In this episode of Regulatory Oversight, host Stephen Piepgrass is joined by his new colleague Jason Smith, a veteran Senate lawyer and strategist who spent more than 15 years on Capitol Hill. Jason’s tenure includes advising Senators John Fetterman, Patty Murray, and Mark Begich on high-stakes issues ranging from voting rights and immigration reform to pharmaceutical policy and international trade.

Jason shares how his insider experience — leading major legislative teams, driving tough oversight investigations, and helping secure over $300 million in congressionally directed spending for Pennsylvania communities — now powers the strategic, 360-degree solutions he delivers for clients at Troutman Pepper Locke’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) practice. Stephen and Jason discuss how to “speak the language” of legislators and regulators, avoid missed opportunities in critical meetings, and bridge the gaps between litigation, compliance, and government relations to actually move the needle in a gridlocked environment.

Transcript: Lessons From a Senate Insider: Legislative Strategy With Jason Smith (PDF)