Association
  • Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association
  • American Arbitration Association, National Roster of Commercial Arbitrators
  • Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section

Honors & Recognition

  • AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Listed in Commercial Litigation
  • Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation - First Amendment Law, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Securities, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation
    • 2019 Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice (Portland, ME)
  • New England Super Lawyers, Listed
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star
  • Maine Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Board of Directors, Portland Ovations (2008 - 2022); Board Chair (2017-2020)
  • Board of Directors, New England First Amendment Coalition (2008-Present)
  • Clerk and Board of Directors, Maine Freedom of Information Coalition (2003-Present)
  • Clerk and Member, Environmental Technology Council of Maine (2006 - Present)
  • Board of Trustees, North Yarmouth Academy (2018-Present)
  • Former Board Chair, American Red Cross of Southern Maine (2004-2006)

Firm Highlights

News

10 Preti Attorneys, 6 Practice Groups Honored in National Rankings

Ten Preti Flaherty attorneys and six practice groups have been selected by Chambers USA for inclusion in their premiere annual list of America’s leading lawyers. Preti is recognized for excellence in the practice areas...

Publication

Schutz and Harriman Author Article for MLRC on Mill's Veto of Constitutionally Fraught Legislation

In an article for the Media Law Resource Center's July 2023 Media Law Letter,  Preti Flaherty attorneys Sig Schutz and Alex Harriman explore Gov. Janet Mills' recent veto of L.D. 1610, “An Act to Prohibit Campaign Spending...

News

Preti’s Sig Schutz Recognized as Member of NHPR’s Pulitzer-Finalist Team

Preti First Amendment attorney Sig Schutz has been recognized as “a core member of the [NHPR] team” involved in a podcast honored as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the audio journalism category.  The podcast...

Publication

Maine Becomes Seventh State to Enact Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA)

Maine is now the latest state to enact the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA)—following New Jersey, Oregon (substantially similar), Utah, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Washington. UPEPA aims to provide a clear framework for the...

Publication

Maine Government Contracting and Procurement Update: Public Access Under FOAA to Trade Secrets in Proposals and Bid Documents

Those doing business with state, county, and local government in Maine need to know their way around public records laws. What is the risk that sensitive or proprietary business information submitted in response to...