Who We Are

Andre Chernay and Todd Peterson established Chernay|Peterson to provide cutting edge legal representation to clients in insurance, industry, manufacturing and construction. The new firm, with offices in the Sacramento and San Francisco areas, combines 20 years of trial and litigation experience with the energy and drive of new ambition.

Chernay heads the Sacramento office. Peterson heads the firm’s office in downtown San Francisco. Together, the firm provides local representation for the two largest population centers in Northern California. Moreover, the firm regularly handles cases throughout California and the Western U.S.

The firm is more than Todd Peterson and Andre Chernay. Our attorneys bring their own skills and expertise to the firm. They have years of experience in litigation management, trial and appellate work, and all phases of civil litigation. They help provide the representation clients demand. Moreover, Chernay|Peterson attorneys bring diverse perspectives to their practices. Our attorneys came from a wide variety of backgrounds: economist, teachers, international trade and commerce, legal secretary, and even plaintiffs’ attorney. Both offices have experienced and highly capable support staff.

Origin

Andre Chernay founded the firm in September of 2006 after leaving the second largest litigation defense firm in Sacramento. His representation of various insurance carriers and their insureds throughout California has provided a wide range of practice including Magnuson-Moss and Song Beverly warranty law, automotive, product liability, construction defect and asbestos. In addition, his practice focuses on representing manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industry clients including Clayton Homes, Fleetwood Homes, Champion Homes, Fuqua; Fleetwood Motor Homes, Eclipse RV, Keystone, Winnebago, Thor, Dutchman, Four Winds and Airstream, and their respective subsidiaries. He is a member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), in which he sits on the Lawyer’s Committee and, since 2004, the California Manufactured Housing Institute (CMHI), which he participates on the Legislative Committee.

Raised in Sacramento, California, Chernay received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Sacramento and law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to all state and federal courts in California. He was admitted to the Hoopa Valley Tribal Court in 2008.

Todd Peterson joined the firm in early 2008. He brings two decades of experience as a civil litigator. Peterson handles a wide variety of cases including automotive, product liability, construction defect, asbestos, commercial, and employment. He specializes in cases involving construction equipment, most notably scaffolds, cranes and aerial work platforms. He is a member of the Scaffolding Industry Association, North American Society of Scaffold Professionals, as well as the Defense Research Institute and American Bar Association. He has tried cases all over California and has handled and/or supervised litigation in several western states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. He is a member of the state bars of California, Washington and Nebraska.

Peterson also represents insurance defense clients in many areas of civil litigation. In particular, he represents many insureds in the taxi, automotive, and trucking areas. He speaks regularly to industry and insurance groups regarding litigation management and prevention of lawsuits.

From 2001 to 2007, Peterson was adjunct professor of Legal Ethics at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Peterson was born and raised in the midwest. His undergraduate, graduate and law degrees are from the University of Nebraska. Prior to law school, he taught 8th grade American History in Lincoln, Nebraska. He remains a passionate fan of Husker football.

Commitment to Service

The cornerstone of the firm is client service. The firm is big enough to handle nearly every type of civil litigation, but small enough to provide individual attention to each client and the litigation matters in which they find themselves. At Chernay|Peterson, our mission is to provide each of our clients aggressive representation while maintaining a focus in promoting our clients’ litigation philosophies. Our commitment is to meet these objectives in as efficient and cost effective manner as possible.

There are lawyers who believe practicing law is not about client service – but none of them work here.