Biography
Peter maintains a diverse, multi-disciplined practice in the areas of construction, commercial and employment litigation and counseling. He blends rigorous, yet highly professional, advocacy with a dedication to pragmatic, cost-effective and client-focused solutions for clients.
Peter’s construction practice involves representing owners and indemnitors in warranty and bond claim disputes arising out of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements. This encompasses disputes concerning large commercial solar arrays. He also represents parties in mechanics’ lien discharge proceedings and related construction matters.
In his commercial litigation practice, Peter represents businesses, financial institutions, venture capital groups (and similar entities) in foreclosure, pre- and post-judgment proceedings, injunction and related disputes. He has tried cases to verdict involving claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and business torts. Peter has successfully defended parties against claims of alter ego liability, and prosecuted recognition proceedings under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Peter’s experience includes representing manufacturing clients in disputes concerning license agreements.
Peter’s employment practice centers around representing large, mid-size and individual clients in a broad array of employment issues. These matters encompass discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, non-compete litigation, disputes concerning restrictive covenants and employment investigations. Peter routinely appears before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, such as the CHRO. He also advises human resource personnel in developing human resource policies and best practices.
Peter also represents institutional and individual trustees, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, personal representatives and creditors in a wide array of probate controversies, including the administration of decedent’s estates, contested conservatorships, trust construction, fiduciary liability claims, accounting proceedings and contested powers-of-attorney. His trial experience includes representing individuals in estate proceedings and representing clients in multi-jurisdictional, complex estate disputes.
Peter has also had the privilege of working on unique matters, such as representing a local board of education in a dispute concerning the use of retirement funds, and representing a state official investigated for alleged violations of agency policies. He also has substantial experience counseling health care providers in complying with health care privacy laws and subpoenas seeking protected health information.
After law school, Peter clerked for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department in Albany, NY. This afforded him a unique transition between the academic law school environment and the practice of law.
A native of Bristol, CT, Peter resides in Glastonbury, CT with his wife, children and Trajan, a handsome German Shephard he named after one of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. Peter enjoys skiing, kayaking and the exercise of hitting white balls on a golf course. He is an avid reader of history, to the extent his family believes he may have missed his true calling. He enjoys getting his hands dirty with whatever yard or household work beckons on the weekend and makes every effort to keep pace with his children’s intense youth sports schedules.
Education
Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 2000
Editor-in-Chief, Albany Law Review
Moot Court
Siena College, B.A., English, magna cum laude, 1997
Honors
Listed in New England Super Lawyers® as a 2011/2012 Connecticut Rising Star®
Clerkship, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department
Representative Matters
Obtained defense verdict in favor of two manufacturing companies following a four-day, federal court trial involving a former employee’s claim that he acquired an equity interest in the companies pursuant to a written employment agreement
Represented New York-based venture capital firm in vigorously contested litigation involving client’s investment in aircraft financing debt instruments that settled favorably after extensive discovery and motion practice
Represented nation-wide contractor in its capacity as indemnitor of a performance bond in warranty claim dispute related to a large, commercial solar photovoltaic array
Obtained favorable verdict following federal court trial on behalf of estate beneficiary in matter against estate’s fiduciary involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference with inheritance
Represented prosthetic limb manufacturer at trial against former Connecticut-based affiliate involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and violations of CUTPA that resulted in verdict in client’s favor on all counts
Represented estate beneficiaries in complex, multi-jurisdictional federal, state and probate court proceedings involving late mother’s estate that resulted in favorable settlement following extensive court proceedings and discovery
Secured favorable settlement of claims arising from the design, construction and installation of a solar photovoltaic system on rooftop of aerospace manufacturing company after extensive investigation, discovery, expert analysis and mediation
Represented Connecticut state official in internal investigation involving allegations of sex and gender discrimination asserted by former state employee
Regularly defends employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies against claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and related issues
Regularly counsels employers and human resource managers on wide array of employment and personnel issues, including navigating leave laws and regulations, terminations, wage and hour laws and the impact of anti-discrimination laws
Community
Trustee, Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, West Hartford, CT, May 2019—present
Board Member & Counsel, Minnechaug Pool & Tennis Club, Glastonbury, CT, June 2019—present
Presentations
Speaker, “Fundamentals Of Construction Contracts & Litigation,” New York State Bar Association, June 23, 2021
When Privacy Rules and Subpoenas Intersect: A Primer on Health Care Privacy Laws and Practical Tips for Responding to Subpoenas and Other Legal Processes, Alliance for Non-Profit Growth and Opportunity HR Forum, May 25, 2016 (Presentation)
Publications
Recent Changes to Connecticut’s Sexual Harassment Training Law and FMLA, Client Alert, August 2019
New Development Affecting CT Connecticut Employers, Client Alert, January 2019
Patients Now May Sue Physicians for Breaching Physician-Patient Confidentiality, Client Alert, January 2018
Implementing Summer Dress Code Policies in the Workplace, Client Alert, July 2017
The NLRB Is Policing Social Media Policies, CT Law Tribune, April 27, 2015
EEOC Updates Enforcement Guidance on Pregnancy-Related Issues, Client Alert, July 2014
An Attempt to Tame Bully Bosses, CT Law Tribune, April 28, 2008