Profiles

Kurt E. Olafsen 
kolafsen@olafsenbutterfield.com

Kurt has concentrated his law practice in civil litigation since 1981. He represents clients in a wide variety of lawsuits and disputes including business and corporate litigation, professional malpractice, personal injury, probate and estate litigation, construction disputes, and real estate litigation. Kurt has successfully tried numerous jury and non-jury cases in federal and state court.

Kurt graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College and was a member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated first in his class from Cornell Law School in 1980, receiving his law degree with summa cum laude honors. While in law school, Kurt was Note Editor of the Cornell Law Review. After graduation, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Collins J. Seitz, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Following his clerkship with Chief Judge Seitz, Kurt joined the Portland law firm Verrill Dana. He practiced with Verrill Dana for nine years, including three years as a partner of the firm. Kurt left Verrill Dana in 1990 to start his own practice, and later joined forces with Lou Butterfield to form the litigation firm of Olafsen & Butterfield. Kurt was a member of Bernstein Shur's litigation practice group from 2004 to 2006. After three years of solo practice, he and Lou began practicing together again as Olafsen & Butterfield LLC in January 2009.

Kurt is a member of the Cumberland, Maine State and American Bar Associations, and the Maine Trial Lawyers Association. He has also taught litigation for the Paralegal Program at the University of Southern Maine. Kurt is a long-time youth baseball coach and a former member of the board of directors of the Deering Little League, Baldwin Youth League, and Sacopee Valley Babe Ruth League. He has also served as president and director of the Baldwin Historical Society and as a member of the Baldwin Board of Zoning Appeals.