Sarah A. McDaniel

Sarah McDaniel’s practice centers on legal issues relating to the ownership, management and use of land. Sarah embarked on a legal career as the natural progression of her love for wildlife and wild places, and she brings to her practice years of working in the land conservation field before attending law school. Prior to joining with her colleagues to co-found Douglas McDaniel & Campo LLC, PA, Sarah practiced civil litigation with a property law focus for a decade, including four years operating Maine Land Law LLC, PA, as a solo practitioner.

Sarah’s Maine Land Law practice has been incorporated into Douglas McDaniel & Campo LLC, PA, where Sarah continues to focus on property law: helping families plan for passing on summer camps and farms to the next generation; answering questions regarding permissible land uses and municipal regulation; resolving disputes among neighbors concerning boundaries, access and other easement rights; and guiding clients through real estate transactions.

After years advocating for clients through the litigation process, Sarah recently (2021) expanded her practice to include mediation services with a focus on boundary issues, access easements and families trying to manage inherited camps and lands in Maine.  Her extensive background in real estate litigation and family lands issues makes her well suited to mediating all manner of disputes between neighbors and family members pertaining to real estate.

More information on Sarah’s background and approach is available at www.mainelandlaw.com.

Publications & Presentations

• McDaniel, Sarah A. “Chapter 14: Private Access Rights” in A Practical Guide to Land Use in Maine, edited by Matthew D. Manahan, published by MCLE / NE, 2016, and 2021 supplement.
• Maine Land Trust Conference, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (“Rights and Responsibilities of Owning Land,” “A Step-by-Step Guide to Land Acquisition,” “Stewardship of Land Boundaries and Ownership Rights,” “Managing Access and Right of Way Issues,” “Basics of Conservation Easements”).
• Half Moon Education Inc (Attorney CLE), 2015 (“Identifying, Classifying and Locating Easements,” “Avoiding, Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues in Land Transactions and Disputes”)
• National Business Institute CLE Seminars, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018 (“Title Law Update,” “Understanding Easements,” “Litigation Disputes over Easements and Restrictive Covenants,” “Ethics and Land Disputes,” “Conservation Easements,” “Ethical Considerations in Maine Title Law”).
• “Access Issues for Land Trusts,” published online in 2012 by the Maine Land Trust Network available here.

Recognition

• “Lead Counsel Verified” in Real Estate, by Thompson Reuters, 2021.
• “Best Law Firms in Maine” U.S. News & World Report, 2020, 2021.
• Certificate of Recognition, 2013. Recognized by Board of Overseers of the Maine Bar and Maine Supreme Court for services as a Receiver.
• Katahdin Counsel, 2012-2013 and 2015-2020.   Recognized by Maine Supreme Court for donating more than 50 hours of legal services annually to low income individuals.
• Selected as a “New England Rising Star” in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 by Super Lawyers magazine (peer-rated to be in the top 2.5% of qualifying lawyers in New England).
• Rated 9.2 “superb” (June 2021) by AVVO attorney rating service based on experience, industry recognition and professional conduct.