William E. Peterson

Bill Peterson has been a commercial, administrative and personal injury litigator for over 30 years. His practice encompasses energy law, utilities, complex torts and all facets of commercial litigation in state and federal court. Bill has considerable trial experience, having obtained the largest jury verdict in Lassen County, California; Carson City, Nevada (both since superseded), and a $3 million judgment in a wrongful death case in Lyon County, Nevada. He has also succeeded in reversing regulatory decisions disallowing over $40 million in investment and/or expense. Bill has tried over 40 cases to jury verdict and approximately 50 bench trials to judgment, many of several weeks duration. He has over 20 reported decisions in the Federal Supplement, Federal Reporter, Nevada Supreme Court Reports and the California Appellate Reports. Bill has successfully defended numerous clients in cases of significant exposure.

Bill also spent ten years as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Sierra Resources (now NV Energy), Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company. In his position as general counsel for Sierra Pacific and Nevada Power Company Bill supervised, participated in or personally led over 30 public utility proceedings in Nevada and California and at the FERC dealing with general rate cases, energy cases, merger and acquisition matters, contract disputes and asset dispositions. He has continued his public utility practice and expertise by serving as general counsel to the 14th largest telephone company in the United States with ILEC, CLEC, televidio and broadband data lines of business in California and Kansas, and is outside counsel to several large power suppliers in the Sierra Nevada area. Bill is also general counsel for a water sanitation utility in Northern Nevada.

In 2018, Bill was honored by the State Bar of Nevada as the recipient of the Presidential Award, presented annually to a bar member practicing 20 years or more whose conduct, honesty and integrity represents the highest standards of the legal profession. Also in 2018, the Supreme Court of Nevada appointed Bill to its Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, which completed an exhaustive review resulting in changes to the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure (NRCP), the Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure (NRAP), and the Nevada Electronic Filing and Conversion Rules (NEFCR), all of which went into effect March 1, 2019. Bill also serves as a member of Judiciary Committee of American College of Trial Lawyers.

Representative Presentations and Publications

• Executive Profile: Bill Peterson Lifetime of Law, Profiled, Northern Nevada Business Weekly (July 2018)
•“Thought Leaders: The Changing Legal Landscape in a Growth Market, ” Quoted, Northern Nevada Business Weekly (May 7, 2018)
• Constitutional Right to Preliminary Hearing for Pretrial Detainees, 48 Southern California Law Review, 158 (1975)

Professional Recognition and Awards

•Presidential Award, State Bar of Nevada, Recognizing a Lifetime of Achievement in the Law (2018)
•Legal Elite - Top Northern Nevada Attorneys, Nevada Business Magazine (2013-2019)
•The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Land Use & Zoning Litigation, Real Estate Litigation (2008-2019); Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Trusts and Estates Litigation (2015-2019); Administrative/Regulatory Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2016-2019); Securities Litigation (2008-2013)
•Reno Lawyer of the Year, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2017)
•Reno Lawyer of the Year, Trusts and Estates Litigation (2016, 2018)
•Reno Lawyer of the Year, Energy Law (2019)
•Mountain States Super Lawyers, Civil Litigation: Defense (2013-2019), Commercial Litigation, Utilities (2008-2012)
•Top 100 Lawyers (2013)

Community Involvement

•Special Counsel to Quadriplegia Medicaid Recipients, Washoe County, Nevada (2009-present)

Other Professional Experience

•Morris Peterson, Partner (2004-2012)
•Sierra Resources, Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power (now NV Energy), Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (1994-2003)
•Woodburn and Wedge, Senior Litigator, Partner, Associate (1977-1993)
•Gray Cary Ames & Frye (DLA Piper), Associate (1976-1977)
•Supreme Court of Nevada, Law Clerk to the Honorable John Mowbray (dec.) (1975-1976)

Related News & Events

• Jun 03
17 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys Ranked in the 2019 Legal Elite Edition of Nevada Business Magazine

• Aug 15
139 Snell & Wilmer Lawyers Listed as Leaders in Their Fields by The Best Lawyers in America 2019
Eleven Snell & Wilmer attorneys recognized as a 2019 Lawyer of the Year

• Jul 30
Lifetime of Law: Bill Peterson Featured in Northern Nevada Business Weekly Executive Profile

• Jul 18
Bill Peterson Honored with the Coveted Presidential Award by the State Bar of Nevada, Recognizing a Lifetime of Achievement in the Law

• Jun 11
Mountain States Super Lawyers 2018 Recognizes 22 Nevada Snell & Wilmer Attorneys

• Jun 01
Fifteen Snell & Wilmer Attorneys Ranked in the 2018 Legal Elite Edition of Nevada Business Magazine

• May 07
Thought Leaders: The Changing Legal Landscape in a Growth Market

• Aug 15
The Best Lawyers in America 2018 Lists 133 Snell & Wilmer Lawyers as Leaders in Their Field

• Jun 12
Mountain States Super Lawyers 2017 Recognizes 22 Nevada Snell & Wilmer Attorneys

• Jun 05
Nevada Business Magazine Ranks 22 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys in the 2017 Legal Elite

• Aug 15
The Best Lawyers in America 2017 Lists 125 Snell & Wilmer Lawyers As Leaders In Their Field
In addition, 15 Snell & Wilmer attorneys recognized as a 2017 “Lawyer of the Year”

• Jun 13
Mountain States Super Lawyers 2016 Recognizes 43 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys

• Jun 01
Nevada Business Magazine Ranks 22 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys in Legal Elite 2016

• Dec 16
Snell & Wilmer Partner William Peterson Honored by Washoe County Bar Association As New 40+ Member

• Aug 17
The Best Lawyers in America 2016 Lists 128 Snell & Wilmer Lawyers as Leaders in their Field
In addition, 19 Snell & Wilmer attorneys recognized as a 2016 “Lawyer of the Year”

• Jun 12
Mountain States Super Lawyers 2015 Recognizes 42 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys

• Jun 02
19 Snell & Wilmer Nevada Attorneys Ranked in Legal Elite 2015 by Nevada Business Magazine

• Aug 18
The Best Lawyers in America 2015 Lists 123 Snell & Wilmer Lawyers as Leaders in Their Field

• Jun 05
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• Aug 19
The Best Lawyers in America 2014 Recognizes 119 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys as Leaders in Their Field

• Aug 12
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Also Names 45 Firm Attorneys to the 2013 Rising Stars List

• Jun 17
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Three Attorneys Named Best Up and Coming

• Sep 04
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• Mar 20
Snell & Wilmer Expands Reno Presence with Addition of Three Commercial Litigation Attorneys