Peter Lauricella is the regional managing partner of the Albany office and co-chair of the firm’s nationwide Commercial Litigation Practice. He represents clients in a wide variety of complex commercial, contract and corporate litigation matters, including shareholder and partnership disputes, business “divorce” and corporate/LLC/partnership dissolution proceedings, employer unfair competition claims involving non-compete agreements, trade secrets, trademarks, confidentiality agreements and business defamation, across the state and in other jurisdictions.
Peter also is regularly retained to defend engineers and architects, accountants, financial professionals, and directors and officers in professional liability lawsuits. He has extensive experience with all phases of litigation in state, federal, administrative and bankruptcy courts, including trials and appeals. Further, Peter represents clients in corporate transactions, such as contracts, financing and governance, and medical practices/physicians in corporate, litigation and disciplinary matters. Although Peter is based in the firm’s Albany office, he represents clients in matters statewide and in federal courts across the country.
As chair of the firm’s Government Investigations & Contracts Practice, Peter assists corporate clients in navigating the complex maze of business regulations, provides representation to companies that are the subject of government investigations initiated by state and federal regulatory agencies, and handles proceedings involving the award or denial of government contracts.
Peter achieves successful outcomes for clients through his strong work ethic and his commitment to being unfailingly accessible and responsive. His approach to litigation emphasizes relentless and meticulous preparation prior to trial to attain the best possible resolution regardless of complexity and challenge.
Areas of Focus
Commercial Litigation
Peter's practice focuses on complex commercial and breach of contract lawsuits; shareholder and partnership disputes; business “divorce,” break-ups and dissolution proceedings; claims involving financial improprieties by companies; breach of fiduciary duty claims against corporate directors and officers; business defamation and unfair business practice claims; non-compete agreements; intellectual property matters; Lanham Act claims; claims involving group self-insured workers’ compensation trusts; and real estate, construction and creditors’ rights and creditors’ bankruptcy matters.
Additionally, Peter is regularly called on to defend employers in claims by employees involving alleged illegal employment practices, such as discrimination, hiring, termination of employment and workplace accommodations. Separately, Peter’s background in commercial matters extends to corporate transactional matters, reviewing and drafting contracts; handling leases and credit and security agreements; and counseling on corporate finance, UCC issues and secured transactions. Furthermore, as a testament to his experience, Peter has been selected by his peers on several occasions to act as a mediator on complex commercial cases, as well as to testify as an expert witness on contractual disputes.
Professional Liability
Peter represents and defends engineers and architects in a wide variety of claims, including alleged design defects, improper drafting of specifications, improper construction site supervision, and general errors and omissions. He has handled such claims prior to litigation, in mediation and arbitration, and in litigation in state and federal courts. His professional liability experience also includes the representation of accountants, dentists, physicians and other health care professionals, insurance agents and brokers, financial professionals, lawyers, and directors and officers.
Government Investigations and Contracts
As a business litigator in New York’s Capital District, Peter often is called upon to represent companies that are being subjected to an investigation, complaint or claim by the Attorney General’s office or another state or federal regulatory agency, whether it be for alleged unfair business practices or corruption charges. In addition, Peter represents clients in proceedings to protest or defend government contract awards and provides counseling on the bidding process. He also has handled a number of government procurement matters outside of New York for a national client.
Professional/Community Activities
Peter is very active in the local community, having served on the boards of directors for several not-for-profit organizations and Chamber of Commerce committees. Until 2015, he served as chairman of the board of directors of his local YMCA, and in that same year received the YMCA’s “President’s Award,” the highest recognition for a volunteer. Currently, he is a director on the board of Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York. In 2011, the Albany County Bar Association selected Peter to serve on its Judicial Qualifications and Screening Committee, where Peter assists in interviewing and reviewing the qualifications of candidates running for state judgeships. In addition, Peter was appointed by the Albany County Legislature in 2007 to serve as vice chairman of the Albany County Ethics Commission, where he served for six years and, several years later was selected by the Town Board of Bethlehem, NY, to serve on its Ethics Board. He formerly served on a citizens committee charged with developing a plan to manage the growth of an important local business corridor, and he has taught business and commercial law at a local business school.