Peter F. Vaira
Special Counsel
Biography
Peter F. Vaira serves as Special Counsel to Weir LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the course of more than 50 years in practice, Mr. Vaira has represented clients in complex criminal defense, white-collar matters, civil litigation, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings in state and federal courts. His practice includes white-collar criminal defense, internal and parallel investigations, antitrust matters, corporate crisis management, and complex commercial disputes.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Vaira serves as an arbitrator, mediator, special master, and independent hearing officer. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and the District of Columbia, and is a certified national and international arbitrator. Mr. Vaira serves as a Special Master in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Court program and previously served as the Independent Hearing Officer for the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
As Special Master, Mr. Vaira works with courts and litigants in matters involving complex civil litigation and disputes that require oversight beyond standard statutory procedures. His work has included arbitrating and mediating commercial litigation matters, overseeing court-authorized settlements, addressing litigation discovery disputes and professional conduct issues, mediating ongoing construction disputes, serving as a union election officer, acting as receiver pendente lite and receiver in liquidation proceedings, and overseeing investigations involving gas wellsite accidents.
Mr. Vaira has also represented individuals, corporations, and organizations in a broad range of white-collar criminal defense matters, including government investigations and related civil proceedings. His experience includes handling antitrust matters, conducting internal investigations, managing parallel proceedings, and advising clients during high-profile corporate and regulatory matters.
Mr. Vaira was appointed by former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to serve as Executive Director of a commission formed to investigate the Department of Licenses and Inspections following the Center City Philadelphia building collapse.
Practice Areas include Criminal Defense: White-Collar, complex civil litigation, arbitration, mediation, internal investigations, antitrust matters, and corporate crisis management.
Areas of Practice
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Education
- Duquesne University, B.A.
- Duquesne University School of Law (J.D., 1962)
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Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania (1962)
- District of Columbia (1968)
- Illinois (1984)
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circui
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Honors
- Who’s Who in America
- Who’s Who in American Law
- Distinguished Law Alumni Award, Duquesne University Law School, 2005
- Legal Intelligencer Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016
- Philadelphia Inquirer Influencers of Law Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019
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Publications
- Author of Eastern District of Pennsylvania Federal Practice Rules Annotated, Lexis, published annually since 1998
- Author of Corporate Responses to Grand Jury Investigations, Lexis, 1984, revised annually
- Regular columnist, “Eastern District Practice” and The Legal Intelligencer, a daily commercial legal newspaper
- “Changes in the Law Practice After COVID-19 … What Will Be the New Normal?,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 12, 2020
- “Recommended Changes for Procedure of Supervising Grand Jury Judges,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 9, 2020
- “A Primer: Warrants for Using Electronic Hearing Devices From the FISA Court,” The Legal Intelligencer, January 14, 2020
- “An Overview of Exceptions to Grand Jury Secrecy Rules,” The Legal Intelligencer, November 19, 2019
- “Primer in Federal Criminal Discovery for New Practitioners,” The Legal Intelligencer, September 25, 2019
- “Federal Effort Against Organized Crime: How it Began and Where It Is Today,” The Legal Intelligencer, July 16, 2019
- “What Are the Duties of the General Counsel to the Pa. Supreme Court?,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 14, 2019
- Grand Jury Witnesses Subpoenaed for Subsequent Appearance Can Review Prior Testimony,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 12, 2019
- “2019 Wish List: Changes I’d Like to See in the Courts, Gov’t Agencies, Law Profession,” The Legal Intelligencer, January 15, 2019
- “Increased Use of Special Masters and How They Can Help,” The Legal Intelligencer, November 21, 2018
- A Comparison of Pennsylvania State and Federal Grand Jury Procedure,” The Legal Intelligencer, September 25, 2018
- “Department of Justice Needs an Internal Review of Its Operations,” The Legal Intelligencer, July 17, 2018
- “The Eastern District in Transition: An Interview With Chief Judge Stengel,” The Legal Intelligencer, November 20, 2017
- “Why State Prosecutors Lag Behind Feds in Corruption Cases,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 13, 2017
- “The Important Role of a Trial Lawyer,” The Legal Intelligencer, November 14, 2016
- “An Open Letter to the Chief Judges of Federal District Courts in Pa,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 17, 2016
- “Long-Delayed Issues Face State Supreme Court,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 28, 2016
- “Suggestions for Amending the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Statute,” The Legal Intelligencer, January 16, 2016
- “Supreme Court: Address the Real Problem With AG Staff Emails,” The Legal Intelligencer, September 15, 2015
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Professional Activities
Professional Memberships & Leadership Activities
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, (by invitation only)
- Chairman, Criminal Procedure Committee, 1991-1994
- Member, Communications Committee, 1996
- Member, International Committee, 2009 to present
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, North American Branch
- Member, American Law Institute (by invitation only)
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL)
- Executive Director, Mayor’s Independent Commission Regarding the Licenses & Inspections Department, 2013
- Special Hearing Master, Commerce Court Program, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, 2012 to present
- Member, Philadelphia Mayor’s Police Department Transition Team, 2008 Independent Hearing Officer, Laborers’ International Union of North America, 1995 to 2005
- Member, Mayor’s Selection Committee for Philadelphia Police Commissioner, 1992
- Member, Philadelphia Commission on Police Corruption, 1997-1998
- Executive Director, President’s Commission on Organized Crime, 1984-85
- Court Appointed Arbitrator, Fen Phen Diet Drug Class Action Suit settlement, Philadelphia
- Certified Mediator, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Discovery Master, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, 2013
- Court Settlement Monitor, Federal District Court EDPA, 2012
- Ethics Complaint Hearing Master, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, 2013
- Litigation Mediator, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, 2013)
- Arbitrator of Commercial Litigation, Seventeen Party Arbitration, NAM, Garden City, NJ, 2016
- Ongoing Construction Dispute Mediator, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, 2013-2014
- Arbitrator Labor Union Trusteeships and Union Election Officer, Independent Hearing Officer, Laborers’ International Union of North America, 1995-2010
- Receiver Pendente Lite and Receiver in Liquidation, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, 2013
Military Service
- Officer, United States Navy (Judge Advocate), Active Duty, 1963-1968; Served in Republic of the Philippines, at sea in the-Mediterranean fleet; and Office of Judge Advocate General, Washington, D.C. Tried numerous courts-martial; acted as counsel to courts of inquiry and legal advisor to Flag Officer, commander of 15 ship flotilla, at sea; argued before the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
