Peter J. Woo is the office litigation manager for Jackson Lewis’ Riverside office, and is a principal in the Orange County office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is co-leader of the firm’s Entertainment and Media group and a member of the firm’s EPLI leadership committee with respect to its nationwide insurance practice. 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.
As a triple threat, Peter leverages his experience as a judicial law clerk, in-house counsel, and trial attorney litigating employment matters to advise corporations, not-for profit companies, and private entities to facilitate outcomes that align equally with legal and strategic business goals. He works with clients from the outset to develop litigation strategies, taking a deliberate, step-by-step approach to align with case and client needs.
Peter defends companies and individuals in litigation and arbitration forums, facing claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, contractual disputes and fraud, including executive compensation disputes and bet-the-company complex employment litigation. He also successfully defends clients against wage and hour litigation on an individual, class action, and/or representative basis under California’s Private Attorneys General Act.
Peter prioritizes protecting clients’ interests, understanding that each client’s issues are as unique as their businesses. While Peter devotes his energy to serve clients in an array of industries, he has built a significant practice in the entertainment, media, and insurance industries. In entertainment and media, Peter successfully defended major film production companies, advertising/marketing firms, publications, professional sports teams, music recording studios/labels, online studios, celebrity business ventures, and costume design companies in complex employment litigation and contractual matters. He also navigates media attention from high-profile lawsuits and assists companies with internal employee concerns.
In the insurance sector, Peter regularly defends insurance companies, address corporate employment needs, and successfully manages employment claims under EPLI and D&O policies. His prior work in-house at several insurance companies, where he managed litigation and supervised outside counsel on complex employment and corporate litigation matters, allows him to sharply view issues wholistically from both in-house and litigation perspectives.
Outside of the office, Peter is active in the Asian American legal and business communities, both nationally and in Southern California. He co-chairs the Litigation Committee for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, promoting trial and advocacy skills. Peter is the founder, chairperson and president of the Asian American Insurance Network, a non-profit organization amplifying the voices of Asian-Pacific Islander professionals in the insurance and risk management industries. Additionally, Peter was previously a Board Member of the Orange County Korean Bar Association, who fostered deeper connections between the legal system and the Korean-American community.
Representative Matters
- Trial and arbitration counsel on numerous employment and professional liability cases that resolved favorably for client, including obtaining defense verdict on case involving $3M exposure.
- Lead counsel who brokered a non-monetary settlement of a shareholder derivative lawsuit of celebrity business venture by significantly restructuring six major corporate transactions while negotiating employment termination and release of all claims of its chief executive officer.
- Obtained favorable ruling in dispositive motion resulting in dismissal of $10 million union wage and hour class action.
- Vigorously defended a $3 million employment disability-related lawsuit through summary judgment, which resulted in a nuisance value settlement.
- Obtained favorable resolution of a highly publicized lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against a major advertising agency while negotiating separation of employment with executive.
- Vigorously defended two sexual harassment cases brought by a prominent plaintiff’s law firm against the same employer, leading to the plaintiff’s firm withdrawing as counsel and resulting in a de minimis settlement.
- Obtained dismissal of wage-and-hour matter after negotiating settlement of 4 percent of opening demand.
