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Vaira & Riley was formed in April 1993 by Peter Vaira and John Riley, both of whom came into the firm from other Philadelphia area law firms. Prior to their private practices, Peter Vaira and John Riley had substantial careers as federal prosecutors. In 2001, Jack Gruenstein joined the firm as a shareholder, after over 19 years of private practice in his own firm.
Vaira & Riley has developed into a full service firm, successfully representing numerous Fortune 500 companies or their officers in a wide range of civil and criminal matters. The firm has been extensively involved in complex civil litigation involving antitrust, bad faith insurance claims (on behalf of the claimant), health care administration, qui tam claims (both as plaintiff and defendant in the health care industry), contract disputes between corporations, and insurance company rehabilitation and liquidation proceedings. Vaira & Riley has also represented several national law firms in suits for legal malpractice and misuse of civil process.
From its inception, Vaira & Riley has successfully represented a broad spectrum of corporations, business entities, and individuals in a variety of complex matters of substantial interest to the client. In 1993, the firm represented the government of the Republic of South Africa in a matter involving state secrets. The firm also represented AOL in Pennsylvania, as part of a defense of a national class action suit regarding access to online services. In 1995 and 1996, the firm represented Underwriters Laboratories in the Meridian Fire mass tort case involving more than 60 parties.
Early in its history, the firm also developed an arbitration practice. Since 1995, Peter Vaira has served as the sole Independent Hearing Officer for the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA). The Independent Hearing Officer position was created by an agreement between the Department of Justice and the union to initiate a process to reform the union of its organized crime influence. Peter Vaira is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, England, and handles commercial arbitrations in the United States and abroad.
In 1996, John Riley successfully defended Congressman Joseph McDade in a nine-week criminal trial in federal court. At the time, Congressman McDade was the Senior Republican Congressman in the House of Representatives. The firm has successfully represented several other political figures, including a very high-ranking Democratic Congressman, in various grand jury investigations.
Vaira & Riley continues to represent numerous corporations and other major business entities and has expanded its service to include crisis management and sensitive matter inquiries. The firm's shareholders, with their background as prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers, give the firm the background and experience in conducting an efficient, professional investigation to report to management. As such Vaira & Riley has established a reputation for discretion and professionalism in the successful representation of companies and professional individuals in a wide rage of corporate legal representation in government and internal investigations.
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