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Practice Areas
Home Building
Litigation
Experience
Peter is an experienced litigator who works aggressively, creatively and efficiently to obtain the best overall financial outcome for his clients. His primary expertise is in insurance law, where his past work on both sides of the table gives him an advantage.
Peter represents insurance companies only in the area of title insurance. He is an advocate for title insurers and underwritten title companies, for which he handles regulatory compliance, corporate formation and acquisitions, and RESPA lawsuits and administrative actions.
In all other areas, Peter represents policyholders. He advises his clients on risk management strategies in real estate development and business transactions, and litigates against insurers to recover policy benefits. Peter also litigates business and construction defect suits for clients, and often monitors the representation being provided by insurer-retained counsel in litigation.
Representative Matters
Title Insurance Experience
Peter has a wide range of experience in litigation and transactions, as well as an in-depth understanding of the rules and regulations that affect title companies in today's competitive marketplace. He works closely with Sid Israels, a fellow Wendel Rosen attorney, who has over thirty years of experience representing major title insurers. Together they advance the interests of title insurers throughout the state.
Wendel Rosen operates under a philosophy of integrity and candor with regulatory authorities. Our clients benefit from our professional, long-term relationships and ability to communicate openly and honestly with regulators. Our experience, practice, and philosophy strive to minimize the length of time for regulatory approvals. We make efficient use of staff and cost-effective paralegals to deliver the highest quality legal services at a reasonable cost. In litigation we advocate vigorously for our clients with consideration and attention to the full range of our clients' interests.
Insurance Recovery Related Experience
Peter has more than thirteen years experience litigating insurance coverage and bad faith disputes. Representative cases include:
Obtained insurance coverage for a lawsuit against an international Internet-based company after coverage was initially denied
Obtained insurance coverage for a lawsuit against a quasi-governmental agency after the claim was initially denied, allowing the case to settle with the insurer paying nearly 100% of the settlement
Forced multiple insurance carriers for a townhouse developer to settle a multi-million dollar construction defect lawsuit with no contribution from the policyholder/developer
Forced carriers in another construction defect lawsuit to pay significantly larger share of the settlement for the plaintiff's claims
Represented various parties in protracted insurance-coverage litigation relating to environmental contamination at industrial sites
Obtained near 100% recovery for a major publicity held corporation after its insurer denied coverage for mold-related claims
Negotiated resolutions of complex coverage issues involving claims-made and reported professional liability claims
Obtained high-limit excess insurance coverage without litigation, after the carrier had initially denied the claim
Risk Management Related Experience
Provided contractual and insurance risk transfer advice and consultation on large condominium development projects
Evaluated owner controlled insurance programs ("OCIPs") on large common interest developments
Reviewed construction contract to transfer risk and ensure smooth operation of OCIP insurance programs
Documented and implemented of comprehensive SB 800 ("Fix-It" law) programs
Provided advice regarding integrated risk management strategies
Provided insurance and risk management-related due diligence in corporate asset and stock acquisitions
Construction Defect Related Experience
Extensive experience defending regional and national residential home builders in construction defect litigation throughout the state.
Education
University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, Berkeley, J.D. (1994)
University of California, Berkeley; B.A., Rhetoric (1988) | 