Our People

Peter J. Brown

Partner, Los Angeles

310.981.2000
pbrown@lcwlegal.com
Bio
Experience Representative Matters Affiliations Awards Publications Presentations

Peter Brown has been involved in all areas of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's practice since 1989, representing public agencies in litigation, collective bargaining negotiations and many different types of administrative hearings.  Peter has a unique talent in promptly developing an expertise in most of the laws which impact our public agency clients such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Acts, and the state labor relations laws.  Many of the firm's clients have come to rely on his advice in guiding them in these constantly changing areas of law.

Peter has also distinguished himself as a sought-after speaker, author and trainer on topics that impact our firm's clients. He speaks at numerous conferences throughout the state of California and nationally on public sector labor and employment law topics.

Peter is one of the most prolific and popular presenters in the firm's renowned training activities. Although Peter spends much of his time out of the office in court, hearings, workshops and negotiations, he finds that the most enjoyable part of the practice of public sector labor and employment law is advising clients how to resolve day-to-day problems. "Helping people resolve a difficult problem is very gratifying. It is why I went to law school."  "I want the client to not only know the answer, but specifically what the law says.  I show them the law.  Most people are visual."

Peter has also published numerous articles and authored the CPER pocket guide to Family and Medical Care Leave.  He also co-authored Chapter 4 (Leaves of Absence) of the California Public Sector Employment Law book, State Bar of California/LexisNexis (2011).

Representative Matters

Appellate

  • Williams v. Chino Valley Fire District (2011) -

    In a case handled by Peter Brown of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's Los Angeles office, and Judith Islas of the San Diego office, a California Court of Appeal in an unpublished decision held that a local public agency which contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) is not required to reinstate an employee previously retired for disability simply because the employee now claims to be recovered from the disability.

    A disability retired fire captain contended that he was entitled to his job back after he over-came his disabilities.  LCW attorneys argued that as a retiree, he was not entitled to his job back.  The San Bernardino Superior Court disagreed and ordered that he be given the first available Fire Captain position.  The LCW attorneys brought a writ to the California Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal reversed the Superior Court, issuing the writ and agreeing with their argument that the law did not entitle Mr. Williams to a job with the fire district.  The Supreme Court also denied review on June 8, 2011.

Awards

Selected for inclusion in Southern California Super Lawyers 2007-2010

CalPELRA Award of Excellence, 2006

Publications

Presentations

Education

  • JD, Hofstra University School of Law, New York
  • BA, State University of New York at Binghamton
To Contact Liebert Cassidy Whitmore:
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