Biography
Peter J. "Pete" Sweeney, Jr. is the partner in charge of the Development & Government department at Block & Scarpa. He is the only attorney in the state of Florida to be board-certified in both Construction Law and City, County and Local Government Law.
Pete's professional background includes serving as the City Attorney for the City of Fort Pierce, as well as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Palm Bay. While serving in each of these roles, Pete developed experience and demonstrated a wide array of legal knowledge and acumen on a variety of subjects including the Public Records Act, the Government in the Sunshine Act, government construction, public works and utilities projects and civil litigation claims in excess of $10 million dollars. Pete also has significant experience relating to land-development projects, particularly in the areas of zoning and re-zoning, land plots, future land use map amendments ("FLUMA's") and annexations. While acting as the City Attorney for Fort Pierce, he was instrumental in advising the development agreement for an $80 million redevelopment project in the downtown area, as well as the approval of the largest wave park in the world. Prior to working in government, Pete began his career practicing civil litigation, with a strong emphasis on construction litigation and other business litigation matters.
Pete has been recognized by his peers by being selected to be in Florida Trend magazine's Legal Elite since 2016 and is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He has served on various committees for the Florida Bar and currently serves as the 2024-2025 Chair of the City, County and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar. Pete is a recognized speaker and presenter at multiple continuing education seminars and conferences and is also a published author regarding risk management liability practices for municipalities in Florida.
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida
- J.D. - 2004
- Honors: With Honors
- Honors: Moot Court Team
- Honors: Order of Barristers
- Florida State University
- B.S.
- Major: Management
Practice Areas
- Land Use & Zoning
- Government Relations
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Specialties and Certifications
- Construction Law
- City, County and Local Government Law