Peter H. Abdella
Partner
pabdella@hselaw.com
tel: 585.231.1116
fax: 585.232.2152
Peter Abdella maintains a general litigation practice with an emphasis on commercial and construction law. He also assists firm clients with problems concerning corporate governance, securities law, private and public mechanics’ liens, and commercial landlord-tenant rights and remedies. His experience includes the following:
- Construction litigation including defense of design professionals; representation of architects, engineers, owners and contractors in construction-related disputes, and lien foreclosure actions representing design professionals, contractors and owners.
- Representation of owners, architects and engineers in contract negotiations and fee disputes.
- Counsel and advice to private higher education institutions, school districts, and public boards regarding construction project issues.
- FINRA securities arbitrations representing broker/dealers and registered representatives in both customer and industry disputes, as well as claimant representation.
- Representation of shareholders and companies in Securities Act claims, derivative actions, and business disputes.
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Litigation Unit Manager, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
- Member and Legal Counsel, Monroe County Republican Committee
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, Monroe County Bar Association
- Member, Board of Trustees, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
- Chancellor and General Counsel, Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church
- Member, Board of Trustees, Foundation of the Monroe County Bar Association
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Chambers USA from 2015-2020 in the field of Litigation
- Named by The Daily Record as one of Rochester’s Attorneys of the Year, 2015
- Named as Best Lawyers® 2013 Litigation – Construction “Lawyer of the Year” in Rochester, NY
- Named as Best Lawyers® 2012 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Rochester, NY
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, 2007-2019
News
- Featured in “Sustainable construction becoming more prominent in Rochester,” Rochester Business Journal, February 28, 2020
Presentations
- Speaker, “Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: Year-End Legal Review,” Harter Secrest & Emery LLP and Poole Professional, Buffalo, New York, January 18, 2018
- Speaker, “Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: Year-End Legal Review,” Harter Secrest & Emery LLP and Poole Professional, Rochester, New York, December 6, 2017
- Speaker, “Discovering and Avoiding the Hidden Risks in Contract Language,” Harter Secrest & Emery LLP and Poole Professional, Rochester, New York, March 1, 2017
- Speaker, “Options for Managing Municipal Contracts,” The Wendel Companies and Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Association of Towns of the State of New York Conference, New York, New York, February 20, 2017
- Speaker, "Design-Build for the Design Professional," Poole Professional - New York, Inc., Rochester, New York, June 18, 2015
- Speaker, “Risks in Public Contracts,” ACEC - WNY Membership Meeting, Poole Professional Ltd., Buffalo, New York, April 9, 2015
- Speaker, “Ethics II - Revisiting Ethics,” Poole Professional Ltd., Rochester, New York, May 22, 2014
- Speaker, “Construction and Design Law – Emerging Trends,” Construction Specifications Institute, Rochester, New York, December 14, 2011
- Speaker, “Legal Update,” American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, Rochester, New York, March 18, 2010
Admissions
- New York
Education
- University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- Colgate University, B.A.