Thomas M. Peterson represents clients in complex civil litigation appeals, and in trial court litigation in anticipation of possible appeals. He has argued more than 75 appeals in the California appellate courts and many others in the other federal appellate courts. Tom practices regularly before the California Supreme Court and each of the California Courts of Appeal. He is also regularly consulted on issues of substance and procedure in cases that have not yet reached the appellate courts.
Tom has assisted clients in diverse business fields, including energy production and distribution, high-tech, healthcare, retail, construction, pharmaceutical, and financial services.
Tom has also served as a teaching practitioner–adviser in the appellate advocacy course at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and he is a member of the American Law Institute.
Environmental
Antitrust
Labor & Employment Class Action
ERISA Class Action
Insurance
Patent
Commercial
First Amendment
Financial Services
Recommended, Dispute resolution: Appellate: courts of appeals/Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal), The Legal 500 US (2019–2024)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, San Francisco (2017–2025)
Recommended, Supreme Court and Appellate, The US Legal 500 US (2014)
Member, American Law Institute
Georgetown University Law Center, 1980, Francis E. Lucey, S.J. Award (highest grade point average)
Editor, Georgetown Law Journal (1979–1980)