Biography
Peter J. Woo is the office litigation manager in the Riverside, California, office and a principal in the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Peter believes that equally important to knowing and understanding the law, a legal advisor must earn the trust of clients by anticipating their questions and offering solutions before they even know there is an issue requiring attention. Peter advises corporations, not-for profit companies, and private entities who benefit from his experience gained working in-house, in litigation and at trial.
Peter defends clients facing claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, contractual disputes and fraud, as well as professional liability claims such as directors and officers (D&O) insurance. He also defends clients against claims made under the Americans with Disabilities Act and equivalent state-based claims involving public accommodations. Peter also defends clients against wage and hour claims on an individual, class, and/or representative basis.
In his legal career, Peter worked at several insurance companies as a claims professional. He successfully handled complex coverage issues, managed litigation and supervised outside counsel on thousands of complex EPL, D&O, and E&O professional liability matters. This experience enables Peter to look at issues from both an in-house and litigation point of view, helping him to better serve his clients.
Peter also advises clients on issues such as risk-management, hiring and termination, workplace investigations, and drafting employee policies, and when faced with litigation, Peter helps his clients each step of the way. He facilitates sexual harassment training and develops materials for executives, managers, and employees under current California and federal law with emphasis on practical solutions.
Outside of the office, Peter is active in the Los Angeles and Asian American legal and business communities, serving as general counsel for A-List Magazine, a nonprofit periodical that highlights Asian professional leadership and success in the United States and Canada. He previously was as a volunteer attorney for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Domestic Violence Services Project, assisting with preparing the paperwork necessary to protect survivors of domestic violence and their children, including sexually abused minors and abused elderly persons.
Before joining Jackson Lewis, Peter was the vice-chair of the Labor and Employment practice group at an AMLaw 200 national law firm overseeing the firm’s employment practice nationwide and leading the firm’s team of employment attorneys in California. As a law student, Peter gained experience as an extern for the Honorable Maureen A. Tighe of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Central District of California, and after graduating, he served as a clerk for the Honorable Alison Y. Tuitt of the New York State Supreme Court, Civil Division, Bronx County.