William J. Peters

William J. Peters specializes in construction at GRSM. His practice includes matters involving alleged construction defects, delay and disruption, product liability, contract negotiations and trade secrets.

Bill has represented developers, owners and design professionals in his practice at GRSM. He has conducted major litigations on behalf of these clients in state and federal courts as well as before the American Arbitration Association. These matters include: large public and private projects as well as multi-family and single family residential projects.

Bill has also been active in advising clients on contract negotiations, bid disputes and risk management options. He is frequently involved prior to the commencement of litigation and prior to the completion of a project to give advice on appropriate dispute avoidance actions that can be taken.

Admissions

• California

Memberships

• Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California
• American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance section
• San Francisco Bar Association

Representative Experience

Examples of Bill's extensive experience includes the following:

• Represented a major home developer which had repaired claims by homeowners in four subdivisions and recovered more than $12 million in indemnity payments over a two year period from the responsible trades
• Represented general contractor in obtaining a $21 million change order on a $63 million project
• Represented owner of a hospital in resolving large claim regarding the construction of the hospital
• Represented the structural engineer in resolving a large claim regarding a hospital project
• Assisted large solar contractor in contract negotiations and resolution of contract disputes
• Represented multiple developers in negotiations of contracts for infrastructure and vertical construction
• Represented major developers in large multi family defect claims as well as single family claims; including claims under Calderon and SB 800
• Represented various parties in large delay and disruption claims including representing an architect on a claim in excess of $20 million on a large public project
• Represented an architectural services company hired for a new performing arts center at a community college. A payment dispute arose over the interpretation of the original contract and the amendments thereto. The community college's statute of limitations arguments and its contractual claims were defeated during arbitration, resulting in a judgment of more than $1 million for our clients
• Represented design professionals in multiple cases involving collapse of bridge structures
• Represented the architect of two large office buildings in a personal injury trial . At the conclusion of trial, the court declared a non-suit as to our architect despite the plaintiff's expert being allowed to testify against the architect on standard of care issues
• Drafted and Negotiated AIA, AGC, DBIA and non-standard form contracts for various design professionals, contractors and owners
• Represented a private owner in the termination of a contractor for convenience on a $30 million private home in Monterey, California

Presentations

Bill has given many seminars on a number of topics to clients, local associations and insurers.

Education

J.D., University of California Los Angeles School of Law, 1982

• Editor-in-Chief, UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy

B.A., University of California, Davis, 1978

Honors

Top Rated Lawyer-AV® Preeminent™,
Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Litigation - Construction (2018-2024)

Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Construction/Surety Litigation, Environmental, Business/Corporate (2004-2020) Law & Politics