OUR TEAM

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Andrew E. Markowski, Esq., a founding Principal of Statehouse Partners, LLC, has represented clients primarily before the Connecticut General Assembly and Executive Branch Agencies on a wide range of legislative and regulatory matters for nearly two decades.  Andy’s unique combination of legal, analytical, communications and public affairs skills prove invaluable to the successful navigation of state government.  His lobbying clients include national and state industry, trade and professional associations, small contractors, chambers of commerce, municipal interests, citizen advocacy groups and other private entities.

Prior to establishing Statehouse Partners, LLC in 2024, Andy was the founding principal of Statehouse Associates, LLC, which he began in 2012 after working as a Partner and lobbyist with Gara & Markowski, LLC for several years. Before lobbying in Connecticut, Andy was a Public Affairs Specialist for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

Andy received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Union College in Schenectady, NY, and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Western New England College School of Law in Springfield, MA. He is also a member of the Connecticut Bar. 

Eric Gjede, Esq., a founding principal at Statehouse Partners, LLC, represents clients before the Connecticut General Assembly and Executive Branch Agencies. He has built a reputation as an effective policy advocate during his nearly two decades at the state capitol.

Eric began his career in public policy with CBIA, Connecticut’s largest business advocacy organization. He served as vice president of public policy, leading a team of lobbyists that represented the views of Connecticut’s business community on all matters before the General Assembly. He also administered CBIA’s Labor and Employment Law, Government Affairs, and Tax Councils and served as CBIA’s state ethics compliance counsel.  

Prior to CBIA, Eric was an associate legislative attorney with the Legislative Commissioners’ Office, the nonpartisan legal office of the Connecticut General Assembly. In that position, he provided legal counsel to legislators serving on the Commerce and Labor and Public Employees Committees. He also drafted all the legislation and amendments considered by those committees.

Eric is a member of the Association of Connecticut Lobbyists and served on the board of UWC - Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation. He also previously served as an appointed member of the Second Injury Fund Advisory Board and the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Employment Security Advisory Board.

Eric received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Connecticut and his Juris Doctor from The UConn School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar.

Paul R. Pescatello, Esq. represents clients before the Connecticut General Assembly, Executive Branch Agencies and at the  federal level. He is a highly effective advocate for the biopharma industry, with over 25 years of lobbying experience. His clients include pharmaceutical companies, emerging biotechs, patient groups and related firms and organizations. Paul is also Chair of We Work for Health Connecticut.

Prior to joining Statehouse Partners, Paul was Senior Counsel and Executive Director of the Connecticut Business &

Industry Association’s (CBIA) Bioscience Growth Council for more than ten years and was a highly effective voice for the life sciences. Paul came CBIA after working as the CEO of Connecticut United for Research Excellence (now CTBio) and as the President of New England Bio.

Paul began his legal and lobbying career at Shipman & Goodwin. As a partner at the firm, he focused on banking and insurance regulatory issues and served as Special Counsel to the Governor,  drafting and advocating for tax and economic development legislation to make Connecticut more hospitable to start-up companies, venture capital and entrepreneurialism.

In addition to his public affairs and public policy activities, Paul works closely with

venture capital firms, including the state’s quasi-public venture capital firm, Connecticut Innovations, and Yale Ventures. He advises state policy makers on personalized/regenerative medicine, rare disease R&D and pharmacy issues. He also represents several privately-held investment partnerships and limited liability companies.

Paul received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Ph.D.

from Cornell University. He also holds a B.A. in political economy from Colorado

College.