Employers from a wide range of industries (health care, education, financial services and social services) seek out Peter's advice on their most important and sensitive employment matters and labor-management concerns. With more than three decades of experience, Peter offers clients a unique perspective that combines a rich understanding of labor and employment law with a deep knowledge and familiarity with all aspects of clients' business objectives and operational challenges, allowing him to readily translate his knowledge into practical and workable advice. Clients have told Chambers that Peter is "very helpful and very responsive."
In his practice, Peter provides daily advice on the full range of issues facing employers, including employee privacy, disciplinary actions, compliance with state and federal discrimination laws, wage and hour compliance, social media concerns, whistleblower claims, and disability-related issues. Peter regularly advises clients on both the retention and separation of high-ranking executives, as well as investigations into alleged misconduct, for clients ranging from small non-profit organizations to Fortune 500 public companies. Peter represents clients in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, dealing with union organizing activity and in labor arbitrations and unfair labor practice proceedings. Peter also appears in court proceedings and hearings before administrative agencies at both the state and federal levels.
Peter regularly advises educational institutions on the many special concerns they face. Peter has advised colleges and universities as well as public and private secondary schools on their obligations under Title IX, student privacy laws and mandated reporting statutes and has counseled higher education clients on the reporting obligations imposed by the Clery Act. He has worked with a number of secondary schools in investigating and addressing historical allegations of sexual abuse.
Formerly an employee of the Massachusetts State Legislature, Peter frequently advises clients and represents their interests before agencies that regulate codes of conduct for government workers and private individuals doing business with public agencies, contributions to political campaigns, and lobbying activity.
Experience
Executive Employment Matters: Peter often advises clients on highly sensitive matters involving investigations into alleged misconduct by senior executives, and regularly assists in the separation of executives where clients determine that changes are required. Peter also has extensive experience in negotiating the on-boarding of new members of clients' executive teams. Peter has worked with many organizations in implementing non-competition restrictions for their senior managers, as part of their efforts to protect corporate goodwill and confidential information.
Employment Counseling: Peter assists clients with all aspects of employment policies and practices, including hiring, discipline and discharge, leaves, accommodation of disabilities, reductions in force, sexual harassment, internal investigations and other compliance issues.
Collective Bargaining Negotiations, Contract Administration and Responses to Union Organizing: Peter regularly represents unionized hospitals and public schools in their dealings with labor unions. Among his clients are the largest healthcare network in Massachusetts and some of the state's leading public schools. Peter frequently advises nonprofit agencies and for-profit corporations in responding to labor unions' efforts to organize the entities' employees.
Labor Arbitrations and Proceedings Before the National Labor Relations Board: Peter has recently obtained favorable arbitration decisions upholding a hospital's discharge of a nurse for dispensing medication without a physician's order, and approving a hospital's involuntary transfer of unionized employees from overstaffed units to understaffed units without providing operationally disruptive "bumping" rights. Peter has obtained multiple favorable rulings from the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., in connection with appeals from decisions made by regional offices of the NLRB.
Educational Institutions: Peter has represented various educational institutions in connection with investigations by the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education, focused on allegedly inadequate Title IX procedures for the reporting of sexual harassment and insufficient institutional responses to actual harassment claims.
Government Relations/Campaign Finance Matters: Peter has successfully represented clients before the Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission and in connection with investigations by the Federal Elections Commission and the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.