Amy K. Tchao

Amy K. Tchao is an attorney at Drummond Woodsum in Portland, Maine whose practice focuses on municipal law, land use, environmental matters, and public-sector counseling. She advises municipalities and other public clients on land use permitting and enforcement, zoning, ordinances, elections, public records, property tax, contracts, and municipal governance. Her practice also includes Environmental & Natural Resources, Land Use & Conservation, and School & Education matters.

Tchao earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Maine School of Law in 1993 and a B.A., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Dartmouth College in 1986. Her academic record supports a practice built around statutory analysis, public decision-making, and complex regulatory questions. This background supports Tchao’s legal analysis and problem solving in municipal and public-sector law, including work that requires close attention to detailed facts, governing rules, and practical consequences.

Tchao’s experience includes more than 25 years of work with municipalities and public clients on day-to-day governance, contested land use matters, shorefront development, access, permitting, and public processes. Tchao acts as general counsel to municipalities and appears before local boards and courts when disputes or administrative appeals require formal advocacy. Through these matters, Tchao helps clients assess legal options, manage risk, and move through transactions, disputes, administrative processes, or litigation as the situation requires.

Amy K. Tchao leads Drummond Woodsum’s Municipal Law Practice Group and has received recognition in municipal and public-law fields. Her work combines ongoing public-sector counseling with litigation and administrative advocacy. In serving municipalities and public entities, Tchao brings practical judgment and subject-matter knowledge to the issues presented. Tchao helps municipalities manage governance, land use, public records, taxation, and regulatory responsibilities with advice grounded in the specific facts and legal framework of each matter.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Drummond Woodsum
• Member, Maine State Bar Association
• Member, New Hampshire Bar Association
• Executive Committee Member and Past President, Maine Council of School Board Attorneys
• Current Board Member, Kennebunkport Climate Initiative
• Former Board Member and Executive Committee Member, Maine Women’s Fund
• Former Board Member, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

Licensed State

• Maine
• New Hampshire

Education

• University of Maine School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD) Summa Cum Laude
• Dartmouth College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude

Awards & Badges