In Memoriam

Lou Butterfield
(1963-2010)

When Lou Butterfield passed away unexpectedly in June 2010, he was only 47 years old.  He was a devoted husband and father who was at the peak of his legal career.

Even though his life was cut short, Lou achieved much:  valedictorian of his high school class; magna cum laude graduate of Dickinson College; second in his class at the University of Maine School of Law; member of the board of editors of the Maine Law Review; legal writing instructor; adjunct professor of employment law at the law school; partner at Bernstein Shur and Moss Shapiro; founding member of Olafsen & Butterfield; and listed in Chambers Legal Directory as one of the leading employment lawyers in Maine.  Lou’s legal experience included numerous jury and non-jury trials in favor of his clients in both federal and state courts, and he successfully argued several cases on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

But these achievements, impressive as they are, don’t capture the real Lou Butterfield.  Lou had a keen analytical mind, great writing skills, and the highest ethical standards.  And more importantly, he cared about his clients.  Lou often talked clients out of filing a case even though it would have been lucrative for him; he took cases that he believed had merit even if the client couldn't pay; he discounted his bills for struggling clients without even telling them; and he frequently found himself awake at 3 o'clock in the morning wrestling with how best to solve his clients’ problems.  Lou’s dedication, professionalism, sense of humor, and quiet dignity will be missed by the clients, lawyers, and judges who were fortunate to have an opportunity to know him during his legal career.