John S. Peterson

Practice Areas: Eminent Domain, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate

John S. Peterson, a managing shareholder and partner at Peterson Law Group PC, serves as a representative for clients in California across a spectrum of legal domains. His expertise spans eminent domain, environmental law, CEQA, land use, subsidence, landslide, real estate law, business litigation and trials, and inverse condemnation. Notably, he holds the distinguished title of Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. With a reputation for unwavering ethical standards and an extensive track record of successful outcomes, he has achieved the highest possible peer review rating, AV Preeminent*, from Martindale-Hubbell. His exceptional legal prowess has also earned him recognition in prestigious listings such as Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.

In a significant legal achievement, Mr. Peterson presented a successful argument before the California Supreme Court in 2020. This case, Weiss v. People ex rel. Dept. of Transportation, 9 Cal. 5th 840 (2020), revolved around inverse condemnation proceedings. The court’s ruling disapproved the application of Code of Civil Procedure sec. 1260.040 of the Eminent Domain Law in matters pertaining to inverse condemnation entitlement questions, overturning existing appellate case authority.

Mr. Peterson’s educational background includes a magna cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California. Subsequently, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, where he actively participated in the Moot Court Honors Program.

Admitted to practice law in the state of California, Mr. Peterson’s legal reach extends to various federal courts as well. Among these are the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and multiple U.S. District Courts across different California districts.

A dedicated member of legal associations, Mr. Peterson’s affiliations include the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the International Right of Way Association. Within the State Bar of California, he maintains membership in the Real Property Section. Moreover, he has made notable appearances as a speaker on respected media platforms, including KNBC News, National Public Radio, and Patt Morrison’s KPCC radio show.

• AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished, and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with Martindale-Hubbell’s certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® oversees a peer review rating process that gauges legal ability and general ethical standards, with ratings reflecting the anonymous opinions of legal professionals and members of the judiciary.