Peter Amuso concentrates his practice on education law and zoning matters, as well as handling the firm’s criminal defense matters.

Peter Amuso’s law career was inspired by his hero, his grandfather. Peter’s grandfather immigrated to the United States as a young boy from Sicily in 1913, and became a prominent attorney in his hometown. No matter how successful he became, the door of his office was opened to all who needed legal advice or help, even if payment came in produce, eggs, meat or other items from those, often fellow immigrants, who had no money.

Peter followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and attended Georgetown University on an Army ROTC Scholarship, graduating magna cum laude in 1994. He delayed his active duty service in the Army to attend Harvard Law School, graduating with honors in 1997.

Peter began his law career in the military. After graduating from Harvard, Peter served overseas as an active duty Army officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. While in the JAG Corps, Peter worked on the defense team of an innocent Army soldier accused of homicide while serving in Kosovo. The soldier’s acquittal made the banner headline “NOT GUILTY” in the Stars and Stripes. His boss framed the article, and it still hangs in Peter’s office.

After four years on active duty, Peter left the Army in 2002, and returned home to Pennsylvania. He joined a large Philadelphia law firm, where he handled litigation at every level from Pennsylvania state trial courts, the federal district courts in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Peter then managed zoning and land-use litigation for a major developer throughout eastern Pennsylvania and across the country.

Simply put, Peter likes being able to use his legal expertise to right wrongs. His duty is to help clients navigate increasingly complex laws and procedures to get to the result they want. Peter loves marching into a courtroom or boardroom and saying, “My client is right, and the other side is wrong.” Then he proves his case and the client wins.

Peter is especially passionate about school labor law. He believes that every student deserves to have a teacher of the highest personal and professional caliber. As a parent of young children, he wants to make sure all students are safe and engaged in learning. When advising school districts or arguing in court, his frame of reference is always his children and how he wants them to be educated. Peter recently won the first case in front of the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education interpreting the PA School Code on the quality of transportation a school district must provide to the students of a charter school. Peter is a frequent speaker for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, addressing issues ranging from labor negotiations to legal ethics.

Peter has expertise across the full spectrum of zoning matters. He is the solicitor for the East Norriton Township Zoning Hearing Board. Over the years, he has represented developers, individuals, and public and private schools, and non-profit organizations in every conceivable zoning and land use matter in front of zoning hearing boards across southeastern Pennsylvania.

Peter gets results in the courtroom. From his days in the Army, Peter has always zealously fought for clients facing the full power of the criminal justice system. From military panels to civilian juries, Peter has earned “not guilty” verdicts for clients facing difficult cases. Peter understands the full range of options for his criminal defense clients and he uses his expertise to ensure the best possible outcome.

Peter is also involved in the community. Peter was elected to the school board of the School District of Springfield Township in 2005, and he served his four-year term as Chair of the Property Committee, overseeing the construction of a new elementary school as well as the substantial renovation of a middle school. He was the 2007 Democratic nominee for District Attorney of Montgomery County, as well as the 2010 Springfield Township Democrat of the Year. He is a Life Member of his local VFW Post 7919, and a member of the Arthur Savage American Legion Post 100 in Wyndmoor.

Peter is married to his college sweetheart, with whom he has four children, ages 6 to 12. He serves as the CYO Athletic Director and coaches the track team at his parish, Our Mother of Consolation, located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.

Peter has served as pro bono counsel for the Friends of Historic Bethlehem Pike, and has taught business law and criminal procedure as an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College. He is currently on the Board of Keystone Hospice and Keystone Health in Wyndmoor for which he serves as Secretary.

He spent time in the Burgundy wine region in France while in the Army, and proudly stomped on grapes to help his cousins make wine in Sicily, nearly 90 years after his grandfather left.

Peter is an active member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, Bucks County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and Pennsylvania School Boards Solicitors Association.

Solicitorships

East Norriton Township Zoning Hearing Board

Upper Darby Township Zoning Hearing Board

Aldan Borough

Eddystone Borough

Bucks County Technical High School (Special Counsel/Adviser to the Board/Hearing Officer)

Assistant Solicitor

Norristown Area School District

Pennsbury School District

North Penn School District

Hatboro-Horsham School District

William Jeanes Memorial Library



Court Admissions

  • 1997, Pennsylvania
  • 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
  • 2002, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • 2004, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
I just wanted to say how comfortable you [both] made me feel in handling my case. You demonstrated the confidence I needed that justice would prevail and made it happen.

— Recent Client