:: Raymond P. D'Amante
:: Richard B. Couser
:: R. James Steiner
:: Bryan L. Pellerin
:: Gayle M. Braley
:: Roy S. McCandless, Of Counsel
R. James Steiner
email: jsteiner@damantelaw.com
From Green Beret to Litigator
Jim credits his background as a West Point graduate, a graduate of the Army Ranger School, and his service as an Army Green Beret Captain, as having prepared him well for the discipline of a litigation practice in New Hampshire. He began his legal career as law clerk to the Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. His legal skills were honed through attendance at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) programs, which he now teaches as an adjunct law school faculty member in trial advocacy. His attention to detail serves his clients well in settlement resolutions and in the court room.
Commercial Litigation/Business Litigation
Jim represents clients, from multi-national corporations to small businesses or individuals, in all courts of New Hampshire. He has pursued and defended claims involving contracts, construction, consumer protection, warranty, products liability, and various torts - including fraud, misrepresentation, and abuse of civil process.
Family Law Practice
Jim handles a full range of family law matters, separation, divorce, custody and modifications to decrees. For clients considering how to minimize future problems he also counsels and drafts prenuptial agreements. Jim's experience is direct in putting boundaries in place for issues that commonly explode in family law situations.
Real Estate Litigation
Jim has been responsible for numerous real estate matters before the trial and probate courts of New Hampshire, including right of way claims, petitions to partition real estate, boundary issues, quieting title, mechanics liens and adverse possession.
Personal Injury Litigation
Jim regularly handles personal injury claims, emphasizing early preparation to maximize the opportunity to resolve the case for a client at the earliest juncture.
Probate Litigation
Jim handles a full range of contested and probate matters including will contests and claims between fiduciary beneficiaries.
Although Jim left active military duty decades ago, and the military reserve years ago, he maintains active contacts with those still serving in the military. Months prior to the September 11 attack on the United States, Jim attended the prestigious Army War College National Security Seminar, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The event was both a reunion with fellow soldiers and an opportunity to focus on pending national security issues. It proved a timely primer given the events that unfolded shortly thereafter.
Jim is a graduate of the Leadership New Hampshire program sponsored by the Business and Industry Association and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
Education: United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., B.S. 1978; Suffolk University Law School, J.D.(cum laude), 1987.
Military Service: 2nd Bn/10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Ft. Devens, MA; 2nd Bn/1st Inf. ("Always First"), 9th Inf. Division, Ft. Lewis, WA; C Co. (Airborne), 4th Bn/9th Inf ("Manchus"), 172nd BDE, Ft. Wainwright, AK; 1st Bn/11th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (USAR), Ft. Devens, MA; 1976 graduated from Airborne School; 1979 graduated from Army Ranger School; 1982 graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course
Member: New Hampshire Bar Association; American Bar Association; Christian Legal Society; Special Forces Association; Army Ranger Association; National Eagle Scout Association.
