Arnold Philimon Peter

Arnold Philimon Peter (born April 3, 1957), is an American entertainment and labor lawyer who served as a vice president of legal and business affairs at Universal Studios from 1997 to 2002. An active member of the State Bar of California, he served as a vice-chair and chair of its Labor and Employment Section from 1995 to 1997.

Early life and education
Peter was raised in, California. His parents were immigrants from Pakistan Irene and Kundan Peter.

Peter earned an undergraduate degree from California State University at Long Beach in 1981 and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in 1984.

Career
Peter began his legal career as an assistant city attorney for the City of Fresno, CA handling employment-related issues. He was later elected chair of the California State Bar Labor and Employment Section.

He then went on to join Universal Studios in their legal department as Director of Labor Relations. He was promoted to Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs.

He later led the entertainment law practice at Lord Bissell & Brook.

In 2006 Peter joined forces with veteran entertainment attorneys Gary Raskin, Barbara Rubin and Jody Simon to launch a law practice Raskin Peter Rubin & Simon in Century City, California. Firms clients included: Maverick Films, the National Assn. of TV Program Executives (NATPE), New Line TV, BBC Worldwide Prods, Bruce Zimmerman (“Desperate Housewives”), Mercedes-Benz, University of Southern California and Pepperdine University.

Peter has served as an intermediary between Indian filmmakers in their efforts to secure financing and distribute English-language films in the United States. He has represented Yash Raj Films, 20th Century Fox, and Reliance Entertainment to bring Bollywood projects to English language audiences.

Wade v. Starbucks
In June 2019, Peter represented a transgender former employee of Starbucks in a suit against the coffee chain for discrimination and harassment. The plaintiff claims that the local manager of the Starbucks location limited her hours and opportunities for advancement after she revealed that she would be undergoing hormone therapy and feminization surgery. The case continues on appeal.

Coogle v CDCR
In 2018, Peter represented a female guard at a California State Prison who lost her baby following an incident while on the job. Peter sued the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) claiming in his filing that the death of the child was due in part to the prison’s failure to provide the plaintiff with reasonable accommodations during her pregnancy. The two parties settled the matter out of court in 2019 for $1.7 million.

Jacqueline Carrion, et. al. v CDCR
In March 2019, Peter filed a discrimination complaint against the CDCR on behalf of six female employees in violation of California’s Fair Housing and Employment Act. The plaintiffs claimed that they were not offered reasonable accommodations in the workplace while pregnant.

A final outcome of the case is pending. However, in February 2020, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) changed their policy on appropriate accommodations for pregnant guards and other peace officers in the workplace.

Ansel Adams negatives controversy
In 2010, Peter represented an individual who had unknowingly purchased a set of original glass negatives taken by famed photographer Ansel Adams for $45 in a Fresno California garage sale. The Adams Estate sued the purchaser and the matter was ultimately settled out of court. Peter led the fight on behalf of the purchaser, enlisting numerous experts to prove the authenticity and provenance of the negatives which were valued at more than $200 million.