Professional Experience
Peter’s practice focuses on business and real estate transactions, entity formation, contract review, business litigation, and HR/employment counseling. Peter represents clients in transactional and commercial matters for a range of businesses and individuals including real estate developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, as well as food companies, tech start-ups, and medical professionals. Peter has negotiated commercial construction contracts and represented both owners and contractors in such transactions. He has experience negotiating various debt and equity instruments, loan workouts/restructuring, and partnership/operating agreements, including the successful resolution of partnership disputes and partnership buyouts (while avoiding litigation).
As outside general counsel, Peter regularly advises and counsels clients on employment law, vendor and third-party dispute resolution (including litigation and pre-litigation), in addition to workplace investigations, corporate governance, and other general business matters.
Peter also assists individuals and businesses with mergers and acquisitions, including structuring and negotiating the sale of businesses on behalf of founders and owners with an eye towards retirement, as well as representing “acquisition entrepreneurs” and search funds in vetting their acquisition targets, including the drafting and negotiation of purchase documents and due diligence.
Before coming to Gibbs Giden, Peter was the VP of Legal and HR at Popcornopolis, a national gourmet popcorn and snack company. In the last several years, he has served as outside general counsel to various businesses. Previously, Peter was a litigator and business attorney with distinguished Los Angeles litigation boutiques. He handled matters including the representation of numerous businesses in litigation and in the resolution of pre-litigation disputes as well as the representation of professionals in liability defense matters, including hospitals, physicians, and brokers.
Peter sits on the editorial board of Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine (published by the Los Angeles County Bar Association.) He is also a member of the Valley Industry Commerce Association, the Association for Corporate Growth, the Exit Planning Institute, and the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce.