Paul J. Sweeney

Paul 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. Now Of Counsel to the firm, Paul 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 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New York State Human Rights Division (NYSHRD), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (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. Paul 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 the operational law advisor to the commander, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). 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. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Paul J. Sweeney included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Peer Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, 2015 – Present Selected as 2025 Lawyer of Year in Labor and Employment Law - Litigation for the Binghamton Area by Best Lawyers in America® Listed, Best Lawyers in America®, 2012 – Present. Listed, New York Super Lawyers, 2011 – Present. Member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, 2017 – Present. Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, 2020 – Present. Selected to the 2020 edition of the Irish Legal 100. Contributing Editor, The Developing Labor Law (8th Edition) Editor, BLR’s New York Employment Law Letter, 2012-2022. Recipient, Broome County Bar Association Community Service Award, 2005. Other Sources of Feedback About Paul J. Sweeney Included on the 2025Upstate New York Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2023 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2022 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2021 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2020 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2019 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2018 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2017 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2015 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2013 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list 2012 New York Super Lawyers Super Lawyers list 2011 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list

• Of Counsel

• U.S. Marine Corps, Captain and Judge Advocate, 1987 – 1992
• U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Colonel, 1984 – 1987; 1992 – 2013

• New York
• New Jersey
• West Virginia
• U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Western District of New York
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia
• U.S. District Court District of Colorado
• U. S. Court of Military Appeals
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit

• American Bar Association (Member, 1988 - Present)
• New York State Bar Association (Member, 1992 - Present); Labor and Employment Law Section (Executive Committee, 2006-2020)
• Broome County Bar Association (Member, 1998 - Present; Director, 2005 - 2008)
• Northern District of New York – Federal Court Bar Association (Member, 2010 - Present; Treasurer, 2013 - 2018)