Peters Hamlin, LLC

Peters Hamlin LLC is a litigation boutique that specializes in employment law, white collar criminal litigation, executive compensation and general civil litigation such as defamation, tort, and breach of contract cases.  Peters Hamlin LLC distinguishes itself by “thinking outside the box” and bringing creative and practical solutions to problems.  Our approach is strategic and cost-effective and tailored to your needs.  We endeavor to provide clients with prompt responsive service.  Your concerns are our concerns and we are honored to serve our clients and to make them feel valued.

PRACTICE AREAS:

Employment Litigation:
The greatest and most valuable asset of most organizations is its human capital.  Because of its combined strength in employment law and criminal law, Peters Hamlin LLC offers a unique ability to address the full gamut of employee-related issues.  Unlike most employment lawyers who have no background as federal prosecutors, we have significant trial and investigatory skills. Peters Hamlin LLC has the ability to address not only the employment discrimination and harassment issues posed by employees, but also has the expertise to resolve a broader array of employee-related issues such as economic fraud, wire fraud, embezzlement, mail fraud, theft of trade secrets, computer fraud and Sarbanes-Oxley violations, to name just a few of the problems employers face because of the conduct of their employees.  At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Peters served in both the Criminal and Civil Divisions.  In the Civil Division, Peters defended U.S. agencies and departments in employment discrimination suits.  With over twenty years of employment litigation expertise, Peters has been repeatedly honored as a “Super Lawyer” in Employment Law in New York.

In addition to her service in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Peters spent fifteen years litigating in private practice in some of the nation’s premier law firms.  As a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop, Peters headed the Labor and Employment Department in its Stamford Office.  Prior to the U.S Attorney’s Office, Peters was an associate at both Paul Hastings and Morgan Lewis.  She has litigated single and class action law suits for Fortune 500 clients in thirty states, in federal and state courts, before the AAA and before administrative agencies such as the EEOC and state human rights organizations.

Investigations:
After Paul Hastings, Kristan Peters went on to serve for six years at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia—the nation’s largest and busiest U.S. Attorney’s Office.  There, Peters handled north of 100 grand jury investigations, honing her investigatory and forensic skills.  Both Fortune 500 companies and smaller companies have engaged Peters to use these investigative techniques and skills to uncover a wide range of employee-related problems:  sex harassment, embezzlement, discrimination, corporate leaks, employee misconduct, theft of confidential information, criminal activity and violations of fiduciary obligations, to name a few. 

This unique investigatory expertise has often revealed misconduct and employee involvement where previous investigations by our predecessors on matters have failed to do so.

Advice and Counsel:
Peters Hamlin LLC provides advice and counsel on a wide range of employment issues regarding compliance with federal and state laws such as the Family Medical Leave Act, the American with Disabilities Act, Sarbanes Oxley, Title VII, surveillance and tape recordings in the work place, review of corporate computer policies, overtime, benefits, negligent retention, violence in the workplace, hiring and termination policies, etc.  Our international client base has often called upon us to evaluate cross border benefits and legal issues.

Our advice and counsel draws on thirty years of studying employment law issues starting at the Industrial and Labor Relations School at Cornell University and working thereafter in a rich variety of capacities.  That experience is the base upon which we draw perspective, experience and judgment.  Peters began her career working in-house at Shell Oil’s international division, “Pecten International.”  There, Peters worked both in Houston and at its overseas location in Duoala, Cameroon as a Human Resource professional, before she attended law school.  This experience provides an ability to see issues from the Human Resource professional’s perspective. 

We understand that in-house counsel and H.R. professionals have clients that they need to serve.  Our advice and counsel is geared to be supportive of both our in-house contact, and to be mindful of their concomitant need to be responsive and accountable to their own clients.  Moreover, Peters’ experience as an H.R. professional at Shell Oil before she entered law school has conditioned her to provide advice subjected to a rigorous cost-benefit analysis with respect to all proposed approaches and solutions.

Criminal Litigation:
Peters Hamlin LLC is experienced in all phases of criminal litigation:  investigations, trials, and appeals.  We handle corporate investigations into criminal conduct.  We have defended a wide range of criminal cases involving individuals accused of security fraud, economic fraud, computer fraud and export violations in federal and state court, and before the SEC.  Peters’ criminal cases have received national and international legal press coverage, appearing on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and in foreign papers as far away as the Chechen Times.  Peters has brought her formidable negotiation skills and powers of persuasion to bear on the side of her clients in negotiating reduced sentences, cooperation agreements and dismissal.  Corporations have engaged Peters to represent executives in investigations brought by government agencies.  For instance, Peters defended one executive in the N.Y. State Attorney General Investigation into Title Insurance companies’ fees.  She has been engaged to represent corporate executives in cases brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the S.E.C against executives at investment banks. She has tried dozens of cases to verdict and has handled approximately fifty criminal appeals.

Civil Litigation:
Our clients have often sought out our litigation skills to assist them in commercial litigation disputes such as breach of contract claims, defamation, and wrongful death.  We have successfully defended defamation claims in a variety of venues such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California.  After a large life insurance company litigated a defamation case unsuccessfully with another large law firm for six years, Peters was brought in on the matter mere weeks before the trial and successfully negotiated a resolution on extremely favorable terms.   We successfully got dismissed another defamation complaint brought against a New Jersey-based company on discovery violations grounds, and successfully litigated a defamation suit in California on behalf of one of the nation’s largest beer companies.  Peters was co-counsel with Mary Jo White in defending Pillsbury Winthrop in a $40 million defamation complaint brought by a former partner.

We have successfully defended our clients such as investment banks, alcoholic beverage companies and publishing companies in breach of contract claims brought in state and federal courts, the NASD, and before the American Arbitration Association.

Peters has litigated wrongful death cases with sensitivity, compassion and tremendous financial results for her clients.  Peters’ first foray into wrongful death cases began as a favor for a friend whose son drowned in a community lake.  Bringing her investigation and cross examination skills to bear, the case resulted in an economic settlement 450% higher than the heretofore highest verdict in the history of the state of Connecticut for a drowning case.

Executive Compensation:
Peters Hamlin LLC represents executives of hedge funds, investment banks, private equity firms, energy investment partnerships, and insurance companies in negotiating compensation and severance packages.  She has represented major banks such as JP Morgan Chase in defending compensation claims before the NASD, and has represented individual client executives before the NASD and the AAA.