Peter Leigh Breton

Experience:

Peter L. Breton has been admitted to the Florida Bar since 1983.  Mr. Breton’s practice is concentrated in zoning, land use, and environmental law; real estate and commercial transactions; and local government law.  He has been board certified in real estate law since 1996 by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization.  Mr. Breton is AV® Preeminent TM Peer Review Rated from Martindale-Hubbell.  He has successfully handled all types of land use and zoning applications in both counties and municipalities in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties and throughout the state.  These include applications for rezonings, planned unit developments, special exceptions, variances, Development of Regional Impact Amendments, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, subdivision plats and vested rights determinations.  He has negotiated development agreements for residential and commercial developments.  He has expertise in condominium and homeowners’ association law, representing both developer-controlled and homeowner-controlled associations.  Mr. Breton has successfully represented property owners in resolving alleged violations of solid and hazardous waste, wetlands and water use regulations.  He also is an expert in survey and subdivision law.

Mr. Breton is general counsel for two independent special taxing districts.  Cypress Grove Community Development District is involved in planning and implementing the drainage, irrigation and roads in a 6000 acre mixed use project.  With the Florida Inland Navigation District, Mr. Breton is responsible for all legal issues for a district spanning a 12 county area. 

Background:

Peter Breton is a Massachusetts native who relocated to South Florida after serving as a captain in the U.S. Army for six years.  He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1974 near the top of his class with a Bachelor of Science degree.  While serving in an infantry division, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.  He left the Army to study law at the University of Miami, where he graduated cum laude in 1983.  While attending law school, he worked full time at General Development Corporation, the largest developer of planned communities in Florida.  Upon graduating, Mr. Breton became a corporate counsel at GDC, working with the company’s engineers and planners on development approvals and commercial transactions.  In 1985, Mr. Breton joined a West Palm Beach law firm which specialized in representing developers.  From 1988 to 1989, he was a corporate counsel with Westinghouse Communities, Inc, the developer of the City of Coral Springs in Broward County.  In 1989, he returned to private practice with Moyle, Flanigan, Katz, Breton, White & Krasker, P.A. in West Palm Beach, where he eventually became head of the firm’s land use department.  In 2009, he left Moyle Flanigan with three other shareholders to start Breton, Lynch, Eubanks & Suarez-Murias, P.A.

Education:

• U.S. Military Academy, B.S., 1974 (top 12%)
• Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA, M.B.A., 1977
• University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, J.D., 1983 (cum laude)

Professional:

• The Florida Bar, admitted 1983
  • Member, Environmental and Land Use Law Section
  • Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• Associate Member, Environmental Law Institute
• Florida Bar Certified in Real Estate Law
• Agent for First American Title Insurance Company and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® PreeminentTM Peer Review Rated

Civic:

• Seagull Industries for the Disabled, Inc., Board Member
• Seagull Academy for Independent Living Charter School, Board Member
• Palm Beach Habilitation Center, Former Chairman and Board Member