About Us

Our History
Mitchell & Davis, PA, was founded by Jim and Jed in 1977. The two realized that they shared an educational background of Princeton University and Yale University School of Law, as well as a shared vision for providing results-oriented representation to all clients, big and small.

Since its inception, our firm has been a champion of civil rights, and has tackled difficult cases wholeheartedly.

For more than 30 years, Mitchell & Davis has remained true to its personal, family feel and small-town roots while garnering accolades and winning big decisions along the way.

Our attorneys exemplify high standards and preparation and command respect both in and out of the courtroom. We continue to provide the ultimate blend of professionalism, quality, talent and stubbornness that keeps clients coming to us year after year.

Our Staff
Jed Davis—Partner
E-mail: Jed@mitchellanddavis.com

Education:
Princeton University—B.A.
Yale University School of Law—JD

Admitted to Practice in:
Maine and New York
Also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Military Appeals, and various U.S. district and appellate courts.
 
Memberships and Distinctions:
• Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
• Manager of the Towns of Fayette and Readfield, Maine
• Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine—founding member, former president, current member
   of Board of Directors
• Augusta (Maine) Boys and Girls Club—board of directors
• Planning Board of Fayette, Maine Chairman
• On the Board of Directors of Spurwink Services, the largest private social service agency in Maine.

 
Jed has been practicing law full-time since 1963 and has argued many cases before the Maine Supreme Court and other appellate courts. He grew up in New York City, and practiced law there when he first graduated from Yale. Before moving to Maine, he was also an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve Judge Advocate General Program.

Jed lives on his farm in Fayette and has three adult children and four grandchildren. His younger daughter, Aglaia Davis, is an attorney who lives in New York City and does some research for Mitchell & Davis, PA. His plan is to emulate his father, Phillip Davis, who practiced law until the age of 89.

E-mail: jim@mitchellanddavis.com

Practice Areas: 

Admitted to Practice In:
Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas and U.S. District Court, District of Maine
U.S. Supreme Court

Languages: English and Spanish

Memberships and Distinctions:
Recipient of the Justice Louis Scolnick Award presented by the Maine Civil Liberties Union - 2009
Judge of Probate, Kennebec County (1979-present)
Chair and Director, Maine State Housing Authority (1973-1975)
Captain US Marine Corps (1965-1968)

Publications:
"Maine Probate Manual", Tower Publishers, 1981
"Usury in Arkansas," University of Arkansas Law Review, 1972
"Pennsylvania v. Lynn, The Rest of the Iceberg," University of Detroit. Journal of Urban Law, 1975
"Usury in Arkansas Revised, Revisited and Reviewed" Mitchell & Barrier, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Journal 1979
Reported Cases:

State v. Bavouset 2001 ME 141; 784 A. 2d 27
Mitchell and Davis v. Lavigne 2001 ME 67; 770 A. 2d 109
Estate of Pearl McCormick 2001 ME 24; 765 A. 2d 552
Jones v. Route 4 Trucking 634 A. 2d 1306 (ME 1993)
Estate of Whitlock, 615 A. 2d 1173 (ME 1992)
Burton v. Merrill, 612 A. 2d 862 (ME 1992)
Goodwin v. Alexatos, 584 So, 2d 1007 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991)
Sleamaker v. Hammond 576 A. 2d 753 (ME 1990)
Anderson v. Kennebec River Pulp and Paper Co., 433 A. 2d 752 (ME 1981)
 
Jim Mitchell was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1942. He and his wife, Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell, moved to Maine when he completed law school at Yale. The pair quickly fell in love with Maine and made a major impact on the communities they have lived, worked, and raised their family in. Jim has been the Kennebec County Judge of Probate since 1979. He is the author of Maine Probate Manual, Tower Publishing Co., 1981, currently published as Maine Probate Procedure by Batterworths. He practices with Mitchell & Davis, PA in Augusta, the firm he helped begin, with significant concentration in probate, commercial and tort litigation. Mr. Mitchell was lead counsel on two significant probate cases decided by the Law Court; Estate of Pearl McCormick 2001 ME 24 and Estate of Whitlock 615 A. 2d 1173 (ME 1992). He is a member of the bar in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, and several Federal Courts.

Jim lives at home in Vassalboro with his wife, and co-counsel, Libby and their dog, Otto. He has four adult children, two of whom are attorneys. His youngest daughter, Emily, joined Mitchell & Davis, PA as an associate in 2008. He loves spending time on Moosehead Lake at the family house on Mt. Kineo, and he is an avid reader who never stops learning.

He is available for hire and has a successful record as a private mediator in various matters.

Practice Areas:

Admitted to Practice In: Maine

Languages: English

Memberships and Distinctions:
• Psi Chi, International Honor Society of Psychology, Member 2003 - Present
• Maine Trial Lawyers Association, Member 2008 - Present
 
Megan Hanley was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. She moved to Maine at the age of seven swearing to return to Massachusetts as soon as she turned eighteen. After leaving the state to obtain her undergraduate degree Megan returned to Maine for Law School and has no intentions of ever leaving again. She currently lives in Kennebec County with her husband, Zachary Hanley, and their three children.

Megan's preferred field of law is family law. She has trial experience in both District and Superior Court and she has written and co-written numerous briefs to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Practice Areas:

Languages: English and Conversational Spanish

Memberships and Distinctions:
• Realize Maine—Steering Committee Member (2008-present)
• Kids Legal Aid—Former Board Member (2008-2009)
• Portland Stage Company—Former Board Member (2005-2008)
• University of Maine School of Law Community Service Award (2008)
• University of Maine School of Law Moot Court Team—one of two "Prize Arguers" (2006)
• University of Maine Women's Law Association—member and one-term chair (2005-2008)

Emily Mitchell was born in Vassalboro and grew up visiting her father, Jim, at Mitchell & Davis, PA. She is very happy with her decision to move home and join the practice part-time upon completion of law school. She enjoys working with two of the most experienced attorneys in the area and is thriving in her fledgling legal practice under their supervision. She has already gained experience in both civil and criminal trials in front of the bench and in front of a jury in her first few years of practice. 

Emily practices law part-time because she also owns and operates Lupine Farm, a horseback riding stable in Vassalboro where she teaches lessons, boards, runs camps and buys and sells horses. She accomplishes practicing law and running a stable by working two full-time careers on a part-time basis. She is also grateful to the partners for allowing this set-up. She lives at home with her husband, Bill Rafuse, and their many animals.  She combines her two careers in a monthly series she writes titled 'The Equine Esquire' which is published in 'The Horse's Maine' newspaper.

Admitted to Practice In: Maine

Memberships and Distinctions:
• Former Maine House Speaker and Senate President
• Former Selectwoman in Vassalboro
• Board member Maine General Health and Jobs for Maine Graduates
• Advisory Council—Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation
• Completed Guardian Ad Litem Training
• Holds Certificate in Mediation

Libby Mitchell has more than 30 years of legislative experience, including the House and the Senate.  She chaired the Banking and Insurance, Education, Legal and Veterans Affairs Committees.  She also chaired the committee Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.  In her leadership capacity, she chaired the Legislative Council.

Mitchell also served as Director of Maine State Housing Authority from 1986-90.  She managed a multi-million dollar portfolio.  The agency worked with realtors, banks, credit unions, and developers to provide affordable housing.  This experience gave her the opportunity to chair the Board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston from 1995-2000. She worked as a Policy Fellow at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine from 1999-2005.

Libby lives at home with her husband Jim and their Bernese Mountain Dog, Otto.  They have four adult children and six grandchildren, all of whom have returned to Maine to live, work, and raise families. 

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