- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Circuit
- First Circuit
- Third Circuit
- Fourth Circuit
- Fifth Circuit
- Sixth Circuit
- Seventh Circuit
- Ninth Circuit
- Tenth Circuit
- Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Wisconsin
- University of Michigan Law School
- Washington University
Peter J. Leff
About
Since 1996, Peter Leff has been serving as General Counsel to national and international labor unions; first working for the law firm that served as General Counsel to the American Postal Workers Union, then becoming General Counsel of the Printing Packaging & Productions Workers Union of North America in 2006, and now serving as General Counsel to the International Association of Fire Fighters in February 2022.
Mr. Leff’s practice focuses on providing practical and creative guidance and advice to his clients so that they can fulfill their mission and succeed in today’s increasingly complicated statutory and regulatory environment. He believes that one of his most vital roles is to serve as a trusted adviser to his clients. He sees himself as a problem-solver and a problem-avoider. Mr. Leff services all of his clients’ legal needs. He ensures that his clients are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and avoid legal problems. He helps his clients make decisions that promote their objectives.
Mr. Leff devotes his efforts to advising unions and their local affiliates with respect to all aspects of union operations and governance, including advice and counsel to Union Officers, Executive Board members, Business Agents and Representatives, Organizers, and Union staff; compliance with DOL regulations; interpretation assistance with and drafting constitutions and By-Laws; advice and assistance regarding internal union charges, trusteeships, and appeals; review of vendor and hotel contracts; participation in collective bargaining; assistance and support regarding employer disputes; administrative and court litigation; legislative assistance; trademark enforcement and presentations at meetings, conferences and conventions. He has protected international unions from legal challenges to their trusteeship, merger and internal union charge decisions. He has been involved in numerous union election challenges and routinely deals with the Department of Labor on LM, union election and audit issues.
In defense of and in furtherance of his clients’ goals, Mr. Leff has considerable experience advocating before federal district and appellate courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. When necessary, Mr. Leff vigorously represents his clients in court and other forums as both plaintiff and defendant.
Highlights
Notable Decisions
- Centerra, a Constellis Company and SDM of America, FMCS Case 190424-06471 (Arb. Lamont Oct. 23, 2020)(obtained a favorable decision rejecting employer’s argument that contract did not have to be followed due to mutual or unilateral mistake resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in delinquent health care contributions being paid to security guards).
- Westrock Services, Inc. and Graphic Communications Union, Local 197-M, Case No. 10-CA-195167 (2018)(successfully stopped union decertification effort by establishing that employer had tainted the election).
- Thornton v. Graphic Communications Conference of the Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters Supplemental Retirement and Disability Fund, 566 F.3d 597 (6th Cir. 2009)(obtaining dismissal of a putative class action alleging that a reduction in benefits constituted a violation of ERISA).
- Cox v. Graphic Communications Conference of the Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters and Graphic Communications National Health and Welfare Fund, 603 F.Supp.2d 23 (D.D.C. 2009)(successfully defeated challenge to health care benefits from employee of the union on failure to exhaust and statute of limitations grounds).
- Southern Mail, Inc., et al, A Single Employer and American Postal Workers Union, AFLCIO, 345 NLRB No. 43 (2005)(obtained favorable NLRB decision finding employer committed numerous unfair labor practices before and after union election for 300 drivers).
- American Church, Inc. and Graphic Communications Union, Local 638-S, Case No. 8-CA-35126 (June 24, 2005)(0btained favorable decision finding employer committed unfair labor practices by unlawfully withdrawing union recognition, unilaterally modifying certain terms of the bargaining agreement, making unilateral changes in the policies affecting the conditions of employment, and unlawfully failing to give adequate notice to union to afford it the opportunity to bargain over the changes in working conditions).
- Memphis, Tennessee Area Local, American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO v. City of Memphis, 86 Fed. Appx. 137 (6th Cir. 2004)(won unanimous reversal of a District Court’s grant of a motion to dismiss union’s complaint against the City of Memphis, employer and employer’s security firm. The complaint alleged that a deprivation of the union's rights under the NLRA and the U.S. Constitution, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, arose during the course of a union strike).
- Scott v. Graphic Communications Int’l Union, 92 Fed. Appx. 896 (3d Cir. 2004)(successfully established that International Union was not in an agency relationship with Local Union in a duty of fair representation lawsuit, and therefore not liable for Local Union’s breach).
- Dyncorp and Grant Turner and American Postal Workers Union, Local 164, AFL-CIO and Carl D. Moore and Robert Honnerlaw, 343 NLRB No. 124 (2004)(prevailed in having election set aside and rerun on account of threats, interrogations and solicitations in violation of Sections 8(a)(1) and (3) of the NLRA).
- Cox Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a/ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Graphic Communications Union, Local 527-S, Case No. 10-RC-15421 (2004)(successfully refuted employer’s challenge to the appropriateness of a single-facility unit).
- Transport Workers, et al v. Excell Management, et al, 01-cv-00265-BPG (D. Md. 2003)(obtained favorable verdict at the conclusion of a two-day bench trial regarding whether employer entered into a collective bargaining agreement obligating it to contribute monthly to benefit funds).
- Graphic Communications In’tl Union, Local 31-N v. Quebecor Printing (USA) Corp.,252 F.3d 296 (4th Cir. 2001)(won unanimous reversal of a District Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of employer on union’s WARN Act claim).
Publications
- "Failing to Give the Board Its Due: The Lack of Deference Afforded by the Appellate Courts in Gissel Bargaining Order Cases," The Labor Lawyer, Volume 18, Number 1 Summer 2002