516-227-0700

Peter A.
Mahler

Business Divorce

Partner

New York City

T: 212-687-0733

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About Peter

Peter A. Mahler concentrates his litigation practice on business divorce cases involving dissolution and other disputes among co-owners of closely held business entities, such as limited liability companies, corporations, and partnerships. He represents both control and non-control owners, often involving family-owned businesses. Peter frequently counsels business owners prior to litigation, not only to advise them of their rights, but to assist in designing and negotiating an amicable separation of the parties. His counsel helps avoid litigation by means of a buy-out, sale, or division of business assets.

Peter has decades of litigation experience prosecuting and defending business divorce cases at the trial and appellate levels, as well as in mediation and arbitration proceedings. He also works closely with appraisers involved in the valuation of business interests in appraisal contests, such as elective buy-outs in dissolution proceedings and dissenting shareholder appraisals following cash-out mergers.

His longstanding focus on business divorce, both for his clients and as a prolific author and lecturer, has made him a widely recognized authority on dissolution and valuation proceedings involving closely held business entities. He frequently lectures on diverse business divorce topics at continuing education programs for lawyers, judges, and appraisers, and a number of his published articles have been cited in judicial opinions and law reviews.

For over 15 years, Peter has published a widely followed blog called New York Business Divorce, which has well over 800 articles covering all aspects of dissolution and dissenting shareholder proceedings, involving limited liability companies, corporations, and partnerships, business valuation, and more. He also produces the podcast Business Divorce Roundtable, on which he interviews experts in the field of business divorce, including lawyers, law professors, and business appraisers.

Peter is a Founding Fellow of the American College of LLC and Partnership Attorneys.

Beginning in 2021, Peter authors the Practice Commentaries in McKinney’s Consolidated Laws of New York Annotated for the Limited Liability Company Law and the Revised Limited Partnership Act.

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Credentials

Education

  • New York University School of Law (JD)
  • University of California Santa Barbara (BA)

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York
  • U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York
  • U.S.C.A., 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
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Affiliations & Appointments

  • American Bar Association

Articles & Advisories

Business Divorce Cases of 2023

A trio of significant rulings by the Appellate Division dominated the business divorce caselaw arena in 2023. Peter A. Mahler…

February 27, 2024

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Business Divorce and Judicial Dissolution Cases of 2022

Last year the Commercial Division rejected the New York Attorney General’s bid to dissolve the National Rifle Association based on…

March 07, 2023

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Business Divorce Cases of 2021

Selecting the most noteworthy decisions from a year’s worth of business divorce cases normally is a daunting challenge given the…

February 25, 2022

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Business Divorce Cases of 2020

The pace of business divorce litigation has proven impervious to economic busts and booms, and now pandemics as well. The…

March 03, 2021

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FAQs Under The Paycheck Protection Program

As guidance continues to evolve, the Treasury Department has set up a Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”) page on their website.…

April 07, 2020

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Business Divorce Cases of 2019

Last year’s most noteworthy business divorce cases are marked by a diversity of subject matter, spanning a gamut of disputes…

March 09, 2020

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Business Divorce Cases of 2018

In recent years, most of the new and noteworthy case law developments in the business divorce field predictably have involved…

February 26, 2019

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Business Divorce Cases of 2017 Focus On Oppression, Valuation and LLC Issues

New York courts last year decided an impressive array of business divorce cases involving closely held corporations, partnerships, and limited…

February 16, 2018

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Court Address Key Issues In Business Divorce Cases of 2016

Last year New York courts decided a number of important cases involving business divorce and related litigation between co-owners of…

February 15, 2017

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LLCs Dominate Business Divorce Cases of 2015

It’s been over 20 years since legislatures in New York and across the nation gave birth to the limited liability…

February 01, 2016

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Complex Questions Addressed In Business Divorce Cases of 2014

Reprinted with permission from New York Law Journal, Volume 253-No. 35, February 24, 2015 issue.   In the annals of…

February 25, 2015

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Kornreich Reaffirms Skepticism Toward Marketability Discounts

In the January 5th issue of the Commercial Litigation Insider Peter Mahler was quoted in an article on the Zelouf…

January 07, 2015

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Business Divorce Cases of 2013 Include Important Appellate Rulings

February 10, 2014

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Outside Counsel: Annual Review of Business Divorce Cases in 2012

February 14, 2013

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Business Divorce Cases of 2011

February 15, 2012

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Review of Business Divorce Cases in 2010

January 19, 2011

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Business Divorce Cases of 2009

February 03, 2010

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Outside Counsel: The Beat of Business Divorce Litigation Continued in 2008

March 30, 2009

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Court’s Fair Value Award in Shareholder Oppression Case Deducts Present Value of Built In Gains Tax

August 01, 2008

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Outside Counsel: Business Divorce Cases in 2007

February 26, 2008

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Section Sponsors "Meet and Greet" Luncheon for Queens County Commercial Division Judges

Reprinted with permission from: Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Newsletter, Spring 2007, Vol. 13, No. 1, published by the New…

April 01, 2007

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Outside Counsel: Business Divorce Cases of 2006

January 25, 2007

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Dissolution Petition Can Unwittingly Trigger Stock Buyback

July 21, 2006

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A Review of 2005 Business Divorce Cases

January 17, 2006

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A Review of 2004 Business Divorce Cases

March 30, 2005

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Shareholder Wars: Internal Disputes In Close Corporations Do Not Always Lead to Judicial Dissolution

This article is reprinted with permission from the New York State Bar Association Journal, October 2004, Vol. 76, No. 8,…

October 01, 2004

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A Review of 2003 Shareholder “Freeze-Out” Cases

March 05, 2004

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Reviewing Shareholder ‘Freeze-Out’ Cases of 2002

January 02, 2003

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When Limited Liability Companies Seek Judicial Dissolution, Will the Statute Be Up to the Task?

Reprinted with permission from our upcoming New York State Bar Association Journal, June 2002, Vol. 74, No. 5, published by…

June 01, 2002

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‘Acquista’ Expands Remedies for Breach by Insurer

March 13, 2002

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Reviewing Shareholder ‘Freeze-Out’ Cases of 2001

February 08, 2002

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Courts Apply Investment-Contract Test to Determine When LLC Membership Interests Are Securities

July 01, 2001

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Reviewing Shareholder ‘Freeze-Out’ Cases of 2000

January 03, 2001

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Annual Review of Shareholder ‘Freeze-Out’ Cases

February 25, 2000

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Limited Liability Companies as Litigants

October 22, 1999

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Decisions Have Set Parameters For Establishing ‘Fair Value’ of Frozen-Out Shareholder Interests

July 01, 1999

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Twenty Years of Court Decisions Have Clarified Shareholder Rights Under BCL 1104-a and 1118

May 01, 1999

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Commencing Special Proceedings and CPLR 3213 Actions

September 09, 1994

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Podcasts

The Litigation War Room: Litigating Business Breakups with Peter Mahler


June 15, 2021

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News

I set up a company with 3 friends. It has annual sales of $1 million. Two partners hijacked control of the bank accounts, and want to push others out. What can we do?

It’s time to stop trying to be fair, and start getting real. Before you do anything with friends — whether…

August 30, 2022

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Cellino & Barnes Battle Ends With Deal To Wind Down Firm

The warring partners who brought Buffalo, New York-based personal injury firm Cellino & Barnes PC national recognition — and massive profits —…

June 17, 2020

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In a Business Divorce, Knowing What to Do Is the First Step

Neil Sadaka said it best: “Breaking up is hard to do.” It’s as true in love as it is in…

February 19, 2020

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LexBlog Leaders: Peter Mahler Builds an Engine with Zeal

Peter Mahler discusses his impetus for launching the New York Business Divorce blog, how it has contributed to his business success…

September 12, 2016

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Understanding the Specifics of a Business Divorce

Breaking up is hard to do, so Uniondale-based law firm Farrell Fritz has set up a practice group to make…

June 30, 2016

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Farrell Fritz Counsels Disputing Partners with Business Divorce Practice Group

The attached advertorial, published in the May 27, 2016 issue of Long Island Business News, discusses the launch of Farrell Fritz’s…

June 02, 2016

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LexBlog Q&A with Farrell Fritz Litigation Partner, Peter A. Mahler, on his Blog, New York Business Divorce

Click on the link to read Lisa Kennelly’s interview with Peter A. Mahler entitled, “Peter Mahler of New York Business…

March 23, 2009

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Peter A. Mahler on B-to-B Blogging

February 01, 2009

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Advisory – Farrell Fritz, P.C. Launches Its First Blog

January 31, 2008

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Matter of Jeffrey M. Horning v. Horning Constr. LLC

This is a decision rendered by Judge Fisher. To view the decision, please copy and paste the following link into…

March 21, 2006

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On Demand Webcasts

Deadlock-Breaking Mechanisms in LLCs: Avoiding Litigation and Dissolution When Members and Managers Fail to Agree

January 16, 2020

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Press Releases

23 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz has a combined total of 23 attorneys selected to the 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 26, 2023

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29 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2024 Leading Lawyers by Best Lawyers

Farrell Fritz congratulates 19 attorneys on being selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©  2024.…

August 18, 2023

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22 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz has a combined total of 22 attorneys selected to the 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 29, 2022

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27 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2021 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz has a combined total of 27 attorneys selected to the 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 30, 2021

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30 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2020 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz has a combined total of 30 attorneys selected to the 2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

November 04, 2020

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29 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2019 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz has a combined total of 29 attorneys selected to the 2019 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 17, 2019

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30 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 30 attorneys selected to the 2018 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 13, 2018

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31 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2017 Leading Lawyers in their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 31 attorneys selected to the 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 20, 2017

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30 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2016 Leading Lawyers in their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 30 attorneys selected to the 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…

September 21, 2016

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Farrell Fritz Launches Business Divorce Practice Group

Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce the launch of the firm’s Business Divorce practice group. Led by Peter A. Mahler,…

June 06, 2016

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Farrell Fritz’s New York Business Divorce Blog Chosen as an ABA Journal Blawg 100 Honoree

Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that the firm’s New York Business Divorce blog, authored by Peter A. Mahler, was…

November 25, 2015

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30 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2015 Leading Lawyers in their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 30 attorneys selected to the 2015 New York Super Lawyers and New York…

September 16, 2015

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30 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2014 Leading Lawyers in their Respective Areas of Practice

Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 30 attorneys named to the 2014 New York Super Lawyers and New York…

September 23, 2014

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Peter A. Mahler Joins Farrell Fritz, P.C. as Partner in Newly Opened Manhattan Office

Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that Peter A. Mahler has joined the firm as a partner, effective February 1,…

February 22, 2004

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Recognition

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Super Lawyer

New York Metro (Business Litigation) 2013–Present

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AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell

Peer Review Rating

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New York University School of Law

Editor, Law Review