Superb trial lawyer. In 40-plus years of private practice Peter has tried well over 100 cases to juries, winning not guilty verdicts on charges of murder, manslaughter, felony and misdemeanor assault, in both domestic violence and non-DV cases, and on sexual misconduct charges.  He has successfully defended clients on charges of fraud and other financial misconduct, drug possession and dealing, and RICO.  He has won cases throughout the state of Washington and in Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia and Montana. He is a skilled, experienced, persuasive trial lawyer. He has persuaded prosecutors to dismiss serious charges after conducting investigation.

Peter has also won extraordinary results in post-conviction advocacy. In 2017 he won reversal of murder convictions for three clients in Georgia when the entire Georgia Supreme Court granted his habeas petition because the prosecutors had failed to disclose important evidence that another person committed the murder.  His successful representation of Clyde Ray Spencer, a former police officer who had been sentenced to life in prison for child rape, was featured by ABC's 20/20.  Peter won reversal of Mr. Spencer's life sentence and his release and ultimately vacation of the conviction. His successful fight to free Barry Beach, a wrongfully convicted inmate in Montana, was featured on Dateline NBC. He won reversal of murder convictions of two clients who had been wrongfully convicted in California, Willie Green and Frank O'Connell.  

In 2009 the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers gave Peter its highest award, the William O. Douglas Award, recognizing a pattern of extraordinary achievement, courage and dedication in the practice of criminal law.  He is listed as a Best Lawyer in the Pacific Northwest by U.S. News & World Report for both Criminal Defense and White Collar Criminal Defense and as a "Super Lawyer" in Washington Law & Politics Magazine.