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Did you ever wonder what made us decide to become lawyers? Maybe you wondered what we do when we’re not practicing law? Welcome to the latest post from our new “Get to Know Us” series, featuring different members of our MCCM team, where we answer those questions. Our next post features Partner, Peter J. Gregory, who has over 10 years of experience of practicing law—all of them with the firm.

Why did you become a lawyer? When I was a senior at Allendale Columbia School, I took a class on Constitutional Law that was taught by a former attorney.  I enjoyed the open format of the curriculum and his use of the Socratic Method teaching style.  I was immediately captivated by the discussions with my classmates, as we reached different conclusions to the open-ended questions posed to our class.  After that class, I knew that a career in law was a perfect fit for me.

At Hobart College, I studied Political Science to focus on written arguments and analysis while also joining the Debate Team where I found the challenge of thinking on my feet to be thrilling.  Albany Law School was the next step for me, and I completed my academic studies while also clerking part-time for law firms in the Capital Region.  I returned home to the Rochester area with MCCM after graduation where I use my advocacy and analytical skills on a daily basis.

What do you do? When I joined the firm over a decade ago, I was the only litigation associate and gained exposure to a variety of matters in local, state and federal courts.  Learning from senior partners from our different practice areas, I gained a working knowledge of a wide range of areas of law, from collections and employment concerns to insurance coverage disputes and breach of contract matters for both product manufactures and service providers.

I enjoy collaborating with my colleagues in our business practice group, occasionally reviewing contracts to try to prevent issues before they arise. I also handle real estate matters, from purchase and sale transactions to lease negotiations and related disputes.

As a partner in the firm, my practice is mostly a mix of business litigation but also includes a significant amount of personal injury work, advising clients who have been injured or lost loved ones in accidents caused by the carelessness or recklessness of others. In my personal injury practice, I work with a wide range of experts, from architects on slip and fall matters to engineers for defective products claims, and it is a pleasure to work alongside the best in other fields.

Although the procedures for dispute resolution rarely change, I have found that no two cases are identical, and I welcome the opportunity to solve any new challenges that our clients may face. 

What work are you most proud of? I pride myself on helping our clients resolve problems. It is an honor guiding the businesses that I work with through a variety of legal issues and watching them grow and prosper, as I consider myself both an advisor and an advocate for my clients. Whether helping to line up a transactional deal or resolving a conflict through settlement negotiations or a jury verdict, it is satisfying to take a key role in my clients’ success in moving them forward to the next chapter of their business ventures.

As a parent, I am proud of my personal injury work representing injured children.  From dog bites to car accidents, we will never be able to undo the physical and emotional scars from these incidents, but our civil justice system allows financial compensation for a small part in helping make them whole again, and it is incredibly rewarding to provide some financial relief to these children and their families.

Tell us a little more about you. I am passionate about the Rochester region and its revitalization. I am an active member of the Small Business Council of Rochester, which recently aligned with the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.  I also serve on the United Way of Greater Rochester Emerging Leaders Society with other local leaders dedicated to improving our community.  At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I collaborated with local chambers of commerce to present web conferences on pandemic liability concerns for businesses. I currently serve as a member of the Board of Governors for the Genesee Valley Club where I spend most of my free time with my family.  

What about your family? My wife, Kaleigh, is from Victor and graduated from the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College. She currently works at an independent pharmacy while also advising a biotechnology start-up in Rochester that hopes to develop a product that improves cancer screening and treatment. We have a three-year-old daughter and are expecting another girl this fall. We currently reside in Pittsford.

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About MCCM

McConville Considine Cooman & Morin, P.C. is a full-service law firm based in Rochester, New York, providing high-quality legal services to businesses and individuals since 1979.  With over a dozen attorneys and a full paralegal support staff, the firm is well-positioned to right-size services tailored to each client. We are large enough to provide expertise in a broad range of practice areas, yet small enough to devote prompt, personal attention to our clients.

We represent a diverse range of clients located throughout New York State and New England.  They include individuals, numerous manufacturing and service industry businesses, local governments, and health care professionals, provider groups, facilities and associations. We also serve as local counsel to out-of-state clients and their attorneys who have litigation pending in Western New York courts.  For more information, please contact us at 585.546.2500.