peter roldan, Partner
Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
Peter helps policyholders maximize their insurance coverage. He is an experienced insurance law attorney and is adept at representing and advising clients regarding their insurance policies and claims.
Businesses and property owners count on their insurance policies to provide protection in the event of a catastrophic property loss or when facing a lawsuit and the consequences of a wrongful denial of coverage can be devastating. Peter has a proven track record of securing policy benefits for his clients and uses his expertise to help them better understand the nuances and scope of their insurance programs:
Represented art company in suit against commercial liability insurer regarding coverage for copyright infringement claims
Represented EdTech company in suit against D&O/Management liability insurer regarding coverage for qui tam claims
Represented bar and restaurant owners in trial court and appellate proceedings in lawsuits to recover business interruption insurance benefits for losses sustained from COVID-19 shutdown orders
Advises rental property owners regarding insurance coverage for tenant lawsuits
Advised property owners on insurance coverage for losses suffered in the North Bay Fires, Camp Fire, and Woolsey Fire
Advises business owners regarding coverage under directors & officers, commercial general liability, and errors & omissions policies
Prior to joining Emergent, Peter spent time at several well-regarded insurance law firms, counseling and defending insurance companies in complex coverage and bad faith disputes, and developing the expertise needed to understand sophisticated insurance law issues and litigate effectively on behalf of policyholders.
Peter was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer for Insurance Coverage in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Commercial and Business Litigation
Peter has extensive experience litigating on behalf of corporations, business owners, and entrepreneurs in all manner of business and contractual disputes. Peter takes pride in being involved in all aspects of the cases that he litigates and investing the time and energy necessary to develop a tailored and stream-lined approach emphasizing strategic resolution and cost-effectiveness. Peter's recent representative matters include the following cases:
Represented the founder of a bitcoin exchange in a derivative suit alleging breach of fiduciary duty against other co-founders
Obtained verdict in favor of co-owner of high-end specialty grocery store for wrongful termination claim
Blockchain and Digital Currency
Peter leads Emergent’s Blockchain and Digital Currency practice, which draws on the firm’s expertise in corporate and securities laws, regulatory compliance, FinTech, intellectual property, privacy law, and cybersecurity. In addition to litigating matters involving blockchain and digital currency issues and providing advice to companies that deal with digital currency, Peter is particularly interested in the use of blockchain technology within the legal services and insurance industries.
Advised clients on utility token offerings
Class Action and Mass Tort Litigation
Peter represents plaintiffs in class action and mass tort lawsuits to uphold the rights of consumers.
Served as co-lead counsel in Noel v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 7 Cal. 5th 955 (2019), in which the California Supreme Court ruled that class certification does not require any showing that all class members can be identified by official records
Represented cannabis dispensary patients in proposed class action lawsuits to recover damages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) for unauthorized text messages
Represents consumers in mass tort lawsuit against Armando Montelongo Companies alleging damages arising out of the provision of purported real estate educational seminars
Peter completed his J.D. at Columbia University and received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice law in California and New York. Peter currently serves as the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Good Shepherd Gracenter of San Francisco, a non-profit licensed recovery residence that helps women without resources break free from alcohol and drug addiction. See more on LinkedIn, Super Lawyers, or email him at peter@emergent.law.