Gordon P. Gates

Attorney

Gordon Gates specializes in Social Security disability law, and he handles claims at every level of the Social Security disability claim process. He assists clients with initial applications for disability benefits, with appeals of denied claims, and with hearings by an administrative law judge.

Gordon has successfully appealed unfavorable administrative law judge decisions the Social Security Appeals Council and to U.S. District Court (District of Maine) to have those claims remanded for new hearings.

Gordon attended Maine Maritime Academy and Tulane University Law School. At Tulane, he served as Senior Articles Editor of the Tulane Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. He was admitted to practice law in Maine in 1991. Since 2005, he has concentrated his law practice on Social Security disability and SSI cases.

Gordon is the publisher of Social Security Disability Lawyer, a nationally-read legal blog. He presented at the Fall 2010 conference of National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) on the topic of Writing Hearing Briefs for the ALJ.

Collette C. Cushing

Attorney

Collette Cushing is of counsel to this firm. Collette practices exclusively in the area of Social Security disability, and is involved with all aspects of our practice. She has conducted hundreds of Social Security hearings in Maine and New Hampshire.

Collette Cushing attended Bowdoin College, where she played varsity tennis and majored in biology and government. Collette attended the University of Maine School of Law. In law school, Collette was on the Dean's List and participated in the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic. Collette Cushing is a member of the Maine Bar, and is admitted to the U.S. District Court, District of Maine.

Laura A. Kendrick

Paralegal

Laura's responsibilities include filing the appeals (Requests for Reconsideration or Requests for Hearing by ALJ) for our clients. She also maintains computerized client files with Prevail case management software, which is specifically tailored for Social Security cases.

Laura Kendrick has extensive contact with our clients, both in person and on the telephone. Additionally, Laura obtains the records of our clients' medical treatment, and seeks opinions regarding our clients' functional limitations from their treating doctors and counselors.

Laura Kendrick is a graduate of Deering High School and Andover College. She is certified as a paralegal, and has been handling Social Security disability claims for several years.

Beth Sandmire

Legal Assistant

Beth works closely with our attorneys and paralegal to manage our clients' claims. She gives our clients frequent status updates, assists our attorneys with correspondence, manages the client files, and handles other administrative tasks.

Beth has an M.S. in Speech/Language Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She maintains a part-time private practice as a Pediatric Speech/Language Pathologist, and has lived in southern Maine for over 20 years. She is married, and a mother of two.