Peter Gleason concentrates his practice as Pennsylvania and federal legislative and regulatory policy counsel. Building on his experience with the Office of the Governor in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the United States Congress, and nearly 20 years in private practice, Peter possesses a depth of understanding of the legislative and administrative processes, and an insider’s view of the political considerations and other motivations that drive those processes. He currently represents a diverse client base, including prominent leaders within industries such as: manufacturing, rail freight transportation, natural gas production, energy policy, financial services, emerging growth and high tech, health care and retail. Peter has also advised Governors, legislative leaders and committee chairs on political and policy matters.
Peter joined K&L Gates in 2002. Prior to joining K&L Gates, Peter served in Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker's Cabinet as Secretary for Legislative Affairs. In that capacity, he advised the Governor, the Governor's senior staff and fellow cabinet secretaries on legislative, regulatory and policy matters affecting all agencies under the governor's jurisdiction. On his departure from state government, Governor Schweiker had this to say about Peter:
“Pete Gleason has been a vital advisor to me, and a trusted liaison with the General Assembly. He helped my Administration win passage of many historic pieces of legislation, including reforms to Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice and Joint and Several Liability laws, not to mention the 2002-03 Budget – one of the most difficult budgets in Commonwealth history.”
From 1997 to 2001, Peter had served as deputy secretary for legislative affairs with the office of the governor in Pennsylvania. He worked with former Governor Tom Ridge until his appointment as director of Homeland Security.
During his tenure with the office of the governor, as the Governor's liaison to Pennsylvania General Assembly legislative leaders and committee chairs, Peter played an integral role in the enactment of the following legislative initiatives:
- The 2002-03 General Fund Budget (in the wake of a structural deficit in excess of $1.4 billion dollars).
- All legislative tax policy matters; including several significant amendments to the Public Utility Realty Tax Act (PURTA), changes to the Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT), the phase-out of the Capitol Stock and Franchise Tax (CSFT) and changes to the state Sales Tax.
- The creation and expansion of Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ), Enhancement Zones (KOEZ) and Improvement Zones (KOIZ).
- Historic reforms to Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice and Joint and Several Liability laws.
- The enactment of the Commonwealth’s Procurement Code.
- Natural Gas Deregulation.
- The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
- Land Use Reform (“Growing Smarter”).
- The Environmental Stewardship Act (“Growing Greener”).
- The Uniform Construction Code.
- Workers’ Compensation Reform.
Peter’s past positions also include director of legislative affairs at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, special projects director to the Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and special assistant to former United States Senator John Heinz.
Peter has consistently been ranked as one of the most effective and influential lobbyists in Pennsylvania by media publications and peers. Peter has been recognized as one of U.S. News-Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in 2023 and prior years for his work in Government Relations Practice. In 2022, City and State ranked Peter 9th among Pennsylvania’s “Top 50 Lobbyists” in Pennsylvania. In 2021, City and State rated Peter as the 53rd among the 100 most influential people in Pennsylvania public and private sectors. In 2008, the Pennsylvania Report named Peter as one of Pennsylvania’s “Top 100 Most Influential People,” in a list comprised of the 100 people most likely to have an impact on government and politics in Pennsylvania in 2008. In 2004, a poll conducted with state legislators, staff, lobbyists and other state policy stakeholders, he was named as “Most Effective Lobbyist” in Pennsylvania. Peter was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Law Weekly and the Legal Intelligencer as one of forty lawyers under forty “On the Fast Track” for his work at K&L Gates and in the office of the governor.
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- Dauphin County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Chairman of the Board of Directors: The Bridge Educational Foundation
- Board of Directors: The Country Club of Hershey
- Derry Township Planning Commission
- “Procedural Pitfalls in the Legislative Process,” presented in the Governor’s “Office of General Counsel University”
- “Lobbying Disclosures and the Pennsylvania Ethics Act,” presented to the Cumberland County, PA Inn of Court.
- “Interaction with the Legislature by Government Attorneys,” presented to the Governor’s Office of General Counsel.
- “A Significant First Step For Pa. Carbon Capture Programs,” Law360, 5 April 2023
