Mr. Sweeney joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is a partner in the Firm and concentrates in labor and employment law and commercial litigation. As chair of the Firm’s Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, Mr. Sweeney defends employers against liability, discrimination and disability claims, and represents employers in contract negotiations, arbitration, discipline and administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the Public Employment Relations Board, and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. In addition, he is a mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Mr. Sweeney serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section and is the Treasurer of the Northern District of New York – Federal Court Bar Association. He edits BLR’s New York Employment Law Letter, a monthly publication that helps employers understand new laws, regulations and court cases. Mr. Sweeney has received an "AV Preeminent" peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America and the Upstate Edition of the New York Super Lawyers publications. He is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

Mr. Sweeney retired as a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve with more than 29 years of active duty and reserve service, including a combat deployment to Fallujah, Iraq. Prior to his retirement, he served as the senior Marine Reserve attorney in the Office of the Counsel for the Commandant. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal, with gold star device.

Mr. Sweeney received his Bachelor of Arts degree, in cursu honorum, from Fordham University and his Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School.

Publications & Presentations

• Employee Speech Revisited (Presenter, New York State Bar Association CLE)• Social Media and the Employment Relationship (Presenter, New York State Bar Association CLE)• Employee Discipline (Presenter, New York State Bar Association CLE)• Statutory Compliance Checklist (Presenter, New York State Bar Association CLE)• Law Office Management (Presenter, Broome County Bar Association CLE)• Family and Medical Leave Act (Presenter, Broome County Bar Association CLE)• Labor Law Update (Presenter, Broome County Bar Association CLE)• Public Employee Free Speech and Public Employer Restrictions (Presenter, New York Conference of Mayors)• General Municipal Law Section 207 Update (Presenter, New York State Association of Self-Insured Counties)• Social Media in the Workplace (Presenter, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce)• Bankruptcy Seminar (Presenter, Lorman Educational Services)

Honors & Awards

• Best Lawyers in America, 2012 – Present.• New York Super Lawyers, 2011 – Present.• Peer Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell, 2015-Present.• Member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, 2017-Present.• Broome County Bar Association Community Service Award, 2005.

Past Employment Experience

• U.S. Marine Corps, Judge Advocate, 1987 – 1992

Leadership & Community Involvement

• Member of Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s Academy Selection Committee• Past President and Board Member of the Family & Children’s Society of Broome and Tioga Counties, Inc.• Past Board Member of the American Red Cross, Southern Tier Chapter• Bagpiper with the Broome County Celtic Pipes & Drums