Blank Rome is pleased to share that partners Christopher J. Petersen, vice chair of the firm’s Business Litigation group, and Joseph M. Welch have been named 2026 Legal Visionaries by LA Times Studios, as featured in the May 2026 edition of its Business Magazine.
The Legal Visionaries distinction recognizes attorneys who stand out for their exceptional legal skill, strong results, and unwavering commitment to their clients, their craft, and the communities they serve. These honorees exemplify a forward-thinking approach to the practice of law, advancing both the profession and those who depend on it. Each recipient is highlighted with an individual profile showcasing their career achievements and contributions.
Blank Rome is also pleased to share that the firm was recognized among the Top 125 law firms by LA Times Studios in the same issue.
To view the May 2026 edition of the Business Magazine, please click here.
Christopher's and Joseph's honoree profiles, as published in Business Magazine, are copied in full below.
Christopher Petersen
Partner, Vice Chair, Business Litigation
Blank Rome LLP
Southwestern Law School
Litigation
Partner and Vice Chair of the Business Litigation practice group at Blank Rome LLP Christopher Petersen leads high-stakes real estate disputes and trust conflicts across the Southern California region. He is an exceptional litigator who has tried or arbitrated more than 30 cases since joining the firm in 2013, including securing a multi-million-dollar judgment against one of the state’s largest property developers. Petersen’s technical expertise extends to probate litigation where he successfully represented co-trustees in sensitive disputes involving estates valued at over $10 million. He further shapes the future of the legal profession as a former adjunct professor teaching civil pretrial practice to aspiring trial lawyers. He remains committed to community service by providing pro bono representation to parents navigating the adoption process and guardianship of at-risk minors.
Joseph Welch
Partner, Finance
Blank Rome LLP
Loyola Law School
Bankruptcy
Joseph Welch is a partner in the finance practice at Blank Rome LLP who specializes in complex restructurings and high-stakes agribusiness insolvency litigation. He acts as a primary advisor to Fortune 100 lenders and agricultural leaders while navigating multi-million-dollar secured lending transactions across the California market. This expertise in supply chain disruption allowed him to design an elegant intercreditor agreement for a $60-million annual revenue tomato grower to prevent hostile foreclosure. Deploying this tactical precision, Welch represented personal injury plaintiffs in the Western Concrete Pumping bank-ruptcy to eliminate third-party releases for insiders and maximize victim recoveries. Such results include serving as lead counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors during the HyreCar restructuring to preserve asset pools for stakeholders.