Peter W. Thomas Jr. - Aspen, CO

Peter W. Thomas Jr. Overview

Mr. Thomas is the managing partner of Thomas|Genshaft, LLP. Before founding the firm in 1999, Mr. Thomas worked in the litigation department of a large international firm and received a distinguished appointment serving as a law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.

The following are a sample of representative engagements handled by Mr. Thomas:

• Representation of brokerage firm in sale of 171,000 acre Forbes Trinchera Ranch, the highest priced personal property sold in U.S. history for $175,000,000.00.
• Class counsel on behalf of 32 million gmail account holders in claims against Google for internet and electronic privacy violations associated with the Google Buzz social networking site.
• Class counsel for over 1,100 national corporate dealerships in $110 million dollar class action against ADT Security Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of manufacturing conglomerate Tyco International, Ltd., arising from deceptive contractual and accounting misdealing in its Authorized Dealer Program
• Representation of publicly traded company in bond action against World Com associated with a statewide installation of fiber optic telecommunication cables
• Representation of defrauded investors in a $56 million dollar international Ponzi scheme and money laundering operation resulting in Colorado’s largest-ever fraud recovery case and the second longest white collar conviction in United States history
• Representation of stockholders in securities fraud lawsuit over the $770 million sale of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino franchise
• Representation of developer in commercial arbitration involving the build out of a fractional club lodge and golf course community
• Representation through trial and appeal of equestrian accident victim resulting in severe traumatic brain injury
• Representation through trial and appeal of $650,000.00 real estate commission dispute
  Handled the acquisition, entitlement, subdivision and bulk resale of a 2,000 acre 400 unit mixed use subdivision
• Negotiated the acquisition and redevelopment of luxury resort hotel property in Aspen, Colorado
  Representation of resort television stations in commercial arbitration against national ski advertising agency
• Representation through trial and appeal of developers’ enforcement of option contract for the purchase and development of mining claims on Aspen Mountain
• Representation of hotel developers in $100 million lis pendens bond action involving the Aspen Ritz Carlton Hotel
• Representation of accredited investors in NASD securities arbitration against a day trading brokerage firm for allowing non-registered investment advisors to exercise discretionary trading authority over individual margin accounts resulting in the 98% devaluation of individual portfolios.

ADMISSIONS

Mr. Thomas is admitted to practice before all state courts in Colorado, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. He also has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in New York, California, Florida, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is listed in the National Registry of Who’s Who.

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Mr. Thomas volunteers substantial time to the Aspen communities, as well as being an active member in a number of professional organizations, including the Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association and the American, Denver and Pitkin County Bar Associations.

He previously was a Member of the Board of the Colorado Bar Association YLD Executive Committee and served a seven year term as Chairman of the Board of the Pitkin County Planning & Zoning Commission. He served for six years as the Legal Director for the Colorado Whitewater Association in its efforts to promote river access and conservation. Mr. Thomas has taught as an Instructor of the Reed Smith High School Mock Trial Team and also volunteered substantial time as a volunteer attorney for the American Trial Lawyers Association outreach program representing families of victims of the September 11 World Trade Center disaster.

INTERESTS

Pete Thomas is a former nationally ranked freestyle mogul skier and whitewater kayaker.  He also is an avid musician and guitarist.

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Civil Litigation
• Resort Development
• Zoning, Planning
• Land Use

Current Employment Position(s)

• Managing Partner

Languages

• Spanish