Brian Pete

Partner

Brian.Pete@lewisbrisbois.com

Brian Pete is a partner in the New York and Newark offices of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the Labor & Employment and Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practices. An experienced litigator and counselor, Mr. Pete assists clients of all sizes in navigating the complex array of federal, state, and local employment laws by advising on employment agreements, terminations, investigations, severance agreements, and proper classification of employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Law. Mr. Pete guides employers in resolving and defending claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wage and hour, and breach of restrictive covenants. In addition to single plaintiff claims, Mr. Pete defends class and collective actions. He regularly appears on behalf of clients in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies including the EEOC, United States Department of Labor, New York Department of Labor, New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Mr. Pete also regularly presents on employment trends and workplace best practices. Experienced in defending high-profile claims, Mr. Pete understands the importance and complexity of vigorously defending his clients in cases drawing media scrutiny. 

Mr. Pete is also an experienced commercial litigator who regularly handles complex commercial matters arising from breaches of contract, real estate transactions, and professional liability claims. Prior to joining Lewis Brisbois, Mr. Pete represented public school districts in collective bargaining, unfair labor practice proceedings, the defense of union grievances, and First Amendment claims. When he is not at work, Mr. Pete spends his time with his wife and two children.

Primary Area(s) of Practice

  • Labor & Employment
  • Complex Business & Commercial Litigation
  • Professional Liability
  • Directors & Officers Litigation

Additional Experience

Admissions

New York

New Jersey

Southern District of New York

Eastern District of New York

Western District of New York

Associations

New York State Bar Association

Education

New York University School of Law

Juris Doctor

The City University of New York, Macaulay Honors College at Lehman

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude

Selected Published and Unpublished Decisions

  • Turman v. Abyssinian Baptist Church, et al., 2025 WL 965855 (S.D.N.Y. March 31, 2025)
  • Boustead Sec., LLC v. Leaping Grp. Co., Ltd., 656 F. Supp.3d 447 (S.D.N.Y. 2023)
  • Arcadis U.S., Inc. v. Joseph Lauria, 2022 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1438 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty. 2022)
  • Leasing Control Inc. v. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 189 A.D.3d 503 (1st Dep’t 2020).
  • Shahid v. MHANY Mgt., Inc., 179 A.D.3d 966 (2d Dep’t 2020).
  • Mambu Bayoh v. Afropunk, LLC, et al., 18-Civ-5820, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 198715 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 26, 2020).
  • Aristakesian v. Ballon Stoll Bader & Nadler, P.C., 165 A.D3d 1023 (2d Dep’t 2018).
  • Ortegas v. G4S Secure Solutions (USA), Inc., 156 A.D.3d 580 (1st Dep’t 2017).
  • Adams v. Kent Security of N.Y., Inc., 156 A.D.3d 588 (1st Dep’t 2017).
  • Morales v. Hapag-Lloyd AG. (America), et al., 2015 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 9092, 2015 NY Slip Op 09079 (2d Dep’t 2015).
  • Josovich v. Ceylan, et al., 133 A.D.3d 570, 19 N.Y.S.3d 554 (2d Dep’t 2015).

Publications and Presentations

  • New Jersey Employment Law Trends, March 28, 2024
  • Settling Bias Claims: Q& A With Lewis Brisbois’ Brian Pete, Law360, Jan. 7, 2022
  • Marijuana in the NJ Workplace: What Now?, May 3, 2021
  • Compiling Written Discovery in NY Employment Bias Cases, Law360, March 24, 2020