Experience and Expertise in Dispute Resolution

Peter’s career has been devoted to the resolution of difficult conflicts, through his practice of over 30 years at the law firm of Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, where he engaged in healthcare and commercial litigation handling high stakes, multiparty disputes with complex factual and legal issues both in Connecticut and in courts throughout the country. He served for 10 years as Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and for four years on the Management Committee.

Peter’s commitment to and accomplishments in serving clients to find better ways to resolve disputes led to starting own dispute resolution practice in January 2010. That shift enabled him to focus entirely on dispute resolution as a mediator and arbitrator.

Benner ReSolutions

Representative matters and clients

With Shipman & Goodwin LLP

Practice focus was within healthcare, business, and finance, including bankruptcy matters, where negotiation skills were paramount to reach optimal, cost-effective results.

Health Care Representation

  • Groups of private healthcare payers seeking recovery from national providers through claims of overpayment. Through this work serving the healthcare industry, Peter obtained substantial experience in the evaluation of clinical issues and procedures as well as facility with data management and analytics for purposes of either defending or asserting overpayment claims relating to voluminous claims data.
  • Hartford HealthCare System (and its predecessors and affiliates) in the disputes that arise within large healthcare provider organizations in the normal course.

Business and Finance Representation

  • Indenture trustee of corporate bond issues in bankruptcy courts throughout the country.
  • Startup technology company in successful “bet the company” defense of claim of breach of non-competition agreement and misappropriation of intellectual property.
  • State of Connecticut in economic development and loan-related matters.

As an Arbitrator and Mediator

  • Peter has served as sole and panel arbitrator in numerous complex, high-value arbitration, primarily within the business and healthcare fields, including disputes between healthcare payers and providers relating to claims in many millions of dollars.
  • Mediations have covered a wide range of disputes in both healthcare and business. Peter takes on intractable and deep-seated conflicts, getting at what matters most to the parties in helping them find creative solutions that would not be available otherwise. Competence, experience, and perseverance provide genuine value to the disputants.
  • A featured mediator on Mediate.com
  • Designated by Super Lawyers magazine as a Connecticut Super Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution since 2019.
  • AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell since 1998.
  • Testimonials, and references can be provided upon request (see pwbresolve.com website testimonials page).

Teaching and Service to the Bar

  • Chair of the Federal Grievance Committee for six years; received the Raymond B. Green Award for outstanding service to the Committee.
  • Adjunct Professor Quinnipiac University School of Law, teaching dispute resolution, from 2014 to 2019; and adjunct Professor at University of Connecticut Law School teaching dispute resolution from 2012 to 2014.
  • Chair for three years of the Section of Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Publications: Contributor of articles and columns on improving dispute resolution practices.
Examples
In the Connecticut Law Tribune; Planned Early Dispute Resolution" Corporate Disputes, "How Businesses Use Planned Early Dispute Resolution” Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation, (with John Lande); "How Your Company Can Develop a Planned Early Dispute Resolution System," Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation, (with John Lande); "Corporate Conflict Management 4.0; Reflections on How to Get There From Here”, 16 Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal 289; "Building Positive Relationships," Alternative Dispute Resolution Client Strategies.
Speaking engagements include national webcast with The Knowledge Group, September 2016: "Resolving Healthcare Disputes Through Best Practices in Mediation & Arbitration.” “Streamlining Disputes: The Mediator as Case Manager,” ADR Hub Webinar, "ADR Comes of Age in Connecticut Corporations," Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting; Overview of ADR Developments, Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting, numerous speaking engagements and programs to bar associations and business groups.

Dispute Resolution Training: Peter has had several hundred hours of dispute resolution training (as participant and leader), including with the American Arbitration Association; Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation; American Bar Association; Connecticut Bar Association; and the Center for Understanding in Conflict.

Undergraduate degree from Princeton University — Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, with high honors.

Law degree from Georgetown University — Executive Board of Georgetown Law Journal.

Professional and Community Activities

Active in the American Arbitration Association, Mediation Committee, Connecticut Bar Association Dispute Resolution Sections

American Health Lawyers Association (dispute resolution panel)

Planning Committee – Reimagining Corporate Conflict Management; Pepperdine Law School, fall 2014

Hands on Hartford, Board Member, 2009-2018

Center of Leadership and Justice, Board member and chair of Development Committee, 2023 to present

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Session member, various terms

The Gathering Place, co-founder, and Board Chair 1995-2001

Avid cyclist, regularly competed in triathlons, including the 1995 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and 2010 Florida Ironman

With spouse Catherine, parent of three grown daughters and six grandchildren