Attorney at Law Magazine sat down with Dimitri Peteves of Creed & Gowdy, P.A. to discuss his career.
AALM: Why did you pursue your board certification? What was the most challenging aspect of earning your board certification?
DP: The shareholders at my firm—Rebecca Creed and Bryan Gowdy—are both board certified in appellate practice. So are a lot of other great appellate attorneys and judges. They inspired me to pursue board certification as well. The most challenging aspects were getting enough oral arguments to qualify and studying for the exam.
AALM: What initially drew you to appellate law? Why did you decide to specialize in it?
DP: My first job after law school was clerking for a judge at the Florida First District Court of Appeal. That introduced me to appeals, and I learned that I enjoyed appellate practice. A few years later, I did another appellate clerkship—this time for a judge at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. That motivated me to look for a job at a firm specializing in appeals. I sent my cover letter and resume to Creed & Gowdy, and the rest was history! I have worked there since 2020.
AALM: Tell us about one of the most impactful cases you have handled.
DP: One of the most impactful cases I handled was a case in the United States Supreme Court. I drafted a petition for a writ of certiorari that the Court granted—which is exceedingly rare. Although I did not handle the case at the merits stage, the Court ultimately agreed with the arguments raised in my petition, and it did so unanimously! The decision impacts litigants across the country.
AALM: Of the cases you’ve worked on or witnessed, what has stood out most in your mind?
DP: One highlight is a case I handled in the Florida Supreme Court. The court appointed me to represent a petitioner in a criminal case, and I was honored to have the opportunity, which included an oral argument. Although my client did not prevail, I persuaded the court to reject the state’s invitation to recede from two significant prior decisions.
AALM: Is there anything you would like to add?
DP: I am very grateful for the various jobs I’ve had across my legal career and the mentors who have guided me along the way. Every person I’ve worked with has shaped me in one way or another, and I wouldn’t be the attorney I am today without them. I hope they know how appreciative I am.
Creed & Gowdy, P.A.
865 May Street
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 350-0075
appellate-firm.com
