Peter Harvey

Peter Harvey is a Partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. He is a past Attorney General of the State of New Jersey and a former federal prosecutor; as such, Harvey has been a central player in government investigations and consumer fraud matters. A gifted trial lawyer, his more than 20 years of courtroom experience have also included significant commercial matters, frequently within the media and entertainment industry.

As Attorney General, Harvey oversaw an office of 9,600 employees in 10 separate divisions and a budget of approximately $1 billion. He had principal responsibility for coordinating homeland security strategy for both law enforcement and the private sector in New Jersey in his role as chair of the cabinet-level New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force. He was one of six Attorneys General that met regularly with senior U.S. Department of Justice officials, including the U.S. Attorney General, to discuss policy concerns on a wide range of issues. Harvey continues to be connected to issues upon which state attorneys general are focused through his continued participation in the National Association of Attorneys General and his close association with present and former Attorneys General.

Before becoming Attorney General in February 2003, Harvey served as First Assistant Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice.  Harvey was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, and was in private practice prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office. Upon graduation from Law School, he served as law clerk to the Hon. Dickinson R. Debevoise, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey.