Peter Chaffetz

Peter’s trial/arbitration practice has ranged across the fields of commercial and financial litigation, including post-merger disputes, licensing, construction, commercial fraud, bankruptcy, energy and Ponzi schemes.  For many years he has also been recognized for his market leading reinsurance disputes practice.

Peter starts each case by focusing on the client’s business and the transaction that underlies the dispute.  By getting early control of the facts he has often found winning arguments that others have missed and that catch opponents by surprise.  He crafts his written and oral advocacy for the greatest possible clarity and force.

Prior to forming Chaffetz Lindsey, Peter served as Global Head of the 600-plus Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at one of the largest international law firms.  That experience gave him a perspective on cross-border litigation and international law that is rarely seen at smaller firms.

Commercial

• Defending one of the world’s largest retailers against a US$250-plus million claim for breach of a software license. We won dismissal of all claims and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs in favor of our client.
• Currently opposing enforcement of $2.5 billion arbitration awards against Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in New York federal court.
• Persuaded ICC arbitration panel both to reject a general contractor’s $20 million breach of contract claim against subcontractor client, but also to award the client $27 million on its counterclaim.
• Successful representation of IBM in two technology licensing disputes in federal court.
• Multiple disputes over discovery under 28 U.S. C. § 1782 in support of foreign proceedings.
• Acting as arbitrator in an ICC dispute involving a joint venture to market software to Asian telecom companies.

Reinsurance

• Successfully led Second Circuit appeal of a $64 million federal jury verdict lost in 2017 by prior counsel.
• Successfully defended against rescission of nine-figure mortgage reinsurance program in the wake of the financial crisis.
• Won full relief in sports-disability reinsurance dispute involving some of the country’s highest earning professional athletes.
• Obtained favorable settlement of nine-figure environmental reinsurance arbitration.
• Obtained summary judgment from arbitral panel in a confidential, multi-claim collection dispute.

• “Roundtable Discussing Concerning Challenges and Opportunities Facing International Disputes Boutiques,” London International Disputes Week, Speaker (London, May 2023)
• “U.S. Mass Tort Litigation – Implications of Insurers,” AIDA Swiss Chapter Event, Speaker (Zurich, 2023)
• “IFG Academy: Surveillance” International Fraud Group, Panelist (February 2021)
• “Advocacy and Ethics – how far can you go?” IBA Litigation Forum, Session Chair (Chicago, May 2018).
•  “Courting Business – How the U. S. Supreme Court has Reduced U.S. Litigation Exposure for International Businesses” (Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and England).
•  “Provisional  Remedies In Aid of Arbitration:  The New York Approach in 10 Questions,” Combar North American Meeting (Venice, 2016).
• “Contract Avoidance under U.S., UK and Bermuda Law,”ARIAS U.S. Fall Conference (New York, November 2015).
• “How to Market a Litigation Department,” Annual IBA Meeting (Vienna, October 2015).
• “The Arbitrators’ Perspective on How to Present a Cross Border Direct Coverage Arbitration,”ARIAS U.S. Fall Conference (New York, November 2014).
• “Sex, Drugs and Legal Practice: Stress, Alcohol and Substance Abuse in the Profession,” Annual IBA Meeting (Tokyo, October 2014).
• “Alternative Dispute Resolution Options for Global Commercial Transactions,” (Sao Paulo, December 2012).
• “How Much is This Going to Cost Me?” Annual IBA Litigation Forum, (New York, 2012).

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Member, American Bar Association – Litigation and International Sections
• Member, AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS)
• Officer, International Bar Association – Litigation Committee
• Member, International Bar Association – Insurance Committee
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Member, London Court of International Arbitration
• Honorary Member, Commercial Bar Association of England and Wales – North American Committee