Pete Van Hartesveldt primarily assists clients in complying with federal, state, and local laws in the areas of lobby registration and reporting, government ethics, and campaign finance. At the federal level, his practice is focused on complying with Congressional and Executive Branch ethics rules, financial disclosure requirements, post-government employment restrictions, the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the Federal Election Campaign Act.
From 2003 to September 2008 Mr. Van Hartesveldt was counsel to the U.S. House of Representative's Committee on Ethics, last serving as the Committee's Deputy Chief Counsel and Director of Advice and Education.
Mr. Van Hartesveldt is particularly well qualified to address the intricacies of the new Congressional ethics and lobbying disclosure rules enacted by the passage of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 and other associated rule changes. He was instrumental in formulating House of Representatives guidance on the new rules and in drafting the 2008 House Ethics Manual. Mr. Van Hartesveldt also has extensive experience with formal and informal ethics committee disciplinary proceedings and is well qualified to advise clients with regard to those proceedings.
As a former Navy Judge Advocate, Mr. Van Hartesveldt also practices in the area of military justice. He has represented hundreds of clients before military courts-martial, appellate courts, and administrative discharge boards. While on active duty, he served as senior trial counsel, senior defense counsel, and appellate defense counsel. His military practice is currently focused on representing clients before the military courts of criminal appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. He also represents clients who seek relief from the Board for Correction of Naval/Military Records and the Discharge Review Boards.
Representative Work
Ethics, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance.
- Advises corporations and trade associations on all aspects of government ethics, lobbying law, and campaign finance at the federal, state, and local level.
- Advises corporations and other businesses with an international presence on compliance with the provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
- Represents Members of Congress in responding to inquiries from the Office of Congressional Ethics and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, in preparing annual Financial Disclosure Statements, and in advising on other ethics-related matters. Also advises Member campaign committees in complying with campaign finance law.
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, U. S. House of Representatives, Deputy Chief Counsel/Director of Advice and Education, Counsel (2003 to September 2008).
- Advised House Members and staff on complex ethics issues including gifts, travel, outside employment, post-government employment restrictions, financial disclosure, and conflicts of interest.
- Conducted regular ethics lectures to House Members and staff and to outside organizations such as the American League of Lobbyists and the Brookings Institution.
- One of the principal editors and authors of the 2008 House Ethics Manual.
- Advised Committee Chair and Ranking Member and investigative subcommittees on matters involving alleged misconduct by House Members and staff.
- Counsel on Investigation of Allegations Related to Improper Conduct Involving Members and Current or Former House Pages, December, 2006.
Judge Advocate, U.S. Navy. Served as trial counsel and legal advisor on a wide range of issues at postings at The Pentagon, Norfolk, VA, San Francisco, CA, Italy and Bahrain. Work included prosecuting and defending courts-martial at both the trial and appellate levels, litigating personnel matters, and advising commands and senior Navy leadership on a variety of matters including government ethics, claims, medical law, and international and operational law issues such as the law of the sea, rules of engagement, the law of armed conflict, and issues arising under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.