Wood Smith Henning & Berman is pleased to announce that Peter Burfening Jr., has been named Managing Partner of its San Diego office, reflecting the firm's continued focus on experienced leadership and sophisticated client service in Southern California.
Partner Peter Burfening is a highly respected attorney whose practice spans transportation law, environmental and toxic tort litigation, habitability and general liability, employment law, professional liability, product liability, and automotive law. He routinely defends complex personal injury matters, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, as well as employment litigation involving wrongful termination, whistleblower, and harassment claims. His professional liability practice includes the defense of insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents and brokers, accountants, and attorneys.
A significant portion of Burfening's practice is devoted to transportation law. He represents both insurers and private fleet operators and has extensive experience defending high-exposure transportation cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, amputation, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and complex regional pain syndrome claims. He is also known for providing rapid response handling of transportation accidents, helping clients manage exposure from the earliest stages of investigation.
"Pete brings an extraordinary breadth of experience and judgment to this leadership role," said Firmwide Managing Partner Stewart Reid. "His depth in transportation, environmental, employment, and professional liability matters, combined with his national perspective, makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead our San Diego office."
In addition, Burfening provides risk management training, counseling, and seminars for insurers and transportation clients on a wide range of operational and litigation-related topics. His environmental practice includes consulting with the insurance industry to first and third party environmental claim investigations. He has also served as national monitoring counsel for several major insurance companies, overseeing mass tort environmental claims throughout the United States.
Burfening commented, "As Managing Partner, I look forward to continuing to deliver strategic, results-driven representation for our clients while strengthening collaboration, accountability, and excellence across our team."
Burfening will oversee the San Diego office's operations, client relationships, and strategic initiatives while continuing his active practice in complex, high-stakes litigation.
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Experience the power of a proven industry leader in the law. Wood Smith Henning & Berman (WSHB) is renowned globally for our exceptional trial results and expertise in handling complex litigation. With our nationwide network of over 500 lawyers across 43 office locations, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive litigation and counsel to both public and private companies. From start-ups to Fortune 100 corporations, we deliver unrivaled legal representation that consistently achieves favorable outcomes for our clients.
At WSHB, our strength lies in our diverse and accomplished team of attorneys. We boast thought leaders and defense specialists in over 41 fields of practice, covering an extensive range of specialties. Founded in 1997, we are proud to be among the top ten law firms in the nation for diversity, female partners, female lawyers, and Hispanic lawyers. This rich tapestry of diversity forms the foundation of our success when presenting cases to juries of our peers, ensuring we understand the unique nuances underlying each claim.
Our expansive geographic footprint allows us to provide effective and efficient representation to clients nationwide, regardless of their location, background, or legal expertise. By prioritizing strategic and cost-effective approaches to litigation, our dedicated attorneys work tirelessly to protect the interests of our clients. We have a track record of success, securing numerous victories such as summary judgments and defense verdicts on behalf of our clients. As a trial firm, we have taken over 2,000 cases to verdict, making us well-equipped to handle even the most complex and high-stakes litigation matters across the country.
