Peter C. Hansen
Practice Areas
Experience
- Appellate
- Arbitration
- Business Litigation
Biography
Peter focuses on two areas: (1) appeals in federal and state court; and (2) complex trial litigation requiring dispositive motions briefing, jury charge work, error preservation, and post-judgment briefing. Peter has litigated a range of issues such as class actions, sovereign/governmental immunity, and commercial disputes.
Peter served as a briefing attorney to Justice Eva Guzman of the Supreme Court of Texas. He also worked on appellate matters for two years as a law clerk with the Office of the Solicitor General of Texas. Peter was a legislative fellow at the Texas Attorney General’s Office during the 2011 legislative session. Peter has over a decade of experience as an attorney in private practice representing clients in the Fifth Circuit, Texas Supreme Court, and other appellate and trial courts.
Education
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
J.D., University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
Texas Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
- Energy Commissioning v. High Tower, Williamson County District Court: Came into case as post-trial counsel to respond to opposing counsel’s motion for $2.8 million on the jury’s verdict; obtained court order reducing award to $85,000.
- Obtained a unanimous appellate victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, preserving an $18 million default judgment that the Jackson Walker trial team obtained. It is rare to get a large default judgment, and it is also rare to uphold one in the Ninth Circuit.
- Acadian Properties Austin, LLC v. KJMonte Investments, No. 20-00048 (Tex. App.—El Paso July 31, 2021)-Obtained affirmance of $600,000 default judgment
- Equity Trust Co. v. Hampton, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 5674 (Tex. App.—Austin July 23, 2020, pet. denied) (obtained complete reversal and render of adverse jury verdict).
- Ortiz et al. v. American Airlines Inc. et al. (5th Cir. 2021)—Successfully represented national airline’s credit union against a 20,000-member ERISA class certification.
- Heriberto Chavez et al. v. Plan Benefit Services Inc. et al. (5th Cir. 2020)—Successfully defended against 90,000-member ERISA class certification. Court vacated certification order, citing a lack of “rigorous analysis” required by Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
- In re Estate of Kenneth Andrews, 04-20-00058-CV – obtained affirmance of jury verdict upholding last will and testament and defeating claims of undue influence
- CPS Energy v. Smith, 562 S.W.3d 75 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2018)—Obtained court of appeals’ opinion reversing trial court and rendering judgment for CPS Energy on governmental immunity grounds; obtained denial of plaintiff’s subsequent petition for review in Texas Supreme Court.
- In re C.Z.H., 2017 WL 4900499 (Tex. App.—Austin 2018)—Obtained reversal and remand for new conservatorship hearing in pro bono family law matter.
- Community Health Systems v. Hansen, 525 S.W.3d 671 (Tex. 2017)—Assisted in obtaining re-instatement of take-nothing judgment against multimillion dollar claim based on justification defense to tortious interference.
- In re Deepwater Horizon, 784 F.3d 1019 (5th Cir. 2015)—Assisted in obtaining affirmance of dismissal of Mexican States’ claims for pollution-related damages from the Macondo Oil spill as barred by the Robins Dry Dock rule.
- Venture Cotton Cooperative v. Freeman, 435 S.W.3d 222 (Tex. 2014)—Assisted in successfully upholding arbitration agreement against challenge of unconscionability.
- “Austin’s Top Attorneys” List – Appellate Law, Austin Monthly, 2021-2023
- Event Co-Organizer and Moderator, “Artificial Intelligence and Appellate Law” (February 2024)
- Event Co-Organizer, “Wisdom from the Bench: Practical Tips for Appellate Practitioners” (May 2022)
- Speaker, “Pushing the Bounds of Litigation Norms,” Bench Bar Conference (2018)
- Co-Author, Pre-Suit Depositions Under Rule 202: A Survey Of Hot Button Issues, 36th Annual Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference (October 2012)
- Third Court of Appeals Pro Bono Committee
- Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
- University of Texas School of Law Mentorship Program mentor
- The Appellate Project mentor
- Austin Bar Association Appellate Section: Secretary/Treasurer
- Texas Access to Justice Commission: Champion of Justice Society
- Texas Veg Foundation: Board of Directors
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel Amicus Committee
- Volunteer Legal Services Eviction Task Force volunteer attorney
July 11, 2024
Attorney News
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 21 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2024
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthly’s list of “Austin’s Top Attorneys” for 2024. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 39 categories.
July 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 12 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2023
Jackson Walker congratulates the 12 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthly’s list of “Austin’s Top Attorneys” for 2023. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 39 categories.
October 25, 2022
Attorney News
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 14 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2022
Jackson Walker congratulates the 14 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthly’s list of “Austin’s Top Attorneys” for 2022. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 38 categories.
September 3, 2021
Newsletters
Labor & Employment Dispatch: September 2021
View the September 2021 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.
August 3, 2021
Attorney News
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 20 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2021
Jackson Walker congratulates the 20 attorneys recognized among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” for 2021. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 43 categories.
November 14, 2018
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Receives Champion of Justice Law Firm Award for Seventh Consecutive Year
For the seventh year in a row, the Texas Access to Justice Commission has honored Jackson Walker as a Champion of Justice Law Firm.
Practice Experience
- Energy Commissioning v. High Tower, Williamson County District Court: Came into case as post-trial counsel to respond to opposing counsel’s motion for $2.8 million on the jury’s verdict; obtained court order reducing award to $85,000.
- Obtained a unanimous appellate victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, preserving an $18 million default judgment that the Jackson Walker trial team obtained. It is rare to get a large default judgment, and it is also rare to uphold one in the Ninth Circuit.
- Acadian Properties Austin, LLC v. KJMonte Investments, No. 20-00048 (Tex. App.—El Paso July 31, 2021)-Obtained affirmance of $600,000 default judgment
- Equity Trust Co. v. Hampton, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 5674 (Tex. App.—Austin July 23, 2020, pet. denied) (obtained complete reversal and render of adverse jury verdict).
- Ortiz et al. v. American Airlines Inc. et al. (5th Cir. 2021)—Successfully represented national airline’s credit union against a 20,000-member ERISA class certification.
- Heriberto Chavez et al. v. Plan Benefit Services Inc. et al. (5th Cir. 2020)—Successfully defended against 90,000-member ERISA class certification. Court vacated certification order, citing a lack of “rigorous analysis” required by Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
- In re Estate of Kenneth Andrews, 04-20-00058-CV – obtained affirmance of jury verdict upholding last will and testament and defeating claims of undue influence
- CPS Energy v. Smith, 562 S.W.3d 75 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2018)—Obtained court of appeals’ opinion reversing trial court and rendering judgment for CPS Energy on governmental immunity grounds; obtained denial of plaintiff’s subsequent petition for review in Texas Supreme Court.
- In re C.Z.H., 2017 WL 4900499 (Tex. App.—Austin 2018)—Obtained reversal and remand for new conservatorship hearing in pro bono family law matter.
- Community Health Systems v. Hansen, 525 S.W.3d 671 (Tex. 2017)—Assisted in obtaining re-instatement of take-nothing judgment against multimillion dollar claim based on justification defense to tortious interference.
- In re Deepwater Horizon, 784 F.3d 1019 (5th Cir. 2015)—Assisted in obtaining affirmance of dismissal of Mexican States’ claims for pollution-related damages from the Macondo Oil spill as barred by the Robins Dry Dock rule.
- Venture Cotton Cooperative v. Freeman, 435 S.W.3d 222 (Tex. 2014)—Assisted in successfully upholding arbitration agreement against challenge of unconscionability.
Recognition & Accolades
- “Austin’s Top Attorneys” List – Appellate Law, Austin Monthly, 2021-2023
Publications & Speeches
- Event Co-Organizer and Moderator, “Artificial Intelligence and Appellate Law” (February 2024)
- Event Co-Organizer, “Wisdom from the Bench: Practical Tips for Appellate Practitioners” (May 2022)
- Speaker, “Pushing the Bounds of Litigation Norms,” Bench Bar Conference (2018)
- Co-Author, Pre-Suit Depositions Under Rule 202: A Survey Of Hot Button Issues, 36th Annual Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference (October 2012)
Community Involvement
- Third Court of Appeals Pro Bono Committee
- Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
- University of Texas School of Law Mentorship Program mentor
- The Appellate Project mentor
- Austin Bar Association Appellate Section: Secretary/Treasurer
- Texas Access to Justice Commission: Champion of Justice Society
- Texas Veg Foundation: Board of Directors
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel Amicus Committee
- Volunteer Legal Services Eviction Task Force volunteer attorney