FIRM UPDATE: Andy Cates Joins The Bingham Group, LLC
May 2, 2022
The Bingham Group, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Andy Cates, J.D. as General Counsel and Managing Principal - State Affairs.
“Andy is a respected colleague who brings over a decade of experience navigating the Texas Legislative process and has a strong entrepreneurial drive," said A.J. Bingham, firm Founder and CEO. “Along with joining our leadership team, Andy will lead Bingham Group’s expansion into state lobbying before the legislative and executive branches of Texas government.”
Andy most recently served as co-founder and Senior Partner of Austin-based lobby firm, Salient Strategies, where he and his partners ushered House Bill 5, the Governor’s emergency item on Broadband Expansion, to passage. He 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.
Additionally, Andy 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. Cates is now one of five attorneys in the country with board certification in that area.
“A.J. and I have known each other since we started at the Capitol as staffers,” said Andy. “We've talked about working together ever since, and the timing finally worked out for us to join forces. We will provide a one-stop shop for companies of all sizes who want the convenience of expertise in both municipal and state level government.”
Andy received his B.A. in International Politics from Trinity University and his J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law. He currently lives in South Austin with his wife Nicole and son Dylan.
He can be reached by email at: andrew@binghamgp.com
The Bingham Group, LLC is a full service lobbying firm representing clients before municipal governments in the Austin Metro, and the legislative and executive branches of Texas government.