William J. Sheils

William J. Sheils is a shareholder with a broad business and commercial practice. He serves as outside general counsel to organizations, advising on governance, employee relations, contracts, and regulatory compliance. His work also covers management-side employment law, commercial transactions, intellectual property, and privacy and data security. He represents entities in financial services, energy, manufacturing, hospitality, professional services, education, government services, and the nonprofit sector.

Sheils earned his J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School, where he served as a note editor of the Suffolk University Law Review. He received his B.A. from Rutgers University. His legal education and editorial experience developed strong research, analysis, and writing skills that support his work on commercial agreements, employment questions, regulatory requirements, and other complex matters affecting business clients.

Sheils has advised businesses and executives on employment matters for more than three decades. He counsels clients on wage and hour issues, federal and state compliance, personnel policies, executive agreements, hiring, terminations, reductions in force, discrimination, harassment, and labor matters. His experience also includes motor fuel distribution, petroleum marketing, Petroleum Marketing Practices Act compliance, dealer and distributor agreements, and contracts for a state energy efficiency agency involving utilities, manufacturers, retailers, vendors, and suppliers.

William J. Sheils is a Fellow of the Maine Bar Foundation and a member of the American, Maine, and Cumberland Bar Associations. He serves as a trustee of Maine Audubon and chairs its Governance Committee, and he formerly served as a director of the Ronald McDonald House of Portland, Maine. By learning each client’s operations, culture, and objectives, he provides practical, efficient legal guidance aligned with its commercial and organizational needs.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Perkins Thompson
• Member, Maine State Bar Association
• Member, Cumberland County Bar Association
• Fellow, Maine Bar Foundation

Licensed State

• Maine
• Massachusetts

Education

• Suffolk University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Rutgers University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)