Atty. Peter J. Petesch
Peter J. Petesch handles a wide range of labor and employment matters, including litigation under: The Railway Labor Act The Americans With Disabilities Act The Family and Medical Leave Act Title VII The Age Discrimination in Employment Act Sarbanes-Oxley AIR 21 – the Wendell H.
Profile Summary
About Peter J. Petesch at a glance
Peter J. Petesch is a employment attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Littler. Admitted to practice in Maryland, Maryland State Bar Association and District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar. Educated at Georgetown University (J.D., 1985) and Georgetown University (—, 1985). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Labor Law - Management (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
Peter J. Petesch handles a wide range of labor and employment matters, including litigation under:
- The Railway Labor Act
- The Americans With Disabilities Act
- The Family and Medical Leave Act
- Title VII
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Sarbanes-Oxley
- AIR 21 – the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century
He has successfully defended employers in individual and class-based cases before federal and state courts and agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Mediation Board, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges.
Peter has more than 20 years of experience in representing employers in disability-related matters under both Titles I and III of the ADA, and he has taught webinars in both areas. He counsels, litigates and trains on leave issues and whistleblower matters under Sarbanes-Oxley. Peter often works with airlines, offering strategic advice on:
- Union avoidance
- Collective bargaining
- Arbitrations
- AIR 21 whistleblower claims
He also works with healthcare facilities and trade associations, as well as the hospitality, retail and service industries. Additionally, he represented a large human resources association as an amicus participant in four employment law cases before the Supreme Court.
Co-chair of Littler Mendelson's Transportation Industry Practice Group and a core member of the EEO and Leaves of Absence and Disability Accommodation Practice Groups, Peter has published numerous books and articles on the ADA and other employment issues for a variety of trade journals and has been quoted on labor and employment issues in the national media.
Prior to working at Littler, Peter was the managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office of another nationwide labor and employment firm.
Practice Areas Explained
Peter J. Petesch's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Peter J. Petesch handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Peter J. Petesch is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in District of Columbia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia
Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.
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