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Peter B. Kupelian

Member
fax +1 248.988.2310

Peter Kupelian counsels companies and executives in business matters including healthcare, insurance and employment, through litigation and appeals in state and federal courts as well as before government agencies.

He regularly represents his clients in high stakes disputes including counseling and defending class actions and other multiple party and complex matters. Peter represents health care systems, medical practices and physicians regarding business, regulatory and employment issues. He also represents these clients before administrative agencies including providing counsel on the Certificate of Need program before the Michigan Department of Community Health and has handled administrative appeals up through the state court system. He also represents physicians and other entities and professionals before the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

He represents insurers in mass tort coverage litigation, environmental matters, policy rescission actions in a variety of contexts (including life insurance) and matters involving complex disputes between excess and primary insurers and has participated in ground breaking federal and state court decisions upholding the rights of insurance companies.

In addition, Peter defends and counsels companies in a wide variety of employment-related matters, including disputes over breach of agreements and wrongful discharge, discrimination and compliance with various federal and state statutes as well restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements and internal employment investigations. He also counsels clients on day-to-day employment issues, including drafting and interpreting employment manuals and contracts with particular experience with executive employment agreements.

As an arbitrator and mediator, through court appointments and otherwise, his experience includes complex commercial, shareholder and partnership disputes, contract and medical-related matters. He often writes, lectures and provides training regarding alternative dispute resolution methodologies and issues.

Education

J.D., University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1980
B.A., University of Michigan, Michigan, 1977

Recognitions

Named a Leading Lawyer in Birmingham by Leading Lawyers℠ (2014-2024)

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers (2010-2025)

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Insurance by Best Lawyers (2023-2025)

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment by Best Lawyers (2011-2025)

Selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers list for Business Litigation (2021, 2024)

Top Lawyers in the Midwest, American Registry

Memberships

State Bar of Michigan

Defense Research Institute

American Arbitration Association

American Health Lawyers Association

Armenian-American Bar Association

The Fellows of Michigan State Bar Foundation

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

Languages

Armenian

State Bar Licenses

Michigan

Court Admissions

U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
U.S. District Ct., N.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., W.D. of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Representative Cases:

  • Dutton-Lainson Co. v. Continental Insurance Co. and Northern Insurance Company of New York, 778 N.W.2d 433 (Neb. 2010)
  • United Food and Commercial Workers AFL-CIO, Local No. 880 v. National Labor Relations Board, 74 F.3d 292 (D.C. Cir. 1996)
  • Shpargel v. Stage & Co., 914 F.Supp. 1468 (E.D. Mich. 1996)
  • Employers Ins. of Wausau v. Petroleum Specialties, Inc., 69 F.3d 98 (6th Cir. 1995)
  • Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Dow Chemical Co., 883 F.Supp. 1101 (E.D. Mich. 1995)
  • U.S.A. v. Cordova Chemical, 759 F.Supp. 1269 (W.D. Mich 1991)
  • West Bay Exploration v A.I.G., 915 F.2d 1030 (6th Cir. 1990)
  • Vhalantones v. Zurich American, 750 F.Supp. 248 (E.D. Mich. 1990)
  • Pawlak v. Redox, 182 Mich. App. 758 (Mich. App. 1990)
  • Fireman’s Fund v. Ex-Cell-O, 720 F.Supp. 597 (E.D. Mich. 1989)
  • Admiral Merchants v. Mich. Dept. of Labor, 149 Mich. App. 344 (Mich. App. 1986)
  • Advance Watch Co. Ltd. v. Kemper Natl. Life Ins. Co., 878 F.Supp. 1034 (E.D. Mich. 1995)
  • Commodity Futures Trading Comm v. First National Monetary Corp., 565 F.Supp 30 (D.C. Ill. 1983)
Articles