Bio

Mary Anne is an award-winning attorney in the nuclear, regulatory, national security, ethics, litigation, and compliance arenas, who has practiced at the federal and state levels, as well as at the classified and unclassified levels.  During her twenty-year legal career with the Navy Office of General Counsel (Navy OGC) and the Department of Justice, Mary Anne became known for her unique and highly effective approach to risk mitigation and problem-solving, recognizing that getting it right from the beginning saves her clients time, money, resources, and operational harm.  Mary Anne brings her knowledge and expertise from these roles to The Sander Group, where she advises clients on complex matters of the Atomic Energy Act, regulation of nuclear licenses, environmental law, oversight and compliance, occupational safety, and personnel law. Mary Anne is keenly aware that her legal solutions have tangible effects on cost, schedule, and national security.

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Mary Anne was one of the two attorneys within the Naval Reactors (NR) Program, which is a Joint Program of the Department of Energy (DOE)'s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of the Navy. During this time, she provided legal advice to three consecutive NNSA Deputy Administrators for Naval Reactors (all Four-Star Admirals) and multiple members of the Senior Executive Service. Mary Anne previously served as an attorney with the Naval Sea Systems Command, where she dealt with legal matters and operations supporting the Public Shipyards and Navy Supervisors of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP).  Mary Anne also served as Command Counsel for the Naval History and Heritage Command where she advised on ethics matters and international agreements concerning sunken military crafts and historic naval vessels. 

Mary Anne’s experience leading litigation at the Justice Department’s Environmental Defense Section gives her unique insight into environmental laws and regulations.  Mary Anne is well aware of which aspects of litigation are necessary and strives to provide benefits and reasoned recommendations to her clients.  She also has first-hand knowledge of what happens when compliance programs go awry, giving her a risk mitigation advantage when working with clients in formulating compliance strategies and compliance programs.

Mary Anne received her Juris Doctor Degree from Ave Maria School of Law, where

she was a member of the Moot Court Board and Publicity Coordinator for the Women’s Law Association. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Liberal Arts from Thomas Aquinas College.  Mary Anne holds a DOD Secret Security Clearance and recently held a DOE Q clearance.  She has been recognized numerous times for her legal acumen and work.  Mary Anne is married, has 4 children, and owns sustainably-raised sheep and chickens.