Portland, ME 207.772.1941
Portsmouth, NH 603.433.3317
Manchester, NH 603.716.2895
Lebanon, NH 603.448.2221
800.727.1941
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×Sending an email to the firm or any of its attorneys does not establish an attorney-client relationship or mean that the firm represents you. A written agreement signed by you and this firm is required before an attorney-client relationship is created. Also, information you send the firm or its attorneys electronically is not confidential unless we have previously agreed in writing to represent you.
By continuing with this email, you agree that you have read and understand this notice.
×David Backer is Drummond Woodsum’s Practice Group Leader for Trust and Estate Planning. His practice is limited to trust and estate planning and administration. He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Election as a Fellow is widely considered to be the most prestigious peer recognition that an estate-planning lawyer can receive. A lawyer cannot apply to be a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Fellows are nominated and elected by other estate-planning lawyers.
David was one of only six lawyers in Maine recognized by the 2019 Chambers High Net Worth Guide as a “Band 1” lawyer - the highest distinction awarded by Chambers - in the realm of private wealth law. Chambers’ review of David says: “Backer is a ‘top-tier,’ ‘outstanding attorney,’ sources say. . . . A local lawyer says Backer is ‘very thoughtful and highly skilled in terms of his drafting, his analysis, his understanding of complex tax and estate planning concepts and techniques. I think he can be distinguished from other attorneys by his ability to venture into the policy/analytical realm in thinking about the law.’” The High Net Worth Guide covers the private wealth market in key jurisdictions around the world and is designed to be an all-encompassing resource for high net worth individuals and their advisors.
David also serves as Chair of Maine's Probate and Trust Law Advisory Commission (“PATLAC”), charged with conducting a continuing study of the probate and trust laws in Maine and making recommendations to the Legislature for improvements in Maine's probate and trust laws. PATLAC, created in 2010 by the Maine Legislature, is comprised of seven lawyers and three judges and David has served as a member and as Chair of PATLAC since its inception. Originally appointed in 2010, he was reappointed in 2013 and again in 2016, each time for a three-year term. In addition, David has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America each year since 2007 in the category of Trusts and Estates and in 2015 was selected by Best Lawyers as the estate-planning Lawyer of the Year for Portland.
David is a frequent speaker and writer on various trust, estate and tax planning topics. See recent Professional Presentations, including his most recent Estate Planning Year in Review that he has written each year since 2003.
As part of David’s broad estate planning and administration practice, David advises colleges on the creation and structure of charitable trusts, and counsels clients on a broad range of other matters that affect their estate planning, including pre-marital agreements, post-marital agreements, real estate transfers, and coordinating the beneficiary designations of retirement accounts and life insurance with the overall estate plan.
David frequently represents and advises beneficiaries of estate and trusts, and advises corporate and individual trustees regarding their responsibilities. With the assistance of Drummond Woodsum’s trial lawyers, David also brings and defends claims on behalf of heirs and beneficiaries.
David Backer is Drummond Woodsum’s Practice Group Leader for Trust and Estate Planning. His practice is limited to trust and estate planning and administration. He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Election as a Fellow is widely considered to be the most prestigious peer recognition that an estate-planning lawyer can receive. A lawyer cannot apply to be a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Fellows are nominated and elected by other estate-planning lawyers.
David was one of only six lawyers in Maine recognized by the 2019 Chambers High Net Worth Guide as a “Band 1” lawyer - the highest distinction awarded by Chambers - in the realm of private wealth law. Chambers’ review of David says: “Backer is a ‘top-tier,’ ‘outstanding attorney,’ sources say. . . . A local lawyer says Backer is ‘very thoughtful and highly skilled in terms of his drafting, his analysis, his understanding of complex tax and estate planning concepts and techniques. I think he can be distinguished from other attorneys by his ability to venture into the policy/analytical realm in thinking about the law.’” The High Net Worth Guide covers the private wealth market in key jurisdictions around the world and is designed to be an all-encompassing resource for high net worth individuals and their advisors.
David also serves as Chair of Maine's Probate and Trust Law Advisory Commission (“PATLAC”), charged with conducting a continuing study of the probate and trust laws in Maine and making recommendations to the Legislature for improvements in Maine's probate and trust laws. PATLAC, created in 2010 by the Maine Legislature, is comprised of seven lawyers and three judges and David has served as a member and as Chair of PATLAC since its inception. Originally appointed in 2010, he was reappointed in 2013 and again in 2016, each time for a three-year term. In addition, David has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America each year since 2007 in the category of Trusts and Estates and in 2015 was selected by Best Lawyers as the estate-planning Lawyer of the Year for Portland.
David is a frequent speaker and writer on various trust, estate and tax planning topics. See recent Professional Presentations, including his most recent Estate Planning Year in Review that he has written each year since 2003.
As part of David’s broad estate planning and administration practice, David advises colleges on the creation and structure of charitable trusts, and counsels clients on a broad range of other matters that affect their estate planning, including pre-marital agreements, post-marital agreements, real estate transfers, and coordinating the beneficiary designations of retirement accounts and life insurance with the overall estate plan.
David frequently represents and advises beneficiaries of estate and trusts, and advises corporate and individual trustees regarding their responsibilities. With the assistance of Drummond Woodsum’s trial lawyers, David also brings and defends claims on behalf of heirs and beneficiaries.