Attorney Bios
Neil S. Shankman
Neil Shankman was born and raised in the jungles of suburban New York. He escaped at an early age and then went to college at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. With his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Government and Psychology, he proceeded to seek knowledge and wisdom at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. As a member of the Moot Court Board and Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, Mr. Shankman graduated from law school with grades that he has described as "genetically inappropriate". With dreams of raising a family and making a living, Mr. Shankman began the long march back to the East coast, where he landed in Lewiston, Maine.
Mr. Shankman has been a member of the Maine Bar since September of 1977. After four years as a lobbyist for Pine Tree Legal Assistance (statewide legal aid organization), Mr. Shankman developed and opened the first legal clinic in the State of Maine. With offices in Bangor, Lewiston and South Portland, the firm announced its opening with great fanfare. It included the first statewide prepaid legal services plan in Maine, extensive television advertising, and high visibility promotions.
During the course of the last thirty years, Mr. Shankman has continued to maintain his interest in trial work, particularly in the areas of divorce/family matters and personal injury litigation. He has developed one of the largest bankruptcy practices in the State of Maine, and continues to focus on landlord/tenant matters, both in Court and as General Counsel to Maine Real Estate Managers Association. He also serves as State Chair of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
After over twenty-five years living in Yarmouth, Maine with his family, he relocated to Topsham in October of 2008 where he and his partner, Karen, managed to find a house built in 1797 that requires almost as much maintenance and repairs as he does. He spends his spare time skiing, sailing, bicycling and playing with his three adult children.
Rebecca V. Brochu
Rebecca Vaughan Brochu was born in Chicago, Illinois and lived in various regions of the United States before settling in New England. She attended the University of Connecticut, and graduated from the Western New England College-School of Law in 1996. Rebecca's honors include Magna Cum Laude in 1993, Excellence for the Future Award - Divorce & the Family 1996, and she was recognized by the Maine State Bar Association as the attorney with the most pro bono service hours in the year 2001. Attorney Brochu has been licensed to practice law in the State of Maine since 1997 and her experience includes 2 years of public interest practice and 2 years of private general practice. Rebecca's areas of specialization include family/domestic relations and bankruptcy.
Rebecca resides in Brunswick with her husband, Steven Brochu, also an attorney. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, tennis, and gardening.
Robert L. Guillory
Bob Guillory was born and raised in Biddeford, Maine. He attended schools in Biddeford, graduating from Biddeford High School. He then attended and graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and then graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine in 1980.
Attorney Guillory is licensed to practice in the State of Maine in both State and Federal Courts. He practiced briefly in Kennebunk before opening his own practice in Saco, Maine, where he worked until joining the firm of Shankman & Associates in 1995. Over the more than twenty years that he has been in practice, he has done extensive work in personal injury, family (including custody disputes) and landlord/tenant law. Attorney Guillory still concentrates his practice in these areas, but also assists clients on criminal, contract and real estate matters.
Attorney Guillory is married and has two children. He is an avid golfer, and plays whenever he gets the opportunity.
Extensive work in Personal Injury; Family Law and Landlord/Tenant.
Assist clients on criminal; contract and real estate matters.
Aubrey A. Russell
Aubrey A. Russell was born and raised in Minot, Maine. She attended Minot
Schools and graduated from Hebron Academy. She then attended and graduated
magna cum laude from the University of Maine - Orono with a Sociology
degree. She then went on to graduate cum laude from the University of Maine
School of Law in Portland, Maine in 2007. While in law school, Aubrey
completed the Pro Bono Legal Services Program and clerked for Judge Beliveau
at the Lewiston District Court. Aubrey joined Shankman & Associates in
2008. Her practice will concentrate on domestic relations and
landlord/tenant disputes.
Evan Smith
Evan Smith is a 1986 graduate of the State University of New York College at Buffalo, where he majored in Philosophy, graduating Cum Laude. He graduated from New York Law School with his JD in 1994 and upon graduation served as a law clerk to New York Supreme Court Justice Elliott Wilk where he assisted in many note worthy cases such as Zion v. NY Hospital. Subsequent to his employment with Justice Wilk, Evan worked as a commercial litigation attorney representing clients such as the Westwood One radio network, prosecuting breach of contract actions regarding the broadcast of the "Imus in the Morning" Radio Program.
Evan moved to Maine in 1998 and was associated with the Portland firm of Friedman, Gaythwaite, Wolf and Leavitt and was made Partner in 2000, where he specialized in commercial litigation and product liability defense. Mr. Smith opened his own office in Freeport in 2002 and joined Powers and French, P.A. in 2004. He joined Shankman and Associates in 2009 and his practice includes family law, criminal defense, civil litigation and personal injury.
Evan lives in Freeport. In his spare time he enjoys motorcycling, running and spending time at the gym. Mr. Smith is admitted to practice in the State and Federal courts of New York and Maine, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.