New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

Peter B. Paris, Stanford Law graduate and President of the Princeton High Class of 1987, returns to his hometown to join longtime friends and colleagues, Gabriel Lependorf and David Silverstein at Princeton’s own Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. As Peter recalls, “Gabe and I have talked about joining forces ever since I was in law school and Gabe was in his first law office on Nassau Street. Gabe and Dave have obviously enjoyed great success, and they have inspired and encouraged me along the way. I am positively ecstatic to be here.” Says Dave: “Gabe and I are very excited about the energy, experience, and legal talent that Peter brings to bear on behalf of our clients. But above all, we’re just happy that he has finally come home.” Gabe adds, “Peter is one of those rare legal talents who have the brains, the skills, and the charisma to persuade people and to engender trust. We are both proud and thrilled to have him join us.”

Peter places tremendous value in his “big city” litigation experience, but the “D.C. lifestyle” was never his long term plan. When asked why he has returned to Princeton after such a successful career in our nation’s capitol, Peter laughs, “Well, I didn’t take the New Jersey bar exam just for the plaque! But seriously, the fact is that I committed myself early in my career to obtaining a diverse and rigorous set of legal experiences which formed a strong foundation for my long-term practice here in New Jersey. I think we all agree that Lependorf & Silverstein’s clients will only benefit from the experience and skill-set that I bring to the table.”

Peter has certainly litigated his fair share of small claims and misdemeanor cases, but he has also litigated murder cases and multi-million-dollar civil matters as well. One of Peter’s favorite specialties is researching and writing criminal and civil appeals, an affinity that is a result of his passion for the law. He says, “I just love the law, plain and simple. As odd as it may seem, I’m one of those lawyers who read legal briefs and judicial opinions just for fun. I feel that someone who loves his job is likely to be pretty good at it, and I definitely love my job.”

Ever since his Stanford Law School days, Peter has taken great pride in his ability to persuade sometimes reluctant audiences. “I firmly believe that everyone can be persuaded,” he says. “Some lawyers believe, ‘the facts are the facts, and you’re stuck with them.’ I couldn’t disagree more. Indeed, I approach every case with the belief that the decision-maker wants to be persuaded one way or the other. It’s my job to give them a reason to agree with me.”

One of Peter’s “Pet Practices” involves the burgeoning field of Animal Law. A pet-owner, conservationist, and avowed animal-lover, Peter has worked with animal rights organizations to improve the standing of animals and pets in the eyes of the law. Whether a case involves a pet-custody dispute, veterinary malpractice, or animal cruelty, Peter is knowledgeable and committed to achieving his clients’ goals on behalf of their animal companions.

Peter, a former Boston police officer, also has extensive experience with police misconduct and abuse cases. “Very few attorneys understand police officers the way I do. Even though 99% of all police officers conscientiously perform a very difficult job, some officers can lose their bearings and cross the line.” Whether he is cross-examining a police officer in a criminal case or filing an excessive force claim, Peter knows how to use his intimate knowledge and experience to benefit his clients.