About Andrew Cates

My name is Andy Cates, and I am a combination of the two most hated professions in the world - Lawyer & Lobbyist. And I’ll prove to you why that’s a good thing.

Andrew's Story

Andrew Cates is the owner of Cates Legal Group PLLC where he provides legal guidance to candidates, political action committees and nonprofits in local, state, and federal legislative & campaign law. He is the author of Texas Ethics Laws Annotated, the first and only complete legal annotation of campaign finance and lobby laws in Texas, now in the 8th edition. Cates is one of only 15 attorneys in the United States with a legal certification in Legislative & Campaign Law, and he serves as Founder & CEO of Sine Die Solutions, a new software platform that transforms the advocacy and civic engagement process for individuals and political organizations alike.

Cates previously served as General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs for the Texas Nurses Association, where he spent three legislative sessions leading advocacy efforts to secure over $25 million in state funding to end the nurse shortage. Prior to that role, he served as legislative attorney for the Texas Association of REALTORS® as well as lead attorney for the Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee, the largest PAC in Texas.

In the years leading up to this practice, Andrew spent three years at the Texas Capitol working for various state representatives and clerking the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, lobbied for solar energy and healthcare clients, and worked in various areas of the law including mergers & acquisitions, healthcare, criminal prosecution, and criminal defense.

Cates is a Founding Member and Board Member for the State Bar of Texas Legislative & Campaign Law Section, where he spearheaded the petition to create the nation’s first legal specialization in Legislative & Campaign Law. Andrew received his B.A. in International Politics from Trinity University and his J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law in 2007. He currently lives in South Austin with his wife Nicole and son Dylan.

Education

Texas Tech University School of Law

Graduated in 2007 and admitted to practice law in Texas

Trinity University

Graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor’s of Arts

Major – International Politics

Minor – Spanish