Meet The Attorneys
Joseph L. Bornstein (1946 - 2020) founded and established the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein in 1974 on the Portland waterfront in the city's historic Old Port district. Since then, the firm has become a statewide practice having represented more than 25,000 injured and disabled clients from all 16 counties, collecting more than $500 million for Maine families. Joe was a fervent supporter of charitable organizations and education throughout the state, educating Mainers about their legal rights. Providing access to justice was his top priority, and Joe’s family of attorneys will honor his legacy by continuing the business he built from scratch.
Benjamin I. Bornstein was born and raised in Southern Maine, where he now lives with his wife and children. As a child, he would listen to his father, legendary Maine attorney Joe Bornstein, tell stories of representing hard-working Mainers who were injured by no fault of their own, and now Ben proudly carries on that legacy. A graduate of the University of Maine School of Law, Ben follows in his father’s footsteps, advocating for his clients and holding insurance companies accountable.
Henri A. Benoit II graduated from Arizona State University, the University of Maine School of Law, and was admitted to the Maine and U.S. District Courts in 1985. Henri served as a Maine Superior Court clerk after law school graduation and joined Joe Bornstein's firm in 1986. He is the Senior Attorney in the firm's Social Security Disability practice. Henri is a sustaining member of NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives) and a member of the Social Security Practice Section of the American Association for Justice. He is also a member of the Maine State Bar Association and the Maine Trial Lawyers Association. In addition to his regular duties as the Senior Attorney in the firm's Social Security practice, he directs the firm's Social Security Outreach Program which includes educational workshops and presentations in the community.
Tanna B. Whitman graduated from Middlebury College, obtained a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and then graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2001. After serving as a law clerk to the Federal Magistrate in Duluth, Minnesota, she joined a Duluth plaintiff's firm practicing in the areas of workers' compensation and personal injury. A move to Maine brought her to the Law Office of Joe Bornstein, where she was a member of the Social Security Disability practice. A subsequent military transfer took her family back to her home state of Washington where, for three years, she worked in personal injury law firms. In 2012, Tanna returned to Maine and to the Law Office of Joe Bornstein, where her areas of focus are personal injury law and crashworthiness claims. Tanna is presently serving as the Advisory Board Chair at the Village Clubhouse, a program for adults with mental illness that strives to improve the quality of life for its members by providing employment, education, wellness, and social opportunities.
Emily A. Gaewsky joined the firm in the fall of 2014 after graduating from the University of Maine School of Law. While in law school, Emily served on the editorial board of the Maine Law Review, worked for the City of Portland's Corporation Counsel, and worked with the Maine Human Rights Commission. Emily also received the Maine Association for Public Interest Law fellowship for her work as a student attorney in the Employment Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services, where she provided legal services to low-income individuals. Emily is a graduate of Middlebury College. She is also a member of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and the Maine State Bar Association.
Blair A. Jones is a creative, skilled trial attorney with nearly 30 years of trial experience in State and Federal Courts around the country. Blair has been recognized for his excellence and skill by his peers, having been awarded an AV rating (Preeminent; peer rated for highest level of professional excellence and ethics) by Martindale Hubbell, named as a "Best Lawyer in America" by Best Lawyers and named a New England Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. Blair graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a BA in English/Drama and from Lewis & Clark, Northwestern School of Law with a JD. Blair was honored at graduation from law school with the Robert E. Jones (no relation) Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Blair's practice focuses on personal injury representation, including auto accidents, products liability, crashworthiness claims, and premises liability. Blair is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, and the Maine Bar Association.
Stephen A. Harlan joined the firm as a clerk during his final year of law school at the University of Maine School of Law. A native of Texas, Stephen enlisted in the United States Navy after high school and served on active duty for twenty-two years. During his naval service, Stephen worked as a jet engine mechanic and P-3C Flight Engineer and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He also earned his undergraduate degree in History, magna cum laude, from Columbia College of Missouri. Having been stationed at Naval Air Station Brunswick prior to its closure, Stephen and his wife longed to return to Maine at the end of his naval service. Finally, in 2019, Stephen and his family came back so that he could begin law school and embark on his second career and continue serving others. Outside of work, Stephen spends time volunteering with his local Lions Club and loves hitting the hiking trails with friends and family or reading books on American history.
