Peter Lutz

Rochester Office Managing Partner -Linden Oaks, Hodgson Russ LLP

Years in current role: 6 years, 9 months

What changes in the legal industry do you believe will have the biggest impact on clients over the next few years?

AI and its impact on how lawyers practice. As much as observers talk about AI’s disruptive impact, I believe its greater impact will be on unleashing productivity. Lawyers and law firms that embrace AI and the impact it can have on their ability to deliver value to their clients will be the most successful. We are only at the beginning of that impact.

What is one challenge currently facing the legal profession that deserves more attention?

Technology has allowed lawyers the freedom to work wherever they want. However, relationships with colleagues and clients still matter in building a successful practice and firm. Lawyers need to find the right mix of in-office collaboration with colleagues and face time with clients. It’s critical that lawyers starting out in the profession be in office on a regular basis to learn from, and interact with, more experienced colleagues. The flip side of that is that it’s important for those more experienced lawyers to be in office regularly to help support less experienced colleagues. Emails, texts, Teams and Zoom calls can only take you so far.

How do you balance legal expertise with client service and relationship-building?

It’s both, isn’t it? Clients aren’t going to hire you if they don’t believe you have that expertise. Most of our competitors have varying degrees of expertise in tax, real estate, corporate, healthcare, litigation, labor law, etc., the same areas we practice in. However, clients want lawyers that they can relate with and who will provide practical advice on how to navigate through the matters and transactions they present.

How important is community involvement or pro bono work within your organization?

Our firm actively supports and encourages community involvement and pro bono work. Enhancing the community we live in, and helping those who are less fortunate, is the right thing to do, period.

What is one accomplishment — professional or personal — that you are especially proud of?

Raising four children — ages 23, 21, 19 and 14 — with my wife, Margot. The oldest graduated with an MBA and has her dream job in some island off the coast of Massachusetts, the other two are navigating (successfully) college (at GW and Illinois) and the last is a freshman/rising sophomore in high school who is also successfully navigating her way through — and is a wonderful singer.

This profile is part of our Power 50 Law list for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.