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.
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 a 2004 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.
