About our Firm
Firm Overview
Adams & Sullivan, P.C. and its predecessors have been a renowned firm in the legal community since 1951. We are a general practice law firm with lawyers specializing in real estate matters, business planning from formation to complex business transactions, estate planning, probate and trust law, school law, issues in front of the Public Service Commission, Nebraska State Administrative matters, criminal defense, family law and personal injury claims.
Clients of Adams & Sullivan, P.C. include individuals, businesses, school districts and political subdivisions. Our attorneys pride themselves on providing the most efficient and cost effective representation of our clients. We are conveniently located directly across from the Sarpy County Courthouse in Papillion, Nebraska.
Our Team
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Patrick J. Sullivan graduated from the Nebraska School of Law in Lincoln, Nebraska and was admitted to practice law in the State of Nebraska in 1994. Mr. Sullivan’s practice focuses on real estate transactions, both residential and commercial ranging from buying/selling, new development, condemnations and representation of sanitary and improvement districts. His practice also includes business law, including formation of corporation/limited liability companies, buying/selling of ongoing businesses and general business issues. Mr. Sullivan also practices extensively in estate matters including probate, trust formation and administration. Mr. Sullivan has also represented a local school district for the past 12 years in all general and litigation matters that have arose in the district.
sullivan@adamsandsullivan.com 402-339-9550
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Michael F. Polk is a graduate of the Nebraska School of Law at Lincoln, Nebraska where he was editor of the Law Review and joined the firm in 2004 as one of the firm’s primary litigators. Mr. Polk also holds a Masters Degrees in Business Administration and Management from Bellevue University. Mr. Polk handles corporate litigation matters as well as general litigation matters for the firm. Additionally, Mr. Polk serves as co-counsel for a local school district as well as head counsel for a local health department. Mr. Polk represents clients in front of the Nebraska Public Service Commission and other Nebraska Administrative Agencies. He is also the primary attorney who handles personal injury claims for the firm.
polk@adamsandsullivan.com 402-339-9550
Timothy J. Buckley graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1996. Prior to graduation, he worked as an intern for the Honorable Theodore L. Carlson, District Court Judge in Douglas County, Nebraska. Mr. Buckley also worked as Law Clerk to the Honorable C. Thomas White, Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. He also served as a Deputy Douglas County Attorney in the office’s Civil Division where he advised elected officials and department heads on numerous legal issues and represented the county in litigation involving various municipal law matters. Mr. Buckley’s areas of practice focus on municipal law, estate planning, probate and trust administration.
buckley@adamsandsullivan.com 402-339-9550
Benjamin E. Maxell graduated from Creighton University School of Law, cum laude, in 2003. While at Creighton, Mr. Maxell was a recipient of the Dean’s Academic Merit Scholarship, the Winthrop and Francis Lane Foundation Academic Scholarship, the Cali Excellence for the Future Awards in Legal Interviewing, Negotiating and Counseling and Trial Practice, and was named a finalist for the Top Moot Court Brief competition. Mr. Maxell is licensed to practice law in the State of Nebraska, and is a member of the Legal Writing Institute, the Nebraska State Bar Association, the Omaha Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
Mr. Maxell has prior legal experience with other area law firms, and specializes in all areas of civil litigation, including insurance defense, workers' compensation, employment law, administrative law and family law. Mr. Maxell also handles the firm's criminal defense matters. Mr. Maxell's experience includes work at multiple trial court and appellate levels, including matters before the Nebraska Court of Appeals, the Nebraska Supreme Court, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Merit Systems Protection Board, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Mr. Maxell also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Creighton University School of Law, where he teaches Legal Writing & Lawyering Skills I and II, and as the President of the Omaha Cardinal Youth Athletic Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit and charitable youth baseball organization.
maxell@adamsandsullivan.com 402-339-9550
Mr. Behrens graduated from New York Law School and was admitted to practice in 2000. Prior to joining Adams & Sullivan, P.C., he was a principal at Messina Law Firm, P.C., in Holmdel, New Jersey and a Senior Claims Counsel for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company on Omaha, Nebraska. While at Messina Law Firm, P.C., Michael managed the firm’s real estate department and handled the full spectrum of real estate matters from residential closings to commercial real estate acquisitions and sales, including zoning and planning matters. He is an expert in farmland preservation matters and handled closings and “right to farm” issues on behalf of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Mr. Behrens also served as Assistant Prosecutor for the Boroughs of Matawan and Fair Haven, New Jersey. He handles commercial litigation matters and is active in constitutional litigation with an emphasis on religious liberty cases, often affiliating with the Alliance Defense Fund. Mr. Behrens also practices in the field of business organizations, including corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. He is admitted to practice in Nebraska, Texas, New Jersey, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
behrens@adamsandsullivan.com 402-339-9550
Ranae B. Upton graduated cum laude from Creighton University School of Law in 2006. Ms. Upton has extensive experience as a Law Clerk for several area law firms. While at Adams & Sullivan, P.C., she has been the primary attorney handling the firm’s family law and landlord/tenant work. Ms. Upton additionally serves as one of the firm’s general litigators, provides criminal defense work for the firm and is a certified mediator.
upton@adamsandsullivan.com 402-339-9550
Dixon G. Adams. Mr. Adams practiced law in Sarpy County for more than 50 years. He served as County Attorney until 1970 when he went into private practice and started Adams & Sullivan. In later years, Mr. Adams had limited his practice to probate and estate matters. Mr. Adams passed away in 2009 but continues to be an inspiration to the practice.
