Peter M. Bernhardt
Member; Chair, Probate and Trust Litigation
West Palm Beach
P: 561.472.2121
Peter is experienced in all areas of commercial and business litigation. He focuses on complex commercial litigation matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in contract disputes, partnership disputes, shareholder disputes, claims for legal and accounting malpractice, construction litigation, employment litigation, real estate litigation, landlord/tenant matters, and business torts. Peter also has extensive experience representing local and national lenders in loan restructuring, foreclosures, receiverships, and in defense of a wide variety lender liability claims. Peter is also the Chair of the Probate and Trust Litigation Practice Group, and has extensive experience in the area of probate litigation. Peter served as general counsel to a sports management group and has extensive experience in the negotiation of endorsement agreements for professional athletes, has negotiated and prepared endorsement agreements for an array of players on the PGA and Champions Golf Tours. Peter has discreetly handled sensitive legal matters for professional golfers and has assisted professional athletes in structuring their business affairs. Peter also provides general business advice and currently serves as outside general counsel of a number of companies.
Peter earned a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University in 1992. He received a B.A. from the University of Florida in 1988.
Admissions - Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Admissions - State
- Florida
Education
- Nova Southeastern University
- University of Florida
Honors and Awards
- South Florida Legal Guide's "Top Lawyer" (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
- Sustained Excellence in Sports Law - USA & Best Commercial Litigation Practice – Florida, AI M&A Awards (2015)
- International M&A awards: Excellence in Florida Business Litigation (2015)
- Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012-2015, 2017-2019) – Only five percent of the lawyers in the state were selected
- Selected for inclusion in the Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers for Litigation
- Listed in Strathmore's Who's Who (2004)
- Named one of the Best Lawyers in America (2011-2021)
- Honored as a 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Construction Law by Best Lawyers (2020).
- Selected for inclusion as a Top Lawyer in South Florida by the Wall Street Journal (2011, 2012, 2015, 2019-2020)
- Selected among Top Attorneys in Florida and Florida Legal Leader in the Miami Herald (2015)
Professional Membership
- The Florida Bar
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
Public Service and Volunteerism
- Past Regional Board Member of The Anti-Defamation League
- Graduate of the 1999-2000 Steinberg Leadership Institute
- Chairman of the 2000-2001 Steinberg Leadership Institute
- Leukemia Society of America’s 1995 Brooks Brothers Man of the Year
- Ambassador for the Honda Classic
Alerts
Blog Posts
- Claiming punitive damages in fraud cases
- Court finds beneficiaries cannot terminate an irrevocable trust
- The ins and outs of Florida’s homestead laws: Where an heir can be left out
News
- Lawyer of the Year honorees Riley and Welin among 42 McDonald Hopkins attorneys recognized as 2021 Best Lawyers
- 41 attorneys from McDonald Hopkins recognized as 2020 Best Lawyers®
- Five McDonald Hopkins attorneys recognized by Florida Super Lawyers
- Four attorneys at McDonald Hopkins named Florida Super Lawyers
- "Green Bay Packers, others seek bankruptcy for West Palm firm that collected race fees"
- 35 attorneys at McDonald Hopkins selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers® 2018
- Six attorneys at McDonald Hopkins named Florida Super Lawyers
- 39 attorneys at McDonald Hopkins selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers 2017
- 41 attorneys at McDonald Hopkins selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers® 2016
- Five McDonald Hopkins attorneys honored as top attorneys in Florida