Michael Gleeson

About Michael Gleeson

A senior government affairs leader with over 15 years of experience, I excel at developing and executing successful federal legislative and advocacy strategies. I have a proven ability to shape major tax, trade, and regulatory policy by building influential bipartisan relationships across Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. My expertise lies in translating complex challenges into actionable strategies that achieve objectives, secure major wins, and build effective coalitions. My approach is results-driven. As Legislative Director at the National League of Cities (NLC), I designed and executed the federal advocacy strategy that secured Treasury/IRS guidance, unlocking billions in clean energy tax incentives for public entities nationwide. I also spearheaded the successful campaign that convinced the IRS Office of Chief Counsel to make government-led lead pipe replacements a non-taxable event, a major win for public health and infrastructure modernization. Additionally, I was pivotal in forging the bipartisan coalition that secured an unprecedented $65.1 billion in direct federal aid for cities. My unique 360-degree perspective on policy comes from a diverse career. On Capitol Hill, as a Tax Legislative Assistant on the House Ways and Means Committee, I passed five bills into law while in the minority by cultivating bipartisan relationships. I have led government relations for national trade associations, run a solo lobbying practice, and analyzed the impact of federal legislation for investors. My early career as a Capitol Hill Correspondent for Tax Analysts and The Hill provided a foundation in translating complex policy for national audiences. Most recently, as a Tax Law Specialist in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, I gained invaluable insight into the federal regulatory process from within the agency. A trusted national expert, I have advised and translated complex federal legislation for thousands of municipal leaders. I am an experienced public speaker, having delivered more than 60 presentations on federal policy at national and regional conferences.

Experience

1. Tax Law Specialist

   Irs, Office Of Chief Counsel

   Jun 2024 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   At the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, I gained invaluable insight into the federal regulatory process, shaping policy outcomes from within the agency. I worked at the intersection of law, technology, and implementation—providing strategic guidance on a major public-facing technology platform to ensure it aligned with federal compliance and policy priorities.Key Contributions:Regulatory Strategy & Policy Guidance: Provided strategic policy guidance and input on a major federal regulatory initiative, helping to shape its development and outcomes from within the agency.Legal & Compliance Oversight: Led legal accuracy reviews for the IRS\'s Direct File system, ensuring the technology platform maintained compliance with statutory requirements and federal policy priorities.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Led and collaborated with cross-functional legal and technical teams to improve regulatory workflows, enhancing the efficiency of federal compliance decision-making.This role gave me a front-row seat to how federal regulations are written, enforced, and adapted. It remains a cornerstone of my ability to help organizations navigate federal policy not just from the outside—but from a place of insider fluency.

Education

• Harvard Kennedy School

  Certificate , Comparative Tax and Administration

  2014

• American University - Kogod School of Business

  Masters of Science, Taxation

• University of Washington

  Bachelor of Arts, History and Political Science

  2006

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Masters of Arts, Public Management

  2016