Peter Gentala

National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Peter Gentala serves in the National Center on Sexual Exploitation Law Center as Senior Legal Counsel. Peter’s legal career has focused on advancing justice in the arenas of constitutional law, high-profile litigation, public administration, nonprofit organizations, and standing for the vulnerable and victimized. Peter has litigated constitutional and public-law cases at every level of the federal court system, including two cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. He has substantial experience in public policy and is the author or co-author of numerous pieces of proposed and enacted legislation and state constitutional provisions. For seven years, Peter served as the General Counsel of the Arizona House of Representatives, a role he held in the administrations of three different Speakers of the House. During Peter’s tenure at the House, his legal counsel and advocacy focused on the highest profile litigation in state government including, inter-branch and stakeholder negotiations, election law, statewide injunctions and consent decrees, the constitutionality of numerous pieces of enacted legislation and voter-enacted measures, and redistricting. Peter served as the Chairman of the Community Advisory Committee of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Child and Family Advocacy Network, the statewide association of multidisciplinary teams that serve the victims of criminal child abuse in Arizona. Most recently, Peter served as the General Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Childhelp, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations focused on the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. At Childhelp, Peter witnessed first hand the devastation sexually exploitive behavior and material wreaks on young lives. He now relishes the opportunity and privilege to work with NCOSE’s committed team and coalition allies to strike at the evil of sexual exploitation, which is inextricably linked to child abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and many other forms of injustice.