Peter A. Kraus
Founding Partner
Peter Kraus is a founding partner of Waters & Kraus, LLP, as well as the firm's managing partner. A native of Dallas, Texas, Peter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and his law degree from the University of Texas. He began his career as a commercial litigator in Washington, D.C., but has focused his practice on toxic torts and pharmaceutical injury litigation. He has tried numerous asbestos and pharmaceutical cases to verdict in state and federal courts across the country, and has many multi-million dollar verdicts. He is an ardent supporter of consumer and victims' rights, and has frequently lobbied Congress on behalf of asbestos litigants. He has testified before the Texas Legislature on behalf of asbestos victims. He serves on several asbestos bankruptcy creditor committees and asbestos bankruptcy trustee advisory committees. He is also a member of both the Federal and Texas Asbestos multi-district litigation steering committees, and has served on the ABA Commission on Asbestos litigation. Licensed to practice law in Texas and Virginia, Peter has been elected for membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates by his peers. He has been recognized on the Best Lawyers in Dallas list by D Magazine, published by D Magazine Partners and the Texas Super Lawyers® list — from 2003 to 2009 —published by Thomson Reuters, Legal. He is also a board member in the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, a former board member of Public Justice (formerly known as Trial Lawyers for Public Justice), as well as a member of the American Association for Justice and the Dallas Bar Association.
Areas of Practice
- Asbestos Litigation
- Toxic Tort
- Pharmaceutical Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 1985
- Texas, 1992
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1986
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2001
Education
- University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas J.D., 1985
- Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, B.A., 1982
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Association for Justice
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Executive Committee, Board of Directors
- Dallas Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas Association
- Virginia Bar Association
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
Honors & Awards
- Selected for recognition on the Texas Super Lawyers list, published by Thomson Reuters, Legal, 2003-2009
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell Featured Peer Review Rated Lawyer
Pro Bono Activities
- Board of Directors, Public Justice, 2004-present
- Member, Leader's Forum, American Association for Justice
- Lead Donor, Dallas Area Volunteer Program, 2001, 2003
