Peter litigates complex business cases. His ability to simplify complex issues and provide cogent advice results in favorable outcomes for clients. Peter’s work experience spans diverse subject matter, including antitrust, class actions, partnership and shareholder disputes, post-closing disputes, data privacy and intellectual property litigation. He has litigated multiple matters to conclusion, both by dispositive motions and through trial or arbitration.
Within the firm, Peter leads the recruiting efforts and summer associate program in Shook’s Chicago office, and serves as a member of Shook’s Search Committee. Peter also serves as the firm’s representative in the Social Impact Incubator, a group sponsored by the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession that brings together young lawyers from across all sectors of the profession to develop and promote innovative projects aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession.
Before joining Shook, Peter clerked for the Hon. Gerald J. Pappert of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he managed roughly one-third of the docket. During his clerkship, Peter researched a variety of procedural and substantive issues and drafted numerous opinions.
Representative Matters
Represented a class consisting of approximately 1,500 medical providers and their practices in litigation against a large hospital system involving claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and tortious interference with contracts. Before trial, the class was certified and affirmed twice on appeal. At trial, the jury awarded Peter’s client $58 million in damages. The jury’s verdict was affirmed on appeal to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and in 2021, the hospital’s application for leave to appeal was denied by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The parties ultimately reached a settlement awarding $82.7 million in cash to Peter’s clients (including attorneys’ fees), some of which was used to form a new health network. Peter’s work on this case included drafting dispositive motions, drafting Daubert motions, taking numerous depositions (including the deposition of the hospital’s damages expert), examining multiple witnesses at trial (both on direct and cross), drafting and arguing jury instructions, drafting post-trial motions, and drafting appellate briefs.
Represented three insurers in a declaratory judgment and bad faith action. During discovery, Peter successfully persuaded the Court to bifurcate defense and indemnity issues, which significantly narrowed the scope (and cost) of discovery. The Court ultimately granted Peter’s clients’ motions for summary judgment, holding that they owed no duty to defend under the relevant terms of the primary and umbrella policies at issue.
Represented a specialist and market-making firm on the New York Stock Exchange in a FINRA arbitration filed by one of the firm’s members involving claims totaling over $10 million. Following a five-day arbitration, the panel ruled in favor of Peter’s client and awarded substantial attorneys’ fees. Peter’s work on this case included drafting pleadings, managing document productions and written discovery, drafting mediation and pre-hearing briefs, and examining multiple witnesses during the hearing.
Representing a chicken producer in consolidated proceedings involving putative nationwide class actions filed on behalf of direct purchasers, commercial indirect purchasers and end-user indirect purchasers, as well as over 35 direct-action opt-out cases, alleging that producers conspired to fix production levels and pricing in the broiler chicken industry.
Representing a chicken producer in consolidated nationwide putative class actions that allege poultry producers conspired to fix and suppress the wages and benefits of non-supervisory production and maintenance employees at poultry processing plants.
Representing a farm equipment company in a putative nationwide class action alleging product defect and negligence claims, in addition to various intentional tort and consumer fraud claims.
Represented a power tool manufacturer in a patent infringement case involving lithium-ion battery technology. Peter’s work on this case included taking numerous depositions; drafting Daubert motions and other motions in limine; drafting dispositive motions before, during and after trial; and examining his client’s power tool expert at trial.
Represented a provider of remote diagnostic cardiac monitoring technologies in a multimillion-dollar post-closing arbitration. Peter’s work on this case included drafting pleadings, managing document productions and written discovery, drafting pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs, and examining multiple witnesses (both on direct and cross) during the hearing.
Represented a shareholder of a closely held company in a dispute seeking dissolution of the corporation. The case resolved on favorable terms for Peter’s client.
Representing a former trustee in a case involving claims of racketeering, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
Represented companies in class actions brought under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
Presentations and Publications
Panelist, Fledglings, Fear and Fatigue: Lessons in Flying, Chicago Ethics CLE Conference, May 2, 2024.
Best Practices for Health Care Mergers in the COVID-19 Era, Law360, September 16, 2020 (with Steve Vieux and Bria Davis).
Media
Federal Judge: ‘Bodily Consumption Exception’ to Bacteria Exclusion Does Not Apply, Mealey’s Insurance, March 3, 2022.
How Defense Firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon Pursued a Class Action—and Won, Law.com, October 4, 2021.