Peter W. Waldmeir

Principal

waldmeir@millercanfield.com

Detroit
T: +1.313.496.7960
O: +1.313.963.6420
M: +1.313.920.1716
F: +1.313.496.8454

Peter W. Waldmeir considers it his great fortune to have had the opportunity to represent corporate clients in complex “bet-the-company” civil and criminal litigation throughout the United States. Over the past quarter century, he has successfully managed teams of lawyers, experts and consultants in numerous nuclear construction/project management/NSSS lawsuits, including one in which the energy client received $750 million -- the largest cash settlement at the time. In one landmark case, Peter and others successfully represented a manufacturer charged with manslaughter -- the first corporate criminal prosecution in Michigan history. For the past decade, Peter has represented and counseled an energy client in almost every facet of its operations ranging from complex commercial and business litigation defense to participating in labor negotiations to providing broad-ranging business legal advice. As a former Department of Justice civil trial lawyer, Michigan Supreme Court law clerk and corporate attorney, Peter understands all facets of the legal system from the perspective of the plaintiff as well as defense counsel, from trial to appeal, from the boardroom to the courtroom.

“I believe that my clients benefit from my management skills, my interdisciplinary understanding of their legal and business needs, my candor as well as my high ethical standards, and my commitment to providing responsive, high-quality legal service at the most affordable cost. It may sound old-fashioned, but I live to serve my clients to the very best of my ability.”
Peter W. Waldmeir

Experience

Peter understands that it often is the little things which matter the most – not the dramatic closing argument or the discovery of the proverbial “smoking gun.” Peter’s case files are filled with such examples. In two complex civil cases, his skillful legal briefing and maneuvering averted costly and protracted trials through settlements of $750 million and $400 million. In another, after a three-year legal battle, he successfully dismissed a class action with the same magnitude of financial risk. Dogged computerized discovery in another gas pricing case with over 10 million pages of documents resulted in a $500 million settlement. His willingness to stand up for his client, even when the courts and other powerful national interest groups had been predisposed against it, resulted in high-profile criminal dismissals, civil class decertification and favorable appellate outcomes.

“Favorable outcomes are achieved in both big and small matters by hard work, commitment, creativity, understanding, responsiveness, respect and trust – trust in yourself, trust in your client and, perhaps most important, your client’s trust in you. These are the attributes which I have attempted to bring to every matter in my diverse and exciting legal career.”

Representative Clients

American Bumper & Manufacturing Company
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Bonneville Power Authority
Boston Edison
Central & Southwest Corporation
Central Power & Light
City of Austin Utility Department Commonwealth Edison
Dakota Gasification Company
Detroit Edison
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
HUD
Houston Lighting & Power Company
Massachusetts Western Electric Cooperative
Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc.
San Antonio City Public Service Board
Washington Public Power Supply System
Westinghouse Electric Power Division

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Federal Bar Association
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Delegate, 1989-93; 1995-99
Grosse Pointe Cable Company, Board of Directors, 1990-94
Greater Detroit Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Detroit XIII, 1991-92

Honors + Awards

Detroit Monthly, "On the Move: Metropolitan Detroit's 75 Future Leaders," 1993
Crain's Detroit Business, Top 40 Metropolitan Detroit Executives under Age 40, 1991
Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law 2007-present
Michigan Super Lawyers, Litigation 2006-2008; 2010-present

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

Grosse Pointe City Council, 1989-93, Futuring Commission; Land Use and Zoning Commission; Board of Zoning Appeals; Centennial Commission
Old Newsboys' Goodfellows Fund of Detroit, President, 2007; Board of Directors, 1989-present
Southeastern Michigan Community Health Status, Advisory Commission; Board of Directors, 1994-present
Grosse Pointe Farms City Council, 1995-2001; 2003-05; 2006-2010, Mayor Pro Temp, 2007-2009; Futuring Commission; Land Use and Zoning Commission; Board of Zoning Appeals; Grosse Pointe Farms Economic Development Task Force; Budget Committee; Senior Housing Commission

Teaching Experience

Detroit College of Law, Instructor, 1978-80

Publications

"Local Land Use Regulation as State Civil Law," 12 Tulsa LJ 425 (1978)

"Managing Complex Litigation: Plans, Budgets, Staffing, and Strategy." 30th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Law Institute, 1997

"Corporate Criminal Prosecutions and Sentencing: The New Frontier." 30th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Law Institute, 1997

"Conflicts in Evolving 10th and 11th Amendment Law." Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, 1997

"To Condemn or Not to Condemn, That is the Question," Michigan Municipal League, 1996, Author/Lecturer

"The Increasing Risk of Criminal Liability for Business and Employees," 1996, Coauthor/Lecturer

"The 10th and 11th Amendments: States' Rights and Federal Power," National Association of Attorneys' General Conference, 1996, Author/Lecturer

"Nuclear Power Litigation," American Public Power Association, 1986, Lecturer

"Corporate Responsibility," Practising Law Institute, 1985-92, Coauthor/Lecturer

"Cable Regulation," Michigan Municipal Officers' Association, 1984, Lecturer

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