Jacobellis, Michael

Peter Smith brings a wealth of real estate and commercial expertise to Baron and Budd.

Whether it’s representing individuals or corporations in trial or arbitration, Peter works to reach the best solution for his clients. His practice focuses on cases involving property, partnership disputes, fraud, antitrust, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair business practices, and copyright.

In one of his notable litigation matters, Peter worked on an action for the American Skiing Company, the owner of the Canyons Ski Resort in Park City, Utah, to compel the resort’s landlord to agree to a lease in a $123 million transaction. Peter also worked on a trial team that successfully defended the estate of actor John Ritter in an action brought to compel specific performance of a contract to purchase three citrus farms owned by the Ritter estate.

Peter’s arbitration matters have been heard before the American Arbitration Association and Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS).

Peter’s notable arbitration accomplishments include representing a major real estate developer with the purchase and sale of a historic building in downtown Los Angeles. That case resulted in an arbitration award in excess of $14 million for his client. He also represented the owner of the Edison Bar in downtown Los Angeles with the purchase and sale of a large commercial building, which resulted in an arbitration award in excess of $8 million for the bar owner.

The Los Angeles Daily Journal has recognized Peter for obtaining one of the top arbitration awards in 2009. He has been named by Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” from 2006 to 2011.

Before joining Baron & Budd, Peter was a partner in the litigation department of Bingham McCutchen LLP. While in law school, Peter served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Edward Rafeedie of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Peter earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1999, where he was honored as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar for Academic Excellence. He received his B.A. from Yale University, in 1994, where he graduated magna cum laude.