A skilled trial and appellate advocate with over 30 years of experience representing both companies and individuals in complex business disputes in state, federal, arbitral and regulatory actions.
Peter has served as the principal in a broad array of individual and class actions for a diverse group of clients and developed specialties in product liability, mass torts, ERISA, employment, New York State practice and procedure, and class action defense. Peter has complemented his private law practice with significant pro bono publico service, including serving by appointment to highly sensitive public boards by New York State governors and chief judges.
A litigator with more than three decades of experience, Peter represents clients in complex business disputes in state and federal courts and arbitrations, including mass torts and class actions, product liability, ERISA, employment and securities cases. For these matters, Peter has appeared in trial and appellate courts across the country and has led large and small teams of lawyers, paralegals, experts and support staff.
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, First, Second and Third Circuits
U.S. Supreme Court
Experience
Representative Matters
With a team of Phillips Lytle product liability litigators, defending a chemical manufacturer in New York State water districts’ 1,4-dioxane cases.
Represented a financial services firm in breach of non-compete claims in state court litigation against former managing director.
Defended hedge fund and individuals against breach of non-compete/non-solicit claims in arbitration by former hedge fund employer.
Defended a leading property and casualty insurance company in connection with ERISA, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), civil RICO and breach of contract cases.
Defended leading investment bank in securities fraud class action.
Defending major pharmaceutical company in civil RICO price-fixing case involving the price of insulin.
Defended major automobile companies in recalls, multidistrict litigations and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)/U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations concerning ignition switch and emissions standards.
Defended major oil company in class action litigation concerning MTBE groundwater contamination and investigation concerning Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico.
Defended major drug store chain in arbitration of covenant not to compete against former owners.
Defended chemical company in connection with the litigation aspects of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and post-bankruptcy contract disputes.
Represented major chemical company in connection with fraud lawsuit stemming from purchase of chemical pigment business.
Defended tobacco industry in defense of lawsuits by states, unions and individual smoker class actions.
Speaker, “Mastering Class Action Lawsuits: All You Need to Know,” New York State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting, January 2019
Activities & Professional Associations
Present Activities
Trustee and Treasurer of the Lawyers Fund for Client Protection for the State of New York
Member of Appellate Division, First Department, Attorney Grievance Committee
Certified Guardian and Court Evaluator pursuant to Part 36 of the Rules of the Chief Judge of the State of New York and Article 81 of the New York Mental Hygiene Law
Past Activities
Member of the Council for the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, 1997-2012
Member of Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System, 1998
Co-Author, “ADR Insight: Punitive Damages Must Be Explicitly Excluded in New York Choice-of-Law Arbitration Provisions,” Beyond Dispute, Phillips Lytle Commercial Litigation Newsletter, February 2019
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