(512)482-6809
2801 Via Fortuna, Suite 350, Austin, TX, 78746-7568,
Ms. Leo is a Government Affairs Advisor in the Public Policy and Law division whose practice focuses on legislative and regulatory affairs in Texas. Ms. Leo provides advice and strategic guidance on matters before the state legislature and state government agencies. Her areas of specialty include municipal and county government, higher education, pharmaceutical, financial services, telecommunications, energy and automobile regulatory matters
Higher Education
Successfully assisted entities before regulatory agencies to achieve compliance.
Public Health
Worked with regulatory agency and broader coalitions to secure a positive recommendation from a Texas State agency which subsequently led to final passage of key legislation.
Local Government
Worked with the 3rd largest county in the country to secure vital legislation.
Regulatory Projects
Successfully assisted a national association and private companies in matters dealing with state franchise issues.
Telecommunications
Successfully assisted a publically traded company to secure passage of legislation affecting the Texas Universal Service Fund.
Energy
Successfully assisted client in passage of electric utility matters.
Ms. Leo has over 25 years of combined experience in federal, state and local government. Prior to joining the firm in 1996, Ms. Leo served as the Intergovernmental Relations Manager for the City of San Antonio. In that capacity, she had chief responsibility for managing federal, state and local matters on behalf of the City of San Antonio. Ms. Leo managed legislative and political activities at these various levels of government including Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC); state legislative matters impacting the City of San Antonio as well as interlocal agreements between the city and county.
She served as Chief of Staff for the first Hispanic woman elected to the Legislature, State Representative Irma Rangel, in which she managed all legislative policy, including appropriations, redistricting, healthcare, education and transportation. In this capacity, Ms. Leo also served as the Director of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus and managed policy issues in behalf of the members of the Caucus. Prior to joining the House side of the Capitol, Ms. Leo worked in the policy division of Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby, Jr. Ms. Leo's legislative career began as a Senate Messenger.
Ms. Leo serves on the Firm's Global Diversity Committee which promotes a diverse workforce and an inclusive firm culture. She is a Board member of the Senate Hispanic Research Council (SHRC), a non-profit research group that supports internships for college students in the offices of members of the Texas Senate. Ms Leo is a 9th generation Texan, and a member of the William B. Travis Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
(512)4826875
2801 Via Fortuna, Suite 350, Austin, TX, 78746-7568,
Mr. Erskine's practice with K&L Gates consists primarily of legislative representation and administrative law. He has successfully represented companies in the technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and service sectors in matters before the legislature and administrative agencies. He has advised companies on procurement matters as well as strategic planning. Mr. Erskine has a long history of involvement in the development of tax legislation, having been involved in all major tax debates dating back to 1977.
Mr. Erskine was listed in the 2012-2017 editions of the Best Lawyers in America in the area of government relations.
He was also the architect of the Oil Field Clean-up Fund, which created an industry-supported fund that is dedicated to the plugging of the State's 48,000 abandoned oil and gas wells and the sites upon which they are located. It has become the model legislation for the states and has been adopted in many jurisdictions since its passage in Texas.
Mr. Erskine joined the firm in 1994 after seventeen years of service with Amoco Corporation as senior government affairs representative, where he was ultimately responsible for all legislative and political activities for the parent corporation and subsidiaries, including those involving exploration and production, refining and marketing, chemicals, pipeline, research and development, marine transport and waste disposal in Texas and New Mexico. From 1976-1978, he was an attorney in the state government affairs section of Dupont's legal department. Mr. Erskine was also associated with Alan M. Voorhees and Associates, where he was responsible for legal and political issues involved in transportation and environmental planning studies.
Mr. Erskine's practice with K&L Gates consists primarily of legislative representation and administrative law. He was instrumental in the formulation and passage of Proposition 2, which exempted pollution control equipment from property taxation. In addition to working with building the coalition that insured its passage by the legislature, he was deeply involved in the statewide campaign for voter approval.
He was also the architect of the Oil Field Clean-up Fund, which created an industry-supported fund that is dedicated to the plugging of the State's 48,000 abandoned oil and gas wells and the sites upon which they are located. It has become the model legislation for the states and has been adopted in many jurisdictions since its passage in Texas.