Courtney J. Peterson

  1. People /

Courtney J. Peterson

Courtney J. Peterson

Partner

  1. People /

Courtney J. Peterson

Courtney J. Peterson

Partner

Courtney J. Peterson

Partner

New York

T: +1 212 541 3187

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Biography

Courtney J. Peterson is a partner in the Litigation & Investigations Department. She focuses her practice on litigating and advising clients with respect to commercial disputes and employment matters. Courtney rigorously advocates for her clients and listens to clients to best address their business or personal needs. She is the calm within the storm and uses her pragmatism, persistence, and detail-oriented nature to provide results for her clients.

Courtney’s litigation practice includes complex contract matters as well as consumer litigation, representing food manufacturers facing claims of food mislabeling and false advertising. Courtney also has experience representing fiduciaries in complex trust and estate matters and defending against claims of breach of fiduciary duties.

Courtney’s employment practice includes assisting clients with workplace investigations; counseling clients on addressing allegations of workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; drafting employee handbooks; and litigating claims of employment discrimination and wage and hour violations. Tangential to Courtney’s employment and labor work, Courtney advises educational clients on addressing claims under and complying with Title IX.   

Since the beginning of her career, Courtney made the valuable decision to become licensed in both New York and New Jersey; she is also admitted to practice in the federal courts of each state.

Courtney not only works hard for her clients but is passionate about being an active member of the firm and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. She is the co-chair of the firm’s Race Ethnicity Inclusion Network, formerly known as the Lawyers of Color Affinity Group, and she is an active member of the New York Office’s Recruiting Committee. She is also a member of the firm’s DEI Taskforce.

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Workplace Mentoring Program
  • Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Division, Intern (2006)
  • New York State Bar Association Mock Trial/Moot Court Program
  • Volunteer Lawyer’s Association – Pro Bono Attorney
  • KIND (Kids In Need of Defense) – Pro Bono Attorney

Professional Affiliations

  • New York City Bar Association

  • Recruiting Committee

Admissions

  • New York, 2008
  • New Jersey, 2007
  • United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey and Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

    United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

New York University, J.D., 2007

Rutgers University, B.A., highest honors, 2004

Experience

  • Represented employer in wage and hours litigation and settlement of class claims in the federal district court for the Southern District of New York.
  • Represented employer in successfully compelling plaintiff to arbitrate individual claims and defeating plaintiff’s ability to bring class claims related to employee classification for purposes of overtime laws. 
  • Represented an employer in claim of employment discrimination based on grooming policies resulting in successful negotiation of resolution of dispute.
  • Represented an employer in mediation of dispute involving claims of breach of contract, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage and retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law.
  • Argued appeal before Appellate Division, First Department seeking reversal of summary judgment order on complex business dispute involving claims of conversion and aiding and abetting conversion and breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Represented commercial landlord in complex dispute with tenant involving injunctive relief, an action on individual guaranty, and two successful summary judgment motions resulting in more than $3 million judgment in favor of landlord.
  • Represented publicly traded company in commercial real estate dispute before Supreme Court, New York County and Appellate Division, First Department, which concerned whether renewal right in lease violated the rule of perpetuities.
  • Represented commercial banking client in bad faith hearing in New York State Court, and successful resolution of defendant’s claims that client acted in bad faith by failing to modify the terms of the parties’ contractual agreement.
  • Represented daughter of decedent in Surrogate’s Court, New York County, with respect to challenge to probate of a will executed while decedent was in a nursing home on the grounds of undue influence and lack of testamentary capacity where the decedent, with an estate of over $80 million, disinherited daughter contrary to disposition in prior wills.
  • Represented executor and leading charitable institution in ultimate settlement of claims by decedent’s cousin alleging lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence, where decedent left multi-million dollar residuary estate to charity.
  • Represented trustee of testamentary trusts in Surrogate’s Court, New York County trial of objections to an accounting proceeding, resulting in a decision dismissing objections.
  • Represented executor of estate in Surrogate’s Court, New York County trial of objections to an accounting proceeding. 

Pro Bono

  • Represented an immigrant mother who had lost custody of her children following her relocation to another state without court approval and, following a trial in New York state court, ultimately achieved a verdict awarding custody of children to mother.
  • Represented an unaccompanied minor in seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and adjustment of status.

Resources

Publications

Speaking Engagements

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