John D. Svare was appointed PEF General Counsel in August 2025, having served as Deputy General Counsel since March 2019. John joined the PEF Legal Department in 2014 as an Associate Counsel.
Prior to joining PEF, from 2010-2014, John worked as an Associate Counsel for the New York State Assembly’s Office of Program and Counsel. In his role as counsel to the Committees on Labor and Racing and Wagering, John drafted and negotiated legislation; advised Members of the Assembly on budgetary and policy proposals; and worked closely with the respective Committee Chairs in analyzing the Executive Budget. Upon graduating from law school in 2004, John began his legal career as an Associate Attorney with the law firm of Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C., and he primarily represented individuals in criminal, family, and civil litigation.
In addition to his legal experience, John has served in a variety of roles in politics and government, including Deputy District Representative for the late former Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey.
John received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Marist College, graduating cum laude in 1999, and his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School of Union University in 2004. John is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New York, the United States District Court for the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. John is married to Heather Svare and they have two children, Abigail and Luke.