Former Co-Chair of the Litigation Group. Represents corporations and executives in managing crisis situations, including grand jury investigations, internal investigations, SEC enforcement proceedings, False Claims Act and qui tam lawsuits, and shareholder class actions.

As one of the nation’s leading white collar lawyers, Pete has achieved acquittals on all counts in multiple federal fraud trials, including allegations of accounting and securities fraud, government program fraud, false claims and public corruption. He served as lead counsel in over 80 federal and local jury trials and many more bench trials.

Pete is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. A recipient of the Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Pete has performed with comparable skill as a private practitioner.

Among the many publications that have recognized him as a leading litigator are The Best Lawyers in America (corporate compliance law, criminal defense: white collar, and litigation-securities), Chambers USA, Ethisphere: Attorneys Who Matter, The Legal 500 United States, Washington DC Super Lawyers, Washingtonian’s “Washington’s Top Lawyers” (criminal defense, white collar) and The Washington Post (“Their Own Defense,” June 18, 2007).

• Lead counsel for investment adviser in series of class actions in the Eastern District of New York. Complete dismissal with prejudice at the district court was then affirmed in full by the Second Circuit. Onel v. Top Ships Inc., 806 F. App’x 64 (2020).
• Lead counsel for the CEO of a publicly traded leading sports apparel manufacturer in pending derivative securities class actions.
• Lead trial and appellate counsel for physician charged criminally with health care fraud, aggravated identity theft and obstruction of justice. Acquitted on all counts during five-week jury trial in federal court in Alexandria, Va. (2015).
• Lead trial counsel for former general counsel of insurance company in major DOJ Public Integrity Section prosecution. Acquittal on all counts after jury trial. U.S. v. Beardall, 4:08-cr-00212-DCB (D. Az.) (2010).
• Lead trial counsel for chief operating officer of the largest NYSE specialist firm, defeating charges of securities fraud brought by the SEC after trial. Designated lead counsel for all 12 defendants at trial. In the Matter of Finnerty, Admin. Proc. No. 3-11893 (2009).
• Lead trial and appellate counsel for chief marketing officer of U.S. Foodservice charged criminally and civilly with securities and accounting fraud in the S.D.N.Y. All convictions reversed, U.S. v. Kaiser, 2010 WL 2607140 (2nd Cir., July 1, 2010).
• Lead trial counsel for chief financial officer of Citigroup mutual funds complex in DOJ investigation and SEC and civil class action litigation, including award of summary judgment in SEC case. SEC v. Daidone, 476 F.Supp.2d 374 (S.D.N.Y. 2007); In re Smith Barney Fund Transfer Agent Litig., No. 05 Civ. 7583, 2007 WL 2809600 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2007), aff’d in part, vacated in part, 595 F.3d 86 (2d Cir. 2010).
• Lead trial counsel to aerospace and defense company in an ERISA class action claiming more than $1 billion in damages. Settled for less than 5 percent of damages plaintiffs had sought. Abbott v. Lockheed Martin Corp., Case No. 06-cv-0701-MJR (S.D. Ill. April 16, 2015).
• Lead counsel for government contractor involved in providing security for diplomats overseas, including conduct of internal investigations, responding to grand jury subpoenas, negotiations with multiple government agencies, and defense of civil lawsuits. Brady v. Xe Services, et al, Civil Action No. 5:09-CV-00449-BO (EDNC); In re Xe Services Alien Tort Claims Act Litigation, No. 1:09-cv-615, et al (EDVA 2009); U.S. v. Slough, et al, 677 F. Supp. 2d 112 (D.D.C. 2009).
• Lead trial counsel for publicly traded company investigated for government contract fraud in sales to GSA, including conduct of internal investigation, defense of criminal investigation, settlement of False Claims Act lawsuit, and successful defense, through jury verdict, of related contractor/subcontractor suit. C&E Services v. Ashland, 1:2003cv01857 (D.D.C.).
• Independent Examiner for European banks that are the targets of a major DOJ investigation.
• Lead counsel for chief financial officer of publicly traded insurance company in SEC/DOJ accounting fraud investigation.
• Counsel for Big Four firm in DOJ criminal investigation involving a large pharmaceutical audit claim.
• General counsel of major defense contractor in DOJ investigation of export control violations.
• Senior executives of defense contractors in multiple criminal bid-rigging investigations.
• Executives of multiple companies involved in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations.
• Publicly traded medical device manufacturer in investigation of export control violations by the SEC, the DOJ and the Departments of Commerce and Treasury.
• Major pulp and paper manufacturer investigated for potential violations of the Clean Air Act.
• Large construction company in internal investigation in allegations of government contracts price-fixing.
• Multiple student loan fraud investigations, including representation of executives and corporate entities against False Claims Act and government program fraud charges.
• Senior executives of international bank and major hedge fund in connection with tax shelter investigations in the S.D.N.Y. and the W.D. Wash.
• Managing directors of business development company in parallel SEC and DOJ investigations.
• Senior executives of publicly traded company in investigation of alleged criminal immigration violations.
• Executives involved in DOJ and SEC investigations of finite reinsurance contracts.

• Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026), Litigation – Securities, 2026
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Department of Justice Director’s Award
• Law360 2014 White Collar Editorial Advisory Board
• Listed as a leading litigator in many publications, including:
  • Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys
  • The Best Lawyers in America (corporate compliance law, criminal defense: white collar, and litigation-securities)
  • Chambers USA
  • Ethisphere: Attorneys Who Matter
  • The Legal 500 US
  • Washington DC Super Lawyers
  • Washingtonian’s “Top Lawyers Hall of Fame“ (September 2022)
  • Washingtonian’s “Washington’s Top Lawyers” (criminal defense, white collar)
  • The Washington Post (“Their Own Defense,” June 18, 2007)
• Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defence
• Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

Education
University of Virginia School of Law, JD, Order of the Coif, Notes Editor, Virginia Law Review
University of Notre Dame, BA, with high honors

Admissions
District of Columbia
Virginia

Courts/Agencies
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
US District Court, District of Columbia
US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
US District Court, Western District of Virginia

Clerkships
Hon. Richard L. Williams, US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

Prior Experience
Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1992-1999
District of Columbia, 1992-1997
Eastern District of Virginia, 1997-1999