John H. Estey is a partner in the Business and Finance Department, Practice Leader of the Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs and Contracting Group, and a member of the Higher Education and P3/Infrastructure Groups. Mr. Estey concentrates his practice in the areas of government relations and corporate law. He also represents government agencies and counsels information technology and telecommunications companies in a range of business matters.
Mr. Estey has held significant positions in Pennsylvania state and Philadelphia city government. He served as Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell from January 2003 through April 2007, and as the Governor's Senior Advisor until February 2008. As Chief of Staff, he led negotiation teams on four Commonwealth budgets and a number of major legislative initiatives. He also oversaw labor talks. As Senior Advisor, Mr. Estey worked on the budget and direction of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and riverfront development in the City of Chester.
From 1997 through 1999, when Gov. Rendell was Mayor of Philadelphia, Mr. Estey served as his Deputy Chief of Staff. In that role, he helped develop and implement the Keystone Opportunity Enterprise Zones program, oversaw the revitalization of Independence Mall, and played a key role in helping the mayor pursue his vision for Philadelphia, which led to unprecedented economic growth.
Representative Matters
- Served as counsel to a number of national information technology and telecommunications companies on business and government relations matters throughout the United States
- Counseled a Southeastern Pennsylvania housing authority on business, government relations, real estate development, and litigation matters
- Counseled an Allegheny County hospital in negotiations and dispute resolution with a large Western Pennsylvania health system
- Counseled a national for-profit health care corporation in certain insurance matters
- Served as lead counsel in a number of complex litigation matters and has tried cases to verdict before federal juries
Judicial Clerkships
Hon. Thomas N. O’Neill, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1989-1991