Amber Avion Hay
Partner
Arnold + Porter

Description of field of expertise

Amber Hay specializes in providing legal counsel to banks and financial services companies, ensuring
their compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Her specialty extends to advising
banks on mergers and acquisitions and navigating the process for obtaining regulatory approvals;
advising investors in banks on making non-control investments and bank boards on governance
requirements and risk management standards under bank laws and regulations. She also offers
guidance to clients on bank capital and liquidity requirements, enhanced prudential standards, and
other compliance matters.

In her role, Amber represents financial institutions on a wide range of bank regulatory matters,
including matters within the supervisory jurisdiction of the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC, the
FDIC, the CFPB, and FinCEN, as well as state bank regulatory agencies. Her experience also spans
matters related to affordable housing, cybersecurity, consumer financial protection, and community
reinvestment.

Notably, Amber actively engages in pro bono work, dedicating her efforts to supporting nonprofit
organizations with general corporate matters. Among her pro bono endeavors, she is currently
advising a nonprofit seeking a grant under a multimillion-dollar community benefit plan.

Prior to joining the firm, Amber served as a senior attorney at the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System in the Legal Division’s Bank Regulatory and Policy Group where she reviewed
acquisition, divestiture, and activity proposals of financial institutions under various banking laws.
During her tenure at the Federal Reserve Board, Ms. Hay was seconded to the U.S. House of
Representatives, Financial Services Committee where she advised members of Congress and their
staff on the implications of banking legislation.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

As a first-generation lawyer, I encountered challenges not only in navigating the legal landscape, but
also in understanding its professional nuances and defining my own identity within the field. Early in
my career, I felt alone and questioned whether I wanted to continue practicing law. However, a
pivotal shift occurred when I joined the Federal Reserve and immersed myself in banking regulation.
Connecting with fellow professionals in the realm of financial services regulation through conferences and networking events proved transformative. I recommend new attorneys find an area of law they enjoy, work really hard to focus in that area (kudos if it’s an area of law where there is an unmet demand), and concurrently prioritize connecting with other lawyers and professionals in that specialized area.

Final thoughts…

Amber is committed to diversity and the community. She supports historically underrepresented
attorneys and mentors within and outside Arnold & Porter. She is an active member of several firm
affinity groups, including those focused on women and underrepresented

Terry M. Sanks

Managing Partner — Beusse Sanks PLLC

Description of field of expertise

Terry M. Sanks, a registered patent attorney, is the founding partner of the firm. With a
comprehensive practice spanning the spectrum of intellectual property (IP) law, he provides
representation in all areas of intellectual property (“IP”) law, including patents, trademarks,
copyrights, trade secrets, IP litigation, licensing, and other IP related business transactions.
Terry’s diverse practice includes developing and managing patent portfolios and trademark
portfolios for various sized entities ranging from Fortune 500 companies to regional companies
to universities to startup companies to individuals. Terry approaches each case holistically,
crafting strategic solutions to maximize and safeguard intangible assets. With his unique
approach, he has become a sought-after resource for a wide range of technology start-ups. One
of the mottos of his firm, “From Beneath the Seas to Outer Space — Providing IP Solutions,”
best describes the depth and breadth of IP matters Terry has personally handled.
Operating from his Orlando, Florida office, Terry's global reach extends to clients worldwide.

His remarkable legal ability has earned him honors and recognition at the local, national, and
international levels. Notably, he has been featured in Best Lawyers consecutively from 2016 to
2024. He earned distinctions such as Orlando "Lawyer of the Year" in Copyright Law (2019 & 2024), Patent Law (2022 & 2024), and Trademark Law (2023). Other accolades include his inclusion in the World Trademark Review 1000 (2022-2023), Florida Super Lawyers (2008-2009 and 2013-2023), Florida Legal Elite (2018), an AV Preeminent 5.0 rating by Martindale Hubbell, and a Superb 10.0 rating by AVVO.

Terry’s impressive journey also includes his service as a decorated military veteran of the
United States Air Force (USAF) and USAF Reserves, where he served as an officer. He holds a
B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University and an M.S. in Engineering from Fresno
State, earned during his active-duty service. After leaving active duty, Terry pursued his legal
education and obtained his J.D. from Florida State University College of Law, where he served
as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Decide early in your career the type of lawyer you want to be. Specifically, do you want to be
the lawyer whose focus is simply meeting a billable hire requirement, or do you want to be the
type who solves intellectual property issues for your client? From my experience working with
and training attorneys, if your focus is just meeting your billable hour requirement, you are
doing yourself, your employer, and your client a grave disservice. However, if you strive to be
able to think outside the box when the need arises to provide your client IP solutions to their
issues, this approach goes further with advancing your career in the long run.

Final thoughts…

Death and taxes are generally identified as the only guarantees in life. I submit there is a
third—change. Most hate and resist change. Do not get fixated on the change. Instead,
challenge yourself to accept it sooner. Also consider pivoting in another direction in response.
There are always options.

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