Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024 
Peter F. Vaira serves as Special Counsel to Weir LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the course of more than 50 years in practice, Mr. Vaira has represented clients in complex criminal defense, white-collar matters, civil litigation, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings in state and federal courts. His practice includes white-collar criminal defense, internal and parallel investigations, antitrust matters, corporate crisis management, and complex commercial disputes.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Vaira serves as an arbitrator, mediator, special master, and independent hearing officer. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and the District of Columbia, and is a certified national and international arbitrator. Mr. Vaira serves as a Special Master in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Court program and previously served as the Independent Hearing Officer for the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
As Special Master, Mr. Vaira works with courts and litigants in matters involving complex civil litigation and disputes that require oversight beyond standard statutory procedures. His work has included arbitrating and mediating commercial litigation matters, overseeing court-authorized settlements, addressing litigation discovery disputes and professional conduct issues, mediating ongoing construction disputes, serving as a union election officer, acting as receiver pendente lite and receiver in liquidation proceedings, and overseeing investigations involving gas wellsite accidents.
Mr. Vaira has also represented individuals, corporations, and organizations in a broad range of white-collar criminal defense matters, including government investigations and related civil proceedings. His experience includes handling antitrust matters, conducting internal investigations, managing parallel proceedings, and advising clients during high-profile corporate and regulatory matters.
Mr. Vaira was appointed by former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to serve as Executive Director of a commission formed to investigate the Department of Licenses and Inspections following the Center City Philadelphia building collapse.
Practice Areas include Criminal Defense: White-Collar, complex civil litigation, arbitration, mediation, internal investigations, antitrust matters, and corporate crisis management.
