Hodes, Daniel Martin

Neil Shankman was born and raised in the jungles of suburban New York. He escaped at an early age and then went to college at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. With his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Government and Psychology, he proceeded to seek knowledge and wisdom at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. As a member of the Moot Court Board and Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, Mr. Shankman graduated from law school with grades that he has described as "genetically inappropriate". With dreams of raising a family and making a living, Mr. Shankman began the long march back to the East coast, where he landed in Lewiston, Maine.

Mr. Shankman has been a member of the Maine Bar since September of 1977. After four years as a lobbyist for Pine Tree Legal Assistance (statewide legal aid organization), Mr. Shankman developed and opened the first legal clinic in the State of Maine. With offices in Bangor, Lewiston and South Portland, the firm announced its opening with great fanfare. It included the first statewide prepaid legal services plan in Maine, extensive television advertising, and high visibility promotions.

During the course of the last thirty years, Mr. Shankman has continued to maintain his interest in trial work, particularly in the areas of divorce/family matters and personal injury litigation. He has developed one of the largest bankruptcy practices in the State of Maine, and continues to focus on landlord/tenant matters, both in Court and as General Counsel to Maine Real Estate Managers Association. He also serves as State Chair of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

After over twenty-five years living in Yarmouth, Maine with his family, he relocated to Topsham in October of 2008 where he and his partner, Karen, managed to find a house built in 1797 that requires almost as much maintenance and repairs as he does. He spends his spare time skiing, sailing, bicycling and playing with his three adult children.