(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.
1) PayPal, Inc.
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.
717-231-5982
17 N. 2nd Street, 18th Floor, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, 
Links:Website
Rene Diehl is a government affairs advisor in the Harrisburg office and is a member of the public policy group. She has nearly 20 years of experience working with the Pennsylvania Legislature and executive branch-experience that she leverages to provide advice to clients on effectively managing their government and regulatory affairs. In particular, she helps clients by creating alignment between their objectives and government policies.
Prior to joining K&L Gates, Ms. Diehl served as Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs to the Pennsylvania Governor, a senior staff position that involved the development and implementation of legislative strategy intended to advance the Governor's legislative priorities for several state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Lottery. Ms. Diehl was directly and integrally involved in the enactment of several major legislative initiatives, including the historic transportation funding package of 2013, numerous pieces of legislation impacting energy and environmental policies and programs for the state, as well as, significant reforms intended to enhance operations and funding for the Pennsylvania Lottery. She was also directly involved with negotiations with the House of Representatives and the Senate relating to the enactment of the annual General Fund budget and related enactments.
Prior to working in the governor's office, Ms. Diehl served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. During her tenure as Legislative Director, and prior to that, as Assistant Legislative Director, she advocated for legislative priorities related to taxation and the Pennsylvania Lottery, including significant business tax reform packages that dramatically changed state tax administration and tax compliance.
Before joining the Department of Revenue, Ms. Diehl worked in a senior staff capacity for the House Democratic Caucus. Her responsibilities included monitoring House floor activities and advising House Democratic Leadership in message development and legislative strategy.
412-355-6339
K&L Gates LLP, K&L Gates Center, 210 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, 
1) Allegheny Technologies Inc.
2) Appalachia Midstream Services, LLC
3) Association of American Publishers, Inc.
6) Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
10) DIRECTV
11) DISH Network
13) GE Energy Financial Services, Inc.
14) H&R BLOCK, INC.
16) NRG Energy
17) Pennsylvania Telephone Association
18) Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America PhRMA
19) Pinnacle Treatment Centers
21) QVC, Inc.
23) Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association
24) Scientific Games Corporation
25) Sheetz, Inc.
26) United States Steel Corporation
27) XO Energy
717-231-2892
17 NORTH SECOND STREET, 18TH FLOOR, HARRISBURG, PA, 17101, 
Subjects: Energy/Utilities, Health Care, RFP/Procurement, Taxes
Links:Website
Mr. 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, Mr. Gleason 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. Mr. Gleason has also advised Governors, legislative leaders and committee chairs on political and policy matters.
1) ALLEGHENY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
2) APPALACHIA MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC
3) ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN PUBLISHERS, INC.
6) CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION
9) DIRECTV
10) DISH NETWORK
14) H&R BLOCK, INC.
15) METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
17) PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
18) PENNSYLVANIA TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION
19) PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH & MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA [PHRMA]
21) QVC, INC.
23) SATELLITE BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION
24) SHEETZ, INC.
25) UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
26) XO ENERGY
Oil & Gas Legislative and Regulatory Policy: Representing several natural gas producers operating within the Marcellus Shale on legislative and regulatory policy matters pending within the PA General Assembly and numerous regulatory agencies with oversight for Marcellus Shale activities.
Competitive Industrial Electric Rates: Assisted large manufacturing clients in enacting legislation permitting large industrial customers to negotiate competitive rates with incumbent electric utilities, paving the way for significant, historic capital investments by those customers
.
Economic Development Incentives: Secured tens of millions of economic incentives for clients seeking to make large capital investment and significantly increase jobs in the Commonwealth, including grants and low interest loans, transportation assistance, rail capital and community development funds.
Business Tax Reform: Successfully led a large coalition of manufacturers and high/bio tech companies to secure dramatic statutory changes in Pennsylvania's Corporate Net Income Tax structure that had penalized companies for increased capital and employee investment in the Commonwealth.
Tax Free Zones: Successfully assisted large manufacturing client with the enactment of legislation creating several state and local tax free zones throughout Pennsylvania to facilitate business expansion and relocation.
Civil Justice Reform: Successfully represented several clients in passing legislation repealing the doctrine of joint & several liability in Pennsylvania.
Procurement Bid Protests: Managed several, successful bid protests on behalf of clients that wanted to pursue a protest without jeopardizing agency relationships.
Health Care: In separate matters, successfully represented several hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry in reversing or mitigating proposed agency recommendations that would have caused significant harm to those clients.
Mr. Gleason joined K&L Gates in 2002. Prior to joining K&L Gates, Mr. Gleason 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 Mr. Gleason:
"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, Mr. Gleason 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, Mr. Gleason 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.
Mr. Gleason'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.
In 2008, the Pennsylvania Report named Mr. Gleason 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 a 2004 poll conducted with state legislators, staff, lobbyists and other state policy stakeholders, he was named as "Most Effective Lobbyist" in Pennsylvania. Mr. Gleason 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.
(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.
412-355-8910
K&L Gates Center, 210 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, 
Links:Website
Tracy Lawless is a government affairs advisor in the firm's Pittsburgh and Harrisburg offices, where she is a member of the Public Policy and Law practice group. She concentrates her activity in health care, as well as a diverse array of clients including manufacturing and transportation. She advises companies on strategic policy development, issue management, government solutions, and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lawless was a legislative director for a health care network for over four years. In addition, she worked as a project manager for a real estate development company and was a policy consultant. She worked as a deputy policy director for a candidate for Governor, and she was the Pennsylvania state campaign director for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI National). Ms. Lawless was a public affairs/legislative director for the American Society for Pharmaceutical and Experimental Therapeutics and the American Society for Nutrition for 10 years.
412-355-6454
K&L Gates Center, 210 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, 
412-355-6500
210 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, 
703-622-9967
1200 Wilson Drive, MC-207, West Chester, PA, 19380, 
1) QVC, INC.