Peter H. Abdella

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

• General Counsel, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
• Member, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Seventh Judicial District, Fourth Department, State of New York
• Member and Legal Counsel, Monroe County Republican Committee
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, Monroe County Bar Association
• Member, Advisory Board, 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 2015-2021 in the field of Litigation: General Commercial (Upstate NY)
• Named as Best Lawyers^® 2022 Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Rochester, NY
• 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 peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America^© for Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Real Estate; Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
• AV Preeminent^® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, 2007-2021

NEWS

• Featured in “Sustainable construction becoming more prominent in Rochester,” Rochester Business Journal, February 28, 2020

Press Releases

• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Named to 2021 Upstate New York Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Lists, August 20, 2021
• Nine Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Named 'Lawyer of the Year' by Best Lawyers in America 2022, August 19, 2021
• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Best Lawyers in America© and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, August 19, 2021
• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Named to 2020 Upstate New York Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Lists, August 25, 2020
• Harter Secrest & Emery Shines in Prestigious Chambers USA 2020 Rankings, April 24, 2020
• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers In America 2020, August 15, 2019
• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Named to 2019 Upstate New York Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Lists, August 14, 2019
• Harter Secrest & Emery Shines in Prestigious Chambers USA 2019 Rankings, April 25, 2019

PRESENTATIONS

• Co-Presenter, "CSI Night: Case Study-Design-Build-Sue," 14th Annual Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Rochester Chapter Product Show, Rochester, NY, November 13, 2019
• Co-Presenter, "Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: A Focus on Public Projects," Harter Secrest & Emery and Poole Professional, Rochester, NY, January 24, 2019
• Co-Presenter, "Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: From Scope Creep to Profitability - Managing Change and Your Client's Expectations," Harter Secrest & Emery and Poole Professional, Albany, NY, June 14, 2018
• Co-Presenter, "Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: From Scope Creep to Profitability - Managing Change and Your Client's Expectations," Harter Secrest & Emery and Poole Professional, Buffalo, NY, June 11, 2018
• Co-Presenter, "Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: From Scope Creep to Profitability - Managing Change and Your Client's Expectations," Harter Secrest & Emery and Poole Professional, Rochester, NY, June 6, 2018
• Co-Presenter, "Architects/Engineers Breakfast Briefing: Year-End Legal Review," Harter Secrest & Emery and Poole Professional, Albany, NY, February 1, 2018
• 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