Peter S. Dawson Partner

Mr. Dawson handles complex litigations, including but not limited to commercial, real estate, and title litigations, while also providing business advice and cultivating a residential real property and cooperative transactional practice. He is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and has served as lead counsel on many complex federal and state court cases. Recent representations include:

  • The successful defense of a real estate developer in a challenge to the title of a $34 million Queens property (lead counsel).
  • Lead and co-counsel representation of a co-founder of a financial services technology company in federal court litigation brought concerning the founding of the company.
  • The successful defense of an insurance broker to racketeering, conspiracy and fraud claims brought by a major life insurance carrier (lead counsel).
  • The securing of a Yellowstone Injunction for a major Manhattan garage in litigation brought by its landlord.
  • Lead counsel for Plaintiff in federal court litigation to enforce shareholder rights against a private equity firm founded to invest in medical cannabis and adjacent technologies.

Mr. Dawson has achieved successful results in the Westchester, New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Erie and Dutchess County, New York State Supreme Courts, as well as the Westchester, Kings, and Nassau County Surrogate’s Courts, the Appellate Divisions of the First and Second Judicial Departments, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York, the District of Maryland, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

While in law school, Mr. Dawson served as a student attorney in the John Jay Legal Services Securities Arbitration Clinic pursuing securities fraud claims, and was also a member of the editorial board of the International Law Review. He is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut, as well as in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Education

  • Pace University, White Plains, NY (J.D., 2005) (Cum Laude)
  • Boston University, Boston, MA (B.A., 1999)

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • Connecticut

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Courts, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Memberships

  • Westchester County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association

Clients/Representation

  • Serving as lead counsel at the trial court level and appellate counsel at the Appellate Division, Second Department, Mr. Dawson handled the successful defense of a real estate developer in a challenge to the title of a $34 million Queens property.
  • Mr. Dawson was lead and co-counsel for a co-founder of a financial services technology company in federal court litigation brought concerning the founding of the company.
  • Mr. Dawson handled the defense of insurance broker in connection with racketeering, conspiracy and fraud claims brought by a major life insurance carrier in Maryland federal court (lead counsel).
  • Mr. Dawson secured a Yellowstone Injunction for a major Manhattan garage in litigation brought by its landlord.
  • Mr. Dawson served as lead counsel for the Plaintiff in federal court litigation to enforce shareholder rights against a private equity firm founded to invest in medical cannabis and adjacent technologies.
  • Mr. Dawson represents an end of life homecare company that provides living assistance services to the elderly so that they may live safely, comfortably and with dignity in their homes for as long as possible.
  • Mr. Dawson represents an industry defining brand marketing, public relations, influence, and data analytics company in various respects.
  • Mr. Dawson represented one of North America’s largest financial institutions in various title matters, mortgage priority disputes, fraud litigations, and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) cases.

Decisions of Interest

  • Olden Group, LLC v. 2890 Review Equity, LLC, al., 209 A.D.3d 748 (2d Dep’t. 2022); Argued June 7, 2022, Decided October 12, 2022: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15836316491398533551&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr (New York Appellate Division [Second Department] reaches the merits of a claim to quiet title for Firm’s client in case involving a $34 million property in Long Island City, Queens, modifying the lower court).
  • Shih v. Petal Card, Inc., 565 F.Supp.3d 557 (SDNY 2021); Argued August 17, 2021, Decided October 6, 2021: https://casetext.com/case/shih-v-petal-card-inc-7 (Analyzing various complex attorney-client, spousal, and work-product privilege issues – many involving business communications – in detail, and determining them largely in favor of the Firm’s client).
  • Olden Group, LLC v. 2890 Review Equity, LLC, al., 209 A.D.3d 748 (2d Dep’t. 2022); Decided June 1, 2020: https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2020/2020-ny-slip-op-32478-u.html (Queens Supreme Court denies adversary request to replead following oral argument on grounds that proposed claims were palpably insufficient and patently devoid of merit in case involving Long Island City, Queens development property).
  • Shih v. Petal Card, Inc., 18 Civ. 5495 (JFK), 2020 WL 5659429 (SDNY 2020); Argued August 27, 2020, Decided September 23, 2020: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2018cv05495/495864/116/ (Upholding claims alleging that the Firm’s client entered into joint venture to co-found financial services and technology company).
  • 21st Mortgage Corporation v. Osorio, et. al., 167 A.D.3d 823 (2d Dep’t 2018); Argued September 11, 2018, Decided December 19, 2018 https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/Handdowns/2018/Decisions/D57633.pdf (Dismissing mortgage foreclosure action because of prior acceleration of the debt and lender’s failure to subsequently revoke its election to accelerate mortgage through an affirmative act during the six-year statute of limitations).
  • Charles v. Levitt & Kaiser, et. al., 716 Fed. Appx. 18 (2d Circuit 2017); Argued October 30, 2017, Decided November 16, 2017: https://casetext.com/case/charles-v-richard-levitt-esq-nicholas-kaizer-levitt-kaizer-glenda-charles-brendan-white-michelle-kern-rappy-the-bank-of-ny-mellon-corp (Second Circuit addresses issues of judicial federalism; dismissal of racketeering, fraud, and other associated claims affirmed on grounds that Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies when the plaintiff’s theory of entitlement to relief in a federal court proceeding is entirely grounded on the claim that a state court judgment and the affidavit on which it was based was fraudulently procured; sanctions awarded to client by the District Court and affirmed at the Second Circuit).
  • Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Krauss;  128 A.D.3d 813 (2d Dep’t. 2015); Decided May 13, 2015;  https://www.nycourts.gov/REPORTER/3dseries/2015/2015_04123.htm (Reversing lower court to dismiss complaint on grounds that a default may not be excused due to clerical error where excuse is unsubstantiated, conclusory, or inadequately explained).

Personal

Peter lives in northern Westchester where he is active in various community boards and coaches youth baseball and soccer.  He enjoys golf, ice hockey, and the beach.