Peter Smith

Expert in these Jurisdictions

New Jersey

New York

United States Claims Court

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

United States Supreme Court

Practice Areas

Construction

Commercial Litigation

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Trial Practice

Career

Peter Smith assists clients with the litigation and arbitration of construction disputes in New Jersey and New York. His deep understanding of complex construction issues and applicable legislation has been honed by more than 35 years of experience providing counsel in regard to a broad range of public and private construction projects.

In addition to preparing, negotiating and presenting claims on behalf of contractors, state and local authorities and educational institutions on public works projects, Peter represents commercial clients across the hospitality, healthcare, retail and real estate industries. Developers of apartment buildings and multi-unit condominiums value his substantial background in matters related to large-scale residential projects. His advice encompasses construction defect suits, requests for additional compensation, delayed completion claims, construction lien and payment bond disputes, and professional liability claims involving architects, engineers and other design professionals.

Peter has served on a variety of construction industry arbitration panels, deciding claims involving major commercial, public and quasi-public construction projects and surety matters. Peter is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorney.

Professional Memberships

Member, New Jersey State Bar Association, Construction and Public Contract Law Section

Chairman, New Jersey State Bar Association, Construction and Public Contract Law Section (1993-1995)

Member, American Bar Association, Public Contract Law and Litigation Sections

Member, American Arbitration Association, Construction Industry Panel of Arbitrators (1995-present)

Member, American Bar Association, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry

Publications

NJ Business Magazine Quotes Smith on Alternative Dispute Resolution

New Jersey Business Magazine, 05.06.2024

Author, "New Threat to Contractor Claims Against Design Professionals on Public Works Projects"

New Jersey Constructor, Spring 2013

Author, "One-Call Disputes- Where Do We Go From Here"

New Jersey Constructor, Winter 2012

Co-author, "Pension Plan Withdrawal Liability: A Primer"

New Jersey Constructor magazine, Summer 2010

Author, "State by State 2009 Construction Compendium of Law"

New Jersey Construction Law chapter of the USLAW Network

Author, "Mediation and Arbitration Best Practices"

Aspatore, 11.2007

Contributing Author, "Winning Legal Strategies for Arbitration and Mediation"

Aspatore, 2007

Author, "Lucier and Mango: The Future of Contractual Limitations of Liability in New Jersey?"

2004

Author, "Construction Defect Litigation"

2001

Author, "New Jersey Supreme Court Interprets the Construction Lien Law"

2001

Author, "New Jersey's New Construction Lien Law: How Will It Affect Your Business?"

1995

Co-author, "Representing the Contractor in Defense of Owner Claims"

Construction Litigation: Representing the Contractor, Wiley Law, Second Edition , 1992

Experience

Trial counsel in New York State Supreme Court, Kings County for national restaurant chain in defense of action for injunctive relief brought by owner of private sewer line seeking to disconnect restaurant from its system.

Represented a large state university in defense of contractor claims for additional compensation for unanticipated subsurface conditions in the installation of a campus-wide system of underground utilities.

Represented a general contractor that recovered claims for delay damages in excess of $1 million arising from the major expansion of a publicly owned hospital.

Represented several publicly traded real estate investment trusts in recovery of claims in multiple lawsuits for defective construction from contractors, design professionals and others on large high-rise residential and shopping center projects.

Represented a state authority in action to recover damages from contractors and designers in connection with the premature failure of irregular concrete surfaces and PVC piping in a water feature park.

Represented an architectural firm in the defense of claims of professional negligence resulting from the specification of masonry flashing and water penetration through exterior masonry walls of a large public facility.

Represented a general contractor in defense of claims resulting from the weekend collapse of a YMCA natatorium ceiling.

Represented an architect reviewing construction progress for a lender in a high-rise residential condominium on the Hudson River in defense of claims of defective construction by a condominium association.

Represented a local school board asserting claims of professional negligence against its architect in a multiple school expansion and new construction project.

Represented subcontractors including an electrical contractor, roofer and mechanical contractor in managing claims and account receivables.

Represented a construction manager in claims arising from the $100 million expansion of a casino hotel in Atlantic City.

Arbitrator in dispute over valuation of approximately $30 million in change orders in gut rehab of landmark Manhattan hotel.

Sole arbitrator of dispute between electrical contractor and control systems contractor in major renovation and rehab of Manhattan hospital.

Chair of arbitration panel in consolidated arbitration of disputes among construction manager, mason and steel erector on NJ Schools Development Authority project.

Chair of arbitration panel in dispute between public sewer authority and mechanical contractor concerning claims and counterclaims for delay, change orders and back charges.

Sole arbitrator in dispute between private New Jersey university and contractor concerning the construction of an athletic field in compliance with NCAA Division 1 requirements for competition.

Arbitrator in dispute between foreign manufacturer of industrial equipment and domestic purchaser of that equipment for its plant regarding the design and performance of that equipment, inclusive of claims for misrepresentation and lost profit.

Arbitrator in international arbitration between foreign-based passenger airline and US-based contractor concerning terminal construction in PANYNJ-owned airport.

Education

Awards