Attorney Diane S. O’Connell joined the firm in August of 2022, bringing her legal knowledge and expertise from over 18 years of legal practice in Ellsworth, serving the Hancock County area.  Diane continues to work in Ellsworth from Rudman Winchell’s new branch office at 140 High Street.

Diane has developed a transactional practice with a focus on real estate related legal work, including family real estate succession planning, real estate development, residential waterfront acquisitions and dispositions, title insurance, lease agreements including solar farm leases, easements, including conservation easements and advising land trusts, municipal zoning, road associations, and commercial real estate transactions. In addition, Diane assists clients with estate planning, estate administration, business formations, buying and selling small businesses and advises municipal boards.

Born and raised on a sheep farm in the South Island of New Zealand, Diane spent several years travelling and working her way around the world, until she “discovered” Maine, and never left.

Diane graduated from Otago University in New Zealand with double degrees in Law and Accounting, and was admitted to the New Zealand Law Society in 1996, and the Maine Bar in 2003, and then made the move to Hancock County to join James Patterson in his legal practice in Ellsworth, and she has been building her legal skills and client relationships ever since, most recently as part of Lambert Coffin, P.A.

Diane loves Maine, and enjoys all the wonderful things Maine has to offer, and she is eager to assist others who live here or who are moving to Maine, with all their transactional legal needs.  Diane and her husband, Steve live in Orland, have two children, Hayden and Darra, a dog Roxy, and a very loud parakeet Athena. Diane and her family enjoy sailing, hiking (especially in the Great Pond Mountain Trust wildlands in Orland), and snowboarding, a new sport they took up to make the most of Maine winters.

  • Business & Corporate
  • Estate Planning & Elder Law
  • Real Estate
  • Municipal, Land Use & Environmental

Admitted to Maine Bar 2003

University of Southern Maine School of Law, 2002

Admitted to the New Zealand Law Society 1996

Waikato University, Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Hamilton, New Zealand, 1996

Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand, L.L.B. 1995

Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand, BCom, 1995

207-374-5833
REAL ESTATE AND PROBATE PARALEGAL