Paul J. Sweeney

Mr. Sweeney joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. As a partner in the firm, he chaired the firm's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group and served on its Management Committee. He is now Of Counsel to the firm. Mr. Sweeney counsels and defends employers against liability, discrimination, disability and wage & hour claims and represents employers in contract negotiations, arbitration, discipline and administrative proceedings before the EEOC, NYSHRD, NLRB, PERB and OSHA. In addition, he also represents clients in complex contract, construction and real estate disputes and serves as a mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Mr. Sweeney received an "AV Preeminent" peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® and New York Super Lawyers publications. He was selected to the Irish Legal 100, an annual compilation of distinguished attorneys, legal scholars and jurists of Irish descent. Mr. Sweeney is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. He co-chaired the Public Sector Labor Relations Committee of the New York State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section and served as the Treasurer of the Northern District of New York - Federal Court Bar Association. Mr. Sweeney edited BLR's New York Employment Law Letter, a monthly publication that helps employers understand new laws, regulations and court cases.

Mr. Sweeney retired as a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. His career included active duty as a criminal defense attorney at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina and a deployment to Fallujah, Iraq where he served as I MEF's operational law advisor. Prior to his retirement, he served as the senior Marine Reserve judge advocate in the Office of the Counsel for the Commandant of the Marine Corps and was the officer-in-charge of all Marine Reserve attorneys assigned to support the Commandant, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and DoD Office of General Counsel. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal, with gold star device.