Former North Carolina State Senator Alexander “Sandy” Sands is the leader of the firm's Public Policy and Governmental Affairs Group in Raleigh. He is a Registered Lobbyist.
He represents businesses and individuals who have matters before both the legislative and executive branches of government in North Carolina. He's proven himself to be quite effective.
When the North Carolina Center for Public Policy surveyed members of the General Assembly and lobbyists in 2009, researchers found Sands to be the 3rd most influential lobbyist in the Tarheel state.
Sandy has used his many years as a litigator in state and federal trial and appellate courts to develop his advocacy skills, which he now uses effectively for his clients in his lobbying and administrative law practice. He served as a North Carolina State Senator from 1986 until 1994. During that service he rose to the position of Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.
- University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1971, with honors, member of Law Review
- Duke University, A.B., 1967
- North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of N.C.
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of N.C.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame - Board of Directors
- North Carolina Bar Association - Legislative Advisory Committee, 1995-2001
- American Association for Justice
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- North Carolina Professional Lobbyist Association - Former Board of Directors Member
- North Carolina Technology Association - Board of Directors Member
- North Carolina Golf Panel
- National Association of State Lobbyists
- State Government Affairs Council
- Recipient, Order of the Long Leaf Pine
- Ranked among “The Most Influential Lobbyists” by The Carolina Center for Public Policy Research since 1996
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
- Awarded America's Most Honored Lawyers by The American Registry, 2020
- Named as Lawyer of the Year in Raleigh, Government Relations Practice, 2021, Best Lawyers in America; also ranked since 2007 in Government Relations.
Overview
Former North Carolina State Senator Alexander “Sandy” Sands is the leader of the firm's Public Policy and Governmental Affairs Group in Raleigh. He is a Registered Lobbyist.
He represents businesses and individuals who have matters before both the legislative and executive branches of government in North Carolina. He's proven himself to be quite effective.
When the North Carolina Center for Public Policy surveyed members of the General Assembly and lobbyists in 2009, researchers found Sands to be the 3rd most influential lobbyist in the Tarheel state.
Sandy has used his many years as a litigator in state and federal trial and appellate courts to develop his advocacy skills, which he now uses effectively for his clients in his lobbying and administrative law practice. He served as a North Carolina State Senator from 1986 until 1994. During that service he rose to the position of Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.
- North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame - Board of Directors
- North Carolina Bar Association - Legislative Advisory Committee, 1995-2001
- American Association for Justice
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- North Carolina Professional Lobbyist Association - Former Board of Directors Member
- North Carolina Technology Association - Board of Directors Member
- North Carolina Golf Panel
- National Association of State Lobbyists
- State Government Affairs Council
- Recipient, Order of the Long Leaf Pine
- Ranked among “The Most Influential Lobbyists” by The Carolina Center for Public Policy Research since 1996
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
- Awarded America's Most Honored Lawyers by The American Registry, 2020
- Named as Lawyer of the Year in Raleigh, Government Relations Practice, 2021, Best Lawyers in America; also ranked since 2007 in Government Relations.
Speaking & Writing
- "Analysis: Vote to cancel US toll-roads highlights infrastructure risk"
June 15, 2016 - Stalking Awareness Month in North Carolina
January 8, 2016 - "N.C. legislature meets, lobbyists in tow"
January 30, 2015 - Changes Ahead for North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance System
February 11, 2013
- NC Legislative Update: Election Recap, November 4, 2020
November 6, 2020 - NC Legislative Update September 4, 2020
September 4, 2020 - NC Legislative Update July 9, 2020
July 9, 2020 - NC Legislative Update for June 30, 2020
June 30, 2020 - NC Legislative Update for June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020 - NC Legislative Update June 12, 2020
June 12, 2020 - North Carolina Legislative Update - June 5, 2020
June 5, 2020 - NC Legislative Update: May 29, 2020
May 29, 2020 - NC Legislative Update for May 22, 2020
May 22, 2020 - North Carolina Legislative Update: May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020 - North Carolina Legislative Update May 7, 2020
May 7, 2020 - North Carolina Legislative Update - May 4, 2020
May 4, 2020 - NC Legislative Update: April 27,2020
April 27, 2020 - NC Legislative Update: April 14, 2020
April 14, 2020 - NC Legislative Update: April 3, 2020
April 3, 2020 - How to Contest Your Real Property Revaluation Notice
February 3, 2020 - NC Legislative Update: November 15, 2019
November 15, 2019 - USDA Releases New Rules on Hemp Production
November 12, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: November 1, 2019
November 1, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: October 25, 2019
October 25, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: October 18, 2019
October 18, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: October 11, 2019
October 11, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: October 4, 2019
October 4, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: September 27, 2019
September 27, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: September 20, 2019
September 20, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: September 13, 2019
September 13, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: September 6, 2019
September 6, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: August 30, 2019
August 30, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: August 23, 2019
August 23, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: August 16, 2019
August 16, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: August 9, 2019
August 9, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: August 2, 2019
August 2, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: July 26, 2019
July 26, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: July 19, 2019
July 19, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: July 12, 2019
July 12, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: July 3, 2019
July 3, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: June 28, 2019
June 28, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: June 21, 2019
June 21, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: June 14, 2019
June 14, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: June 7, 2019
June 7, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: May 24, 2019
May 24, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: May 17, 2019
May 17, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: May 10, 2019
May 10, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: April 18, 2019
April 18, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: April 12, 2019
April 12, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: April 5, 2019
April 5, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: March 29, 2019
March 29, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: March 15, 2019
March 15, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: March 1, 2019
March 1, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: February 22, 2019
February 22, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: February 15, 2019
February 15, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: February 8, 2019
February 8, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: February 1, 2019
February 1, 2019 - NC Legislative Update: January 25, 2019
January 25, 2019 - NC Public Policy Update: 2018 Midterm Election
November 7, 2018 - NC Legislative Update: June 29, 2018
June 29, 2018 - NC Legislative Update: June 22, 2018
June 22, 2018 - NC Legislative Update: June 12, 2018
June 12, 2018 - NC Legislative Update: June 1, 2018
June 1, 2018 - NC Legislative Update: May 22, 2018
May 22, 2018 - NC Legislative Update: January 26, 2018
January 26, 2018 - NC Legislative Update - Special Session - August 9, 2017
August 9, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: End of Session Wrap
July 14, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: June 30, 2017
June 30, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: June 26, 2017
June 26, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: June 16, 2017
June 23, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: June 9, 2017
June 9, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: June 5, 2017
June 5, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: May 19, 2017
May 19, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: May 5, 2017
May 5, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: April 28, 2017
April 28, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: April 21, 2017
April 21, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: April 7, 2017
April 7, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: March 31, 2017
March 31, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: March 24, 2017
March 24, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: March 17, 2017
March 17, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: March 10, 2017
March 10, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: March 3, 2017
March 3, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: February 24, 2017
February 24, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: February 17, 2017
February 17, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: February 10, 2017
February 10, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: February 3, 2017
February 3, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: January 27, 2017
January 27, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: January 12, 2017
January 12, 2017 - NC Legislative Update: December 5, 2016
December 7, 2016 - NC Legislative Update: November 9, 2016
November 9, 2016 - NC Legislative Update: Interim Period
September 9, 2016 - NC Legislative Update: 2016 in Review
August 3, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for July 6, 2016
July 6, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for June 27, 2016
June 27, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for June 17, 2016
June 17, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for June 10, 2016
June 10, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for June 3, 2016
June 3, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for May 27, 2016
May 27, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for May 23, 2016
May 23, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for May 16, 2016
May 16, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for May 6, 2016
May 6, 2016 - NC Legislative Update for May 2, 2016
May 2, 2016 - North Carolina 2016 Pre-Session Legislative Update
April 21, 2016 - NC Legislative Update: 2015 Session in Review
November 13, 2015
Outside Nexsen Pruet
Sandy will tell you that he likes to play golf, and that's certainly true. He has been fortunate to play the top courses in North Carolina as a member of the North Carolina Golf Panel. Sandy thinks that many of the lessons learned on the golf course are relevant to life and the practice of law - the importance of patience, perseverance, and practice.
Sandy was the State Senator who proposed the legislation requiring "lights and wipers together" so that drivers in rain can more easily see each other. This may be common sense, but it was not common practice when the ever-practical Senator Sands suggested it as a way to keep North Carolinians safer on the road. Today, drivers who came of age during the last twenty years do this by habit, all thanks to Sandy.
Among Sandy's many accomplishments while in the legislature is one that is specifically beloved by the Bar. He led legislation to limit the number of interrogatories one party can ask of another to 50 without prior court approval. You see, Sandy is a litigator, and before he became a State Senator or lobbyist, he practiced law in a small town in North Carolina. He knew that he could streamline litigation and serve the cause of justice with that law, and it's been a favorite of the Bar ever since.
Today, when he is not playing golf, he is frequently spending time with his "trophy wife" of 43 years, Ginny, reading history, or sampling North Carolina's wonderful varieties of BBQ.
