Peter M. Friedman concentrates his practice on government law and policy.
He represents private sector and public sector clients, including numerous local and state government agencies, municipalities and counties on all aspects of public law. He represents Lake County, Ill., and serves as Lake Bluff Village Attorney and Assistant Corporation Counsel in Highland Park. He also serves as special outside counsel to the City of Galesburg, Ill.
Mr. Friedman counsels private and public sector clients on industrial revenue bond and general obligation bond financings and refundings, zoning and land use matters, legislative authority, parliamentary procedure, personnel matters, contract issues and a myriad of other governmental issues. He regularly prepares comprehensive zoning and land use ordinances, tree protection regulations, sign regulations, bulk restrictions, personnel policy manuals, franchise agreements, annexation agreements, boundary agreements, tax incentive and abatement agreements, and business district redevelopment plans. Mr. Friedman also has special expertise in environmental law.
Mr. Friedman has extensive First Amendment litigation experience. He provides special representation to Lake County, the City of Galesburg, and to the firm’s other municipal clients with respect to the zoning and regulation of adult entertainment establishments. Mr. Friedman has successfully defended the firm’s nationally known model on adult use zoning and licensing regulations against challenges in federal and state courts.
Mr. Friedman has substantial state and federal litigation experience for the firm’s government and private sector clients. He has successfully defended numerous lawsuits challenging local zoning and land use controls and has handled several local government lawsuits involving civil rights, annexation disputes, contract actions and environmental enforcement. Mr. Friedman has argued cases in Federal District and Appellate Courts and at all levels of state court, including before the Illinois Supreme Court.
Mr. Friedman serves as General Counsel to the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.
Mr. Friedman is Deputy Chair of the firm’s Government Representation Team and a Board Member of the Holland & Knight Illinois and Federal Political Action Committees.
Mr. Friedman served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Suzanne B. Conlon, judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to that, he worked for five years on the staff and as legislative director for Congressman John Porter (IL-10) in Washington, D.C.